British Lawnmower Museum
A small museum in Southport showing about 300 restored lawnmowers from the first patent of the 1800s to robot mowers, including machines owned by celebrities.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The British Lawnmower Museum in Southport is a privately funded museum dedicated to the engineering heritage of garden machinery. It says it receives no grants and relies on the public. It occupies the premises of a garden machinery business in Shakespeare Street, which also sells new machines and spare parts and restores vintage mowers.
According to the museum, it displays about 300 restored machines from a collection of more than a thousand, covering the whole history of the lawnmower. The story runs from Edwin Budding, who patented the first grass-cutting machine in the early 19th century, through the Victorian and later makers to the first robot mower of 1995, which cost one million pounds to develop. Visitors see early machines such as a water-cooled boiler mower and some of the fastest and most expensive mowers in the world, as well as snow scooters and outboard motors powered by mower engines.
A special exhibition, Lawnmowers of the Rich and Famous, shows machines once owned by well-known people, including members of the royal family, musicians, television presenters and comedians. The museum has an archive of patents, manuals and advertising material, its curator leads tours, and it lends vintage machinery for film and television work.
Highlights
- About 300 restored lawnmowers from a collection of over a thousand
- Lawnmowers of the Rich and Famous exhibition
- Early boiler-powered mowers
- Some of the fastest and most expensive lawnmowers in the world
- Robot mower of 1995
- Guided tours with the museum's guides
Permanent exhibition
- Lawnmowers of the Rich and Famous – Restored lawnmowers once owned by well-known people from royalty, television and music.
- Founded
- 1945
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £3 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | £1 |
| Grass Roots guided tour (up to 4 people) | £33.33 |
| Gift guided tour (up to 4 people) | £45 |
| Grass Roots, Gift and Backstage tour (up to 4 people) | £83.33 |
Entrance fee is £3 for adults and £1 for children. A signed Haynes lawnmower manual and the museum DVD include free entry. Guided tours should be booked in advance.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Children's tickets cost £1.
Getting there & parking
The museum is at 106 to 112 Shakespeare Street in Southport, close to Royal Birkdale golf course.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
The museum shop sells souvenirs, postcards, models, clothing, mugs, books and a DVD, and the business also sells spare parts, vintage restored lawnmowers and new garden machinery.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Guided tours are led by the museum's guides. Another listing describes a one-hour Cutting Edge tour for groups, with pre-booking recommended. Vintage mowers can be hired for film and television use. |
