National Motorcycle Museum

Over het museum

The National Motorcycle Museum was founded by William Roy Richards (1931-2008), a Birmingham businessman who had built up one of the largest private collections of British motorcycles in the country. In 1980 he decided to create a museum for the history, people and products of the British motorcycle industry. The purpose-built museum opened in October 1984 with around 350 machines on display, and conference and banqueting facilities and two hotels were added later by the same owners.

The collection has since grown to more than 1,000 motorcycles from some 170 manufacturers, and about 850 of them are on show at any one time in five large display halls. The earliest pioneer machine dates from 1898, and the collection runs through to British superbikes of the 21st century. The museum says its motorcycles are restored to the original manufacturers' specifications.

The museum stands beside Junction 6 of the M42 motorway, opposite the National Exhibition Centre, in the same grounds as the National Conference Centre. Its racing team, formed in 2015, shows some of the competition machines on track, and the museum holds regular events and runs guided tours.

Hoogtepunten

• More than 1,000 British motorcycles from about 170 makers
• Around 850 machines on show in five display halls
• Earliest pioneer machine from 1898
• Competition and racing machines, including Norton rotary racers
• Free guided public tour on Fridays
• Free parking and a foyer food court with free Wi-Fi

Opgericht

1984

Directie

James Hewing

Bezoekers per jaar

ca. 250.000

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

The museum uses a cashless system: admission, shop and foyer food court purchases must be paid by credit or debit card. Entry to the foyer food court is free.

Toegankelijkheid

• Rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift: geen informatie
• Aangepast toilet
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

The museum has step-free access and wheelchair or mobility buggy access to most areas. A limited number of wheelchairs can be borrowed free of charge on a first come, first served basis. Accessible toilets are on the ground floor, as are the cafe and shop. Designated parking spaces for visitors with disabilities are close to the main entrance. All assistance dogs, including guide dogs, hearing dogs and psychiatric or PTSD assistance dogs, are welcome throughout the museum. The museum can be busy and noisy on event days, when some motorcycles may be started, and staff advise contacting them in advance about the quietest times. The foyer food court is a separate place to take a break.

Kinderen & gezin

Child and family tickets are available. Private guided tours can be booked as a birthday treat for an individual. The foyer food court is open to families and offers food for younger guests.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

The museum is directly on the island at Junction 6 of the M42 motorway, opposite the NEC. When near the NEC and airport on the A45, follow the brown signs; the postcode for satellite navigation is B92 0EJ. Birmingham Airport is very close, with a taxi rank journey of less than 5 minutes.

Service & horeca

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museumwinkel
• Wifi

The foyer food court on the ground floor serves coffee, tea, hot snacks, paninis, soups, baked potatoes, sandwiches and cakes, and entry to it is free. Free Wi-Fi is offered to customers of the foyer food court. The museum shop sells books and gifts. There is a riding gear storage service for motorcyclists.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

• Ruimtes te huur
• Privéfeesten
• Zakelijke evenementen
• Bruiloften / trouwceremonies

Tot 1.000 personen.

The National Conference Centre, on the same site, has 13 purpose-built suites; the largest, the Imperial Suite, can host 1,000 people. The museum also welcomes club meetings, annual general meetings and group functions.

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