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Great Rides: Transport Museums a short ride from Fowlers of Bristol
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Sometimes a day out is more about the destination than the journey. Within a couple of hours riding from Fowlers’ Bristol showrooms you’ll find museums that trace the story of everything with an engine, from world-famous collections to hidden gems run by volunteers. Here they are, closest to furthest, each with its own reason to plan a ride.
The industrial one: M Shed, Bristol Harbourside (on our doorstep)
Located in the heart of Bristol’s historic port, close to SS Great Britain, M Shed tells the city’s story from prehistoric times to the present day, with galleries on the its industrial and maritime past, working exhibits, and rides on Britain's only dockside steam railway behind a Bristol-built locomotive.
From Fowlers, head west on York Road, cross the River Avon at Bedminster Bridge and follow Commercial Road across Bathurst Basin, and up Wapping Street to M Shed.
Free entry, open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am – 5pm, with a café on the ground floor and a shop.
https://www.bristolmuseums.org.uk/m-shed/
Flying high: Aerospace Bristol, Filton (around 6 miles)
A short hop north of the city, Aerospace Bristol is home to Concorde Alpha Foxtrot, the last of these supersonic jets ever built and the last to fly. The wider collection includes the Rolls-Royce Aero Engine hangar and aircraft built right here in the West of England.
Starting from Fowlers, take the M32 out of Bristol, leaving at the A4174 Filton Road. Then take the A36 Gloucester Road North and follow signs to Bristol Aerospace.
Open daily, 10am – 4:30pm, with free parking, a shop, and the Flightline Kitchen + Bar serving food and drink all day; that part's open to anyone.
The hidden gem: Atwell-Wilson Motor Museum, Calne (around 33 miles)
Run entirely by a charitable trust, this small Wiltshire museum punches well above its weight: over 100 cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles dating from the 1920s onward, plus a recreated 1930s garage.
Leave Fowlers and follow the A4 Bath Road to the A4174 Ring Road. Then take the A420 through Warmley and all the way to Chippenham, where you follow signs to Calne and the museum.
Open Tuesday to Sunday and bank holiday Mondays, February to November, 10am – 4pm. There's plenty of parking and hot drinks and snacks at reception, though it's more of a pit stop than a proper café, so it's worth filling up at Harry’sCafe first if you want a full meal.
The big one: Haynes Motor Museum, Sparkford (around 40 miles)
One of the UK's largest collections of cars and motorcycles, with over 300 vehicles under one roof, including the famous Red Room of classic sports cars and a run of historic Grand Prix machinery.
Ride south on the A37 from Fowlers to Shepton Mallet, then follow the A371 through Castle Cary and take the A359 to Sparkford.
Open daily, 10am – 5:30pm, with its own Café 750 for barista coffee and grab-and-go food, picnic areas if you'd rather bring your own, and a well-stocked gift shop.
The new one: County Classics Motor Museum, Taunton (around 48 miles)
Britain’s newest Motor Museum aims to reverse the decline of the centre in Somerset’s historic county town. The focus is on cars and motorcycles from from the 1950s to the 1990s, though exhibits range from 1915 to the early 2000s.
The quickest route from Fowlers is via the M5 Motorway, however, following the A38 south through Bridgewater to Taunton is more scenic and enjoyable on a motorcycle.
Open Tuesday-Saturday, with an upstairs cafe that’s free for the public to use, without entering the museum.
https://www.countyclassicsmotormuseum.co.uk/
The picturesque one: Cotswold Motoring Museum & Toy Collection, Bourton-on-the-Water (around 50 miles)
Set in one of the prettiest villages in the Cotswolds, this collection of 20th-century cars, motorcycles and vintage caravans is also the on-screen home of Brum, the small yellow star of the much-loved children's TV series.
Open daily, 10am – 6pm. The museum itself runs to a shop rather than a café, but that's no hardship: Bourton-on-the-Water has great eateries and is well worth a visit.
Six very different days out, all within reach of a single tank of fuel. Pick one, plan the route, and let the museum do the rest.