Detour Pit Stop #97: Haynes Motor Museum, UK
Haynes Motor Museum is home to the UK’s largest collection of cars and motorcycles.
Opened in 1985, in Sparkford, just outside of Yeovil, the museum’s collection has grown to over 400 vehicles along with a large collection of driving memorabilia.
The museum was founded by John Haynes, who invested in it after the successful creation of The Haynes Manual franchise. It is a registered charity and remains a must-see destination for any petrolhead, with over 2 million visitors to date.
The museum has something for everyone. It is divided into many sections, including Veteran & Vintage, The American Dream and The Red Room, a room devoted to red sports cars from all around the globe. There is also a section called Ferrari: The Man and The Machine, devoted to the history of the famous car brand and the man behind it.
The Somerset-based Museum will transport you all over the world with sections devoted to British & World Motorcycles, Wheels Around The World and The Hall Of Motorsport. You can find other sections throughout the rest of the space: The Dawn of Motoring, Minis & Macros, Great British Marques, The Morris Story, Memory Lane and Travelling In Style.
Each visit to a car museum is made more exciting by playing the game ‘if could take just ONE of the vehicles home with you, which one would it be?” A game difficult which leaves you spoilt for choice thanks to the large array of vehicles, with answers bound to change on each visit.
Far from being just a museum, Haynes also hosts a variety of meetups, family fun days and has its own karting track.
With something for everyone, Haynes Motor Museum is the perfect pit stop for any car lover.
Words Robert Prendergast