John, 2nd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu, was himself an automotive pioneer: in 1899, he became the first person to drive an automobile—a 12-hp Daimler—into the courtyard of the House of Commons. Among other things, he was a co-founder of one of the first British automotive magazines (“The Car Illustrated,” 1902) and a strong advocate for motorist-friendly legislation in England.
When his son Edward inherited the title at around age two following the Baron’s death (1929), he later, at age 25, faced heavy tax burdens on the estate (inheritance tax, maintenance). He drew inspiration from other lords facing the same problem—such as Lord Bath with his safari park—and decided to open Beaulieu to the public.
He began in 1952 at Palace House, where he displayed five vehicles in the entrance hall. The centerpiece of the very first exhibition was his father’s De Dion-Bouton (1903).
From a Family Museum to a National Foundation
The museum’s true beginnings came in 1956, when a wooden building on the grounds was converted into the “Montagu Motor Museum.” In 1967, Montagu launched the first Beaulieu Autojumble—now world-famous—which will continue to be held in Beaulieu even after the National Motor Museum relocates. In July 1972, the museum building was officially opened by the Duke of Kent; at the same time, it was transferred to the National Motor Museum Trust, which transformed the private collection into a nonprofit foundation with a national mission.
The lease is expiring
And this brings us to the main issue: The lease agreement with the Montagu family expires in 2030 and will not be renewed. Negotiations regarding an extension lasted two years, but the talks unfortunately proved fruitless. The reasons cited include space constraints and infrastructure that is no longer sufficient for the steadily growing collection. At the new location, the Trust therefore also plans to establish an education and training center for “Heritage Engineering” apprentices.
Not everyone is happy about the announcement: Nicky Deering of the Beaulieu Parish Council says they were “in shock at the news” and were apparently only informed one week before the official statement.
Funding and Ticket Prices
The Beaulieu Estate attracted 306,681 visitors to the town in 2024 and is one of the most important economic drivers in the New Forest region. It is important to note that the National Motor Museum accounts for about 75 percent of museum visitors but received only a small share of admission revenue (GBP 27.56 per ticket, as of August 2026). For its modernization project, including the planned training center for heritage engineering, the Trust relied on grants from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, which in turn required a renegotiated, fairer revenue-sharing agreement with the Beaulieu Estate. According to insiders, it was precisely this renegotiation of the lease and revenue-sharing agreement that failed in July 2026, ultimately prompting the Trust to seek a new location.
What Remains in Beaulieu
Despite the departure, Beaulieu Estate does not intend to abandon its connection to motoring. About 29 vehicles owned by the Montagu family, including the Sunbeam 1000 HP land-speed record car, the De Dion-Bouton (1903), and a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost (1909), will remain on site and form the foundation for its own, smaller automobile museum. Palace House, the abbey, the monorail, and the calendar of events—most notably the Autojumble—are also set to continue as before. Beaulieu emphasizes that it has been operating a car museum for over 70 years and will continue to do so in the future; motoring remains “very much a part of our identity.”
What’s Next
No one knows yet where the National Motor Museum will ultimately end up. The museum is looking for a location with at least 4,650 square meters (50,000 sq ft) and better transportation access than the somewhat remote New Forest. Although the current lease with Beaulieu runs until 2030, insiders suggest the move could take place sooner. For visitors, nothing is expected to change in the meantime, but what comes next is likely to be one of the most exciting chapters in the museum’s 74-year history.
Visit the National Motor Museum before it moves!!
Address: The National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, Brockenhurst, Hampshire SO42 7ZN, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 1590 614650
Collection: Approximately 250 to 280 vehicles, 1.9 million archival items
Website: nationalmotormuseum.org.
