North West Museum of Road Transport
Volunteer-run museum of historic buses and road vehicles in a former tram and bus depot in St Helens, open at weekends.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The museum occupies the former St Helens tram depot on Hall Street, which was built in 1881 for horse-drawn trams. Over the following century the building housed steam and electric trams, trolleybuses and motor buses, first for St Helens Corporation and later for the Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive. Bus operations in the depot ended in 1985.
The museum society took a lease on the building from St Helens Council, which still owns it, and moved in during 1986. The roof was in poor condition, and the museum had to close to the public in 1994, although members carried on working on the vehicles. After a major renovation paid for by several grants and a large contribution from the museum itself, including a new roof, the museum reopened in 2006.
The collection consists of buses owned by the museum and by private members, commercial and fire-fighting vehicles, and cars, light commercial vehicles and emergency vehicles. The oldest motor vehicle is La France, a 1914 fire engine with a 14.5-litre petrol engine and chain drive. The museum also keeps a library of more than 1,000 items and has workshops where vehicles are restored.
Highlights
- Former horse-tram depot built in 1881
- Museum-owned and privately owned historic buses
- La France, a 1914 fire engine and the oldest motor vehicle in the collection
- Commercial, fire-fighting and emergency vehicles
- Heritage bus running days with free rides
Permanent exhibition
- Historic bus and vehicle collection – Museum-owned and privately owned buses, commercial and fire-fighting vehicles, cars and emergency vehicles, including the 1914 fire engine La France.
- Founded
- 1981
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £7.50 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 15 · Accompanied children under 16 are free, up to four children per group. |
| Visitors with disabilities | £7.50companion free · One accompanying carer is free. |
Concession and family prices are not published.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The museum site gives no information on step-free access or toilets. Dogs are welcome if their owners keep them under control.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 15 |
|---|
Heritage bus running days include free rides on historic buses around St Helens, and there is a Santa weekend in December.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
St Helens Central railway station
St Helens Central railway station is a few minutes' walk away. The town's bus station is being rebuilt, and a temporary bus station on Chalon Way is about 15 minutes' walk away.
By car
Parking available
A small public car park opposite the museum entrance, parking on nearby streets, and Birchley Street car park near the Town Hall (about a 10-minute walk, signed with brown tourist signs).
Roadworks have closed the junction of Hall Street and Corporation Street; access by road is from Shaw Street and from Hall Street to the north.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
A new museum shop is mentioned on the website. Rainhill Model Railway Club shows its model railways in the museum on special event days.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | School groups are welcome on weekdays throughout the year. The charge is 3.50 GBP per child; teachers, classroom assistants and parents are free. Each visit includes up to four information packs on road, rail and canal transport. A virtual tour of the museum is available online. |
