Aldridge Transport Museum
Volunteer-run museum in Aldridge with historic West Midlands buses, coaches, trams and other road vehicles, some in restoration, and frequent event days.
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About the museum
The museum was founded as the Aston Manor Road Transport Museum and was formally opened on 14 November 1988 by Charles, then Prince of Wales, during his 40th birthday party. It occupied the former Birmingham Corporation Tramways Witton tram depot in the Aston district of Birmingham and was run by a charity. When Birmingham City Council decided to stop funding the rent, the museum closed there in October 2011.
The collection moved first to a business park in Aldridge, Walsall, and then a short distance to its present home on Shenstone Drive, where the museum opened to the public in July 2013. Since then it has kept its bus collection and added more light commercial vehicles. The museum is entirely volunteer run and self-funded, and the vehicles on display are changed over with others held in storage off site.
The collection shows the legacy of road transport in the West Midlands, with buses and coaches from Midland Red, Birmingham City Transport and West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive, an AEC Routemaster, a Birmingham tram and a horse-drawn butcher's cart, along with transport memorabilia and vehicles in various stages of restoration. On event days free classic buses connect the museum with Walsall.
Highlights
- Buses and coaches from Midland Red, Birmingham City Transport and the West Midlands PTE
- An AEC Routemaster and a Birmingham Corporation tram
- Vehicles in various stages of restoration
- Transport memorabilia with a West Midlands focus
- Event days with free classic bus rides from Walsall
Permanent exhibitions
- Bus and coach collection – Buses and coaches of Midland Red, Birmingham City Transport, West Midlands PTE and other operators, including a London Routemaster.
- Trams and horse-drawn vehicles – A Birmingham Corporation tram and a horse-drawn butcher's cart among the older vehicles.
- Founded
- 1988
- Operated by
- Aston Manor Road Transport Museum Ltd (registered charity)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £5 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | £2free up to age 4 · Child ticket for ages 5 to 15; children under 5 are free. |
| Visitors with disabilities | –Carers are normally admitted free with a paying visitor, at the discretion of museum staff, one carer per visitor. |
| Families | £132 adults and up to 3 children. |
| Event day, adult (16+) | £7 |
| Event day, child (5 to 15) | £2 |
| Event day, family (2 adults and up to 3 children) | £17 |
Free admission: Free admission on Heritage Open Days weekends.
Standard prices apply on normal opening days and event-day prices on event days. There are no advance tickets; pay on arrival by cash or card. Members get free admission.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The museum lists no accessibility details on its pages; carers are normally admitted free.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 4 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | £13 · 2 adults and up to 3 children. |
A family ticket is available. On event days there are bus rides, and children from 5 to 15 pay a reduced price.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Northgate / Leighswood Avenue (buses 7 and 35A)
The nearest railway station is Walsall. From there, buses 7 or 35A run to the junction of Northgate and Leighswood Avenue, from where it is a short walk north along Northgate. Several bus services stop in Aldridge, and some stop on Northgate itself.
By car
Parking available
On-site parking is available on non-event days; on event days a free park-and-ride service runs from Aldridge Community Centre.
On event days a free classic bus service runs between Walsall (Hatherton Road) and the museum.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum has a shop with transport memorabilia and models. Refreshments are offered on event days.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | Event days include running days with bus rides, collectors' fairs and Heritage Open Days. A virtual tour is available on the website. |
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