The National Motor Museum has announced that it will move out of its historic home of Beaulieu after 60 years in a major shake-up.
In a statement published by trustees, the National Motor Museum Trust said it has started searching for a new home as its current lease at Beaulieu comes to an end.
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The Trust and the Montagu family have explored ways to develop and preserve the museum at Beaulieu through investments from donors over the last two years.
However, it has concluded that the next stage of the museum’s ambitious plans “can be best achieved through a move to a new home”.
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The Trust said it was exploring potential locations that are capable of supporting long-term ambitions, while safeguarding its collection.
Visitors heading to Beaulieu will not see any changes implemented, while further updates will be provided as the process continues.
The National Motor Museum Trust is responsible for the heritage collections at the Beaulieu site in the New Forest, which was first founded in 1952.
More than 1.9 million items are cared for by the National Motor Museum Trust, including significant motoring artefacts, film footage, images, documents and books.
Robert MacGregor, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the National Motor Museum Trust, said: “We are sad that the National Motor Museum will be leaving Beaulieu but are at the same time very excited about this once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the Museum for the future.
“We want to thank the Montagu family for founding the Trust in 1970 and for their continued support as the Museum finds a new home and embarks on the next stage of its journey.
“A new home can refresh our whole approach, enable us to make the collection more accessible, expand our educational and community impact, and ensure Britain’s motoring story remains relevant.”
The National Motor Museum contains 270 vehicles and has outlined a 10-year strategy to “radically transform” the attraction.
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This includes the creation of a new temporary exhibition gallery, establishing a learning hub and heritage vehicle workshop, and reimagining its Motoring Heritage Centre.
Lord Montagu of Beaulieu said his father’s goal was to celebrate British motoring, which has grown “beyond what anyone at the time envisaged”.
He added: “The charity’s long-term aims will now stand the best chance of being achieved if it can be based in a new home. I remain committed to honouring my father’s legacy by continuing to do all I can to support the trust.
“Wherever the National Motor Museum and its collections may be located in the future, Beaulieu will continue to develop as a leading south coast attraction, offering a comparable range of experiences to what people enjoy today, with cars remaining very much a part of our identity.”
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