Brooklands Museum

• From the Race Track and the Motoring Village to the Stratosphere Chamber, there are so many interactive exhibitions to explore at the Brooklands Museum.
• Engineering fans will adore the vast collection of vintage vehicles on display throughout the museum’s eight permanent exhibitions.
• Don’t forget to set foot aboard the Concorde, one of the first test models of the famous aircraft.
• Enjoy yourself at one of the many fun family events that take place in the museum throughout the year.

If you’re looking for some fun things to do in Surrey with the family, Brooklands Museum is the place for you. This motor museum houses a vast collection of vintage cars, engines and planes for the public to see and interact with.

With a rich, fascinating history behind the grounds combined with the exciting interactive exhibitions, this is the perfect place to bring the children for a great day out that everyone can enjoy.

Brooklands was built in the year 1906 as the very first purpose-built racing circuit in the world. The race track is 2.75 miles long and still stands to this day as a major attraction to visitors.

It wasn't until 1984 that the museum was established on the grounds in order to preserve the history of the area, as well as bring the untold stories of Brooklands back to life.

Today it has grown from its humble beginnings into an exciting and busy destination with many activities and exhibitions for the public to partake in. This car museum attracts an average of 200,000 people per year and is a brilliant location to have some family fun while also learning about local history.

There are eight permanent galleries stationed across the museum for visitors to come and explore at their own leisure.

Spend some time in The First to the Fastest exhibition to walk through the timeline of aviation development. Brooklands was at the centre for a lot of invention and innovation during the 20th-century rush to create the best aeroplane.

This area of the museum shows a lot of models of aircraft that were made in the factory as well as providing lots of interesting facts and figures about the people behind the machines.

There are many more planes on display at the Brooklands Aircraft Factory exhibition, which is designed to look like a real factory floor and invites visitors to interact with hands-on activities that demonstrate how these planes are built.

There is also the Flight Shed, located inside the factory. Here visitors can find out the stories of the pilots who flew these magnificent machines as well as take a seat in the pilot's chair of some of the most impressive models, like the Hawker Hunter.

Children will love the interactive element of this museum; there is no better way to learn and have fun at the same time.

Take a step outside and see the restored Clubhouse and Paddock in all its former glory. Here viewers can get a taste of how the elite Brooklands members spent their spare time in between races.

Don’t forget to check out the Motoring Village, a series of sheds each with their own unique exhibitions inside. From the Penny Farthing to the Grand Prix there are so many vintage vehicles on display here to see and learn about.

A fan-favourite activity at the museum is the tour of the Concorde. For a small extra price visitors can climb aboard one of the most iconic planes of the 20th century.

Get a tour of the interior, learn about the secrets behind the manufacturing of this great machine and why it has since been retired.

For the truly dedicated, the Brooklands Museum offers a Concorde Simulator Flight service where you can get a feel of what it’s like behind the wheel. Please note, visitors are required to book the flight simulator online as it is a very popular attraction and is often booked out months in advance.

There is always something exciting happening at the Brooklands Museum, from fun family events to themed days there is so much to see. Past events include American Day, a celebration of the great motor innovation that came from the USA.

Military Vehicles Day, a show of all the impressive vintage vehicles used in the British Army throughout the years.

Don’t miss the exciting Motorsports Days where many of the cars from the collection are taken out of retirement and brought around the track in a fast paced race. These special days are full of fun and interesting facts, bring the kids along for a brilliant excursion they won’t forget.

If you're into trains, plains and everything in between, check out the De Havilland Aircraft Museum or the London Transport Museum too.

What to know before you go

• The Brooklands Museum is open every day except for Tuesday from 10am - 5pm.
• A ticket to the Brooklands Museum will also give you access to the London Bus Museum, located next door.
• The Sunbeams Cafe is located inside the museum and serves light refreshments to all visitors. There is also an option for visitors to pre-book a picnic hamper filled with delicious food and snacks.
• The gift shop is located by the entrance to the museum where visitors can pick up some unique souvenirs.
• There are toilets, including wheelchair-accessible toilets, and baby-changing facilities available on site.
• The Brooklands Museum is wheelchair accessible with ramp access to all exhibits. Unfortunately there is no wheelchair access within the aeroplanes, but the Concorde Simulator is fully accessible.
• Assistance dogs are welcome on site.

How to get there

• Brooklands Museum is located in Weybridge, Surrey.
• The closest station is Weybridge, about a 20-minute walk from the Brooklands Museum.
• The Arriva Bus route 436 has a stop at the Brooklands Hotel, just a short walk away from the museum.
• There is a car park at the museum which visitors can avail of for free.