Lakeland Motor Museum
Lakeland Motor Museum
4.5
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Sunday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
About
The Lakeland Motor Museum nestles in the picturesque Leven Valley, at Backbarrow, close to the southern tip of Lake Windermere in the beautiful English Lake District.This thought-provoking attraction provides a perfect 'whatever the weather', all year venue, which entertains and enthrals all ages.Our free educational quiz helps pass on knowledge and understanding.We offer combined ticketing with Windermere Lake Cruises and the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Steam Railway.The museum's adjacent Cafe Ambio has a beautiful riverside setting and our welcoming gift shop is among the best of places to find the perfect present for any occasion.
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- Alexandra L2 contributionsIncredible museumIncredibly friendly staff with amazing knowledge of all the vehicles. Was so lovely chatting to them! The exhibit was so well thought out, placed and so easy to navigate. The line of history in the museum is very much something worth seeing! Thank you so much to the team and those in which made the experience unforgettableThank you so much for your kind words. We're delighted that you had a positive experience, enjoyed our exhibits and found our staff to be friendly and knowledgeable. Your endorsement of our museum is much appreciated and we hope we can look forward to welcoming you back in the future.Written 8 March 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited March 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 2 March 2024
- Tom BChesterfield, United Kingdom979 contributionsExcellentThis a great motor museum indeed. Huge collection of cars bikes and a Bluebird section including car and film full size replica of boat. Everything from signs to petrol cans upwards. We'll worth the visit and good café and parking.Thank you for posting such a positive review. Your kind comments and your endorsement of our museum (and Cafe Ambio) are much appreciated by our team. We're really pleased to know that you enjoyed your visit and hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back in the future.Written 8 March 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited March 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 4 March 2024
- patricia fYork, United Kingdom562 contributionsRainy Day VisitAs it was an awful day,we decided the motor museum was an ideal destination,we were not disappointed. We are a couple aged 80 & 82,this museum was pure nostalgia as a lot of the cars we knew when they were first in circulation. Being in a wheelchair the best thing for me was the lift up to the viewing gallery,as so often we can only look on ground level. Would recommend this museum,fascinating displays.We really appreciate you taking the time to post a review and are delighted that Lakeland Motor Museum gave you the opportunity to engage in a nostalgic tour on a rainy Lake District day. Thank you, also, for letting us know that there was adequate provision made for your wheelchair. We do consider the museum to be accessible but it's great to have that confirmed by people such as yourselves. Finally, thank you for recommending our museum, we're glad you enjoyed it and hope you will visit again in the future.Written 28 March 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited March 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 27 March 2024
- Delilah62 contributionsWell worth a visit for a rainy day activityWhat a superb indoor activity. 11 of us went (aged 16-83). Everyone really enjoyed it. Dogs are welcome too. Lots to see and tons of information. Not just a motor museum; also fashion, old arcade games, war history and social history. The vehicles are spotless and beautifully preserved and presented in a light and airy room. From bicycles to mopeds and motorbikes. £8 entry fee but we’ll worth it. Fantastic on-site cafe too and price for museum includes Bluebird museum too.At Lakeland Motor Museum we aim to cater for a wide range of ages and interests; therefore, we're delighted to hear that everyone in your family group enjoyed their experience so much. Your kind comments regarding the variety and condition of our exhibits are much appreciated and we're pleased that you feel the entrance fee was justified. We'd like to thank you very much for posting a review and we hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back again in the future.Written 5 April 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited March 2024Travelled with familyWritten 30 March 2024
- Piston Broke28Wirral, United Kingdom130 contributionsA mustDecided to go when it was pouring with rain as it was undercover. It truly is an excellent museum of very old cars up to roundabout the 1980s. Had fun telling my 21 year-old son about the Sinclair C5. He was very impressed with the quality and how well preserved the very old cars from the 1930s and 40s were The attraction was of course bluebird which is exhibited separately I watch the video of Mr Campbell’s attempts failures and successes over the years and found this very informative but it was also quite upsetting as well to think he passed away Truly a brilliant afternoon Out. A shout out to the café called Ambios. had a nice cup of tea and some lunch there brilliant day really enjoyed it. Well worth a visit.We really appreciate your kind words and are thrilled to know that you had such an enjoyable day at Lakeland Motor Museum and Cafe Ambio - despite the disappointing Lake District weather! Thank you for taking the time to post such a detailed review and thank you for your kind recommendation of our museum. We hope to have the privilege of welcoming you back in the future.Written 19 April 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited April 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 12 April 2024
- EwenD5Blackpool, United Kingdom16 contributionsSuperb small museum, well worth a visitExcellent museum with a superb variety of cars and motorbikes of varying ages. Lots of historical and nostalgic displays with great information. Also the Donald Campbell exhibition and story is well worth a look. Nice cafe and great staff throughoutThank you for taking the time to post a review. We are thrilled that you enjoyed your visit to our museum and Cafe Ambio and we're especially pleased to read your kind comment regarding our staff. We hope you will pay us another visit in the future when we will look forward to welcoming you back.Written 19 April 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited April 2024Travelled soloWritten 17 April 2024
- Christopher S30 contributionsGreat day out come rain or shineI visited for the second time on a wet and windy day out in Cumbria and really enjoyed going around the museum and my children did too. Some of the cars are amazing and it's nice to see the collection is still changing and the museum hasn't stayed static. Really nice day out.Thank you for posting a review and for your kind comments. Our indoor museum is an all-weather attraction and with an ever-changing display and recreations it's always worth a repeat visit. We love to welcome returning visitors, such as yourselves, and we're very pleased to know that you, and your family, found an interesting and enjoyable way of spending a wet and windy Lake District day.Written 3 May 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited April 2024Travelled with familyWritten 30 April 2024
- Paul Q480 contributionsHighly recommended museumFantastic museum. Very interesting throughout. Has a dedicated section to the IoM TT races, Donald & Malcom Campbell, bicycles, vintage arcade games & much more, plus free parking & a cafe. Highly recommended for a 2 hour or so visitThank you for taking the time to post a review. Your kind comments and your recommendation of our museum are appreciated. We're delighted that you enjoyed your visit and hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back in the future.Written 9 May 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited April 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 4 May 2024
- Joan WNottinghamshire, United Kingdom111 contributionsDon’t wait for a rainy day to visit!!!!What an absolute gem to visit, don’t leave it just for a rainy day!! It’s a very reasonably priced attraction, full of fabulous exhibits from cars to cycles, clothes to children’s toys. It also has a very nice cafe on site, which serves something for everyone. Part of the site has a dedicated to the Campbells & land speed records exhibitions. All very good and well layer out.Gary and Joan, we were delighted to read your glowing review and we're thrilled that you had such an enjoyable day at Lakeland Motor Museum and cafe Ambio. We'd like to thank you for sharing your experience and for your kind words and endorsement of our museum. We hope to have the privilege of welcoming you back in the future - rain or shine!Written 23 May 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited May 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 20 May 2024
- Twin_Town_1997Worcestershire, United Kingdom171 contributionsStunning Museum..well worth a visit !A lovely small museum which does not disappoint. There is a large range of quality Cars and Motorbikes displayed in the museum which bring back a lot of memories from years gone by. There is also a display in a separate hall of Donald Campbell's various vehicles which he used to break various records..these are replica's. Car parking is free and is opposite the museum. Access is simple..just a short walk across the road. The cafe on site serves quality food and drinks. All in all a lovely museum to spend a few hours walking around.Thank you for your kind comments and your recommendation of our museum. We're delighted to know that you were able to spend an enjoyable few hours browsing our exhibits and that you appreciated the free parking, accessibility and the good quality food offered at Cafe Ambio, on site. We hope you will consider that we are worth a second visit and it would be our privilege to welcome you back.Written 15 June 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited June 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 9 June 2024
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4.5
1,764 reviews
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Woodster
Braintree, UK80 contributions
Aug 2024 • Family
We planned this museum into our itinerary whilst visiting the Lake District as a wet weather attraction. We'd heard many good stories about this place from friends and online reviews so we thought let's check it out, we like cars and we like museums!
The weather for our trip turned out to be one of the funniest of the year so we spend a good deal out and about, because that's what you do in the Lake District. We thought we were not going to fit the visit in, until one morning it was so wet and dreary so alas we got in the car and headed down.
The car park is more than ample to handle decent numbers and is literally across the road from the museum. Upon entering we paid at the entrance via the shop and had a lovely chat with the staff. They explained toilets, what to look out for and was a nice change to miserable staff in other museums.
The museum itself was a treasure trove of vehicles and motoring memorabilia from years past and there was always something that caught your eye wherever you looked. The museum is not the largest place considering its location but boy they have thought and planned this out magnificently.
We spend a good two hours here in awe at the exhibits and reminiscing about the old cars that were once road Worthing in our childhood.
It's a great little place to spend a few hours.
Downsides - it's small so can easily get overcrowded quickly and make enjoyment a little difficult when people get in the way. Photo opportunities aren't the best and you are stuck with where you can access to get a decent photo.
The gift shop is surprisingly good and is probably one of the best I've seen in a museum setting.
The cafe onsite is fantastic too but the menu is limited to what my kids called 'old people fodder' and offered nothing exciting. It's ok for a cuppa and some cake.
The weather for our trip turned out to be one of the funniest of the year so we spend a good deal out and about, because that's what you do in the Lake District. We thought we were not going to fit the visit in, until one morning it was so wet and dreary so alas we got in the car and headed down.
The car park is more than ample to handle decent numbers and is literally across the road from the museum. Upon entering we paid at the entrance via the shop and had a lovely chat with the staff. They explained toilets, what to look out for and was a nice change to miserable staff in other museums.
The museum itself was a treasure trove of vehicles and motoring memorabilia from years past and there was always something that caught your eye wherever you looked. The museum is not the largest place considering its location but boy they have thought and planned this out magnificently.
We spend a good two hours here in awe at the exhibits and reminiscing about the old cars that were once road Worthing in our childhood.
It's a great little place to spend a few hours.
Downsides - it's small so can easily get overcrowded quickly and make enjoyment a little difficult when people get in the way. Photo opportunities aren't the best and you are stuck with where you can access to get a decent photo.
The gift shop is surprisingly good and is probably one of the best I've seen in a museum setting.
The cafe onsite is fantastic too but the menu is limited to what my kids called 'old people fodder' and offered nothing exciting. It's ok for a cuppa and some cake.
Written 17 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for posting a comprehensive and positive review of Lakeland Motor Museum. Your kind comments regarding our staff team, our gift shop, our exhibits and layout are much appreciated and we're pleased that you were able to enjoy some reminiscing. Unfortunately, as the museum is very popular, it does get busy at times - particularly when the weather is less favourable and visitors are looking for an indoor activity. We hope this experience did not detract too much from your enjoyment of the day and hope that we can look forward to welcoming you back in the future.
Written 19 September 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Clandy857
Sheffield, UK31 contributions
Sept 2024 • Couples
We had a rainy day so decided to go to the museum and we are so glad we did. It is absolutely fantastic and the fact it is dog friendly is amazing. The £12 entrance fee is extremely reasonable for what there is to see. We spent 2 and a half hours there which included us stopping for coffee and cake in the restaurant which was also reasonably priced. Friendly staff and a nice gift shop.
Written 26 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to post a review of your visit and thank you for your kind comments. We're delighted to know that you, and your four-legged friend, enjoyed your time at Lakeland Motor Museum and Cafe Ambio and that you considered the entrance fee to be good value for money. We hope we can look forward to welcoming you back again in the future.
Written 11 October 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Mark F
Bracknell, UK236 contributions
Jul 2024 • Family
We've been to quite a few motor museums on our travels over the years, and you can always guarantee there will be a Sinclair C5, and a Delorean car on display, and Lakeland did not let us down, there was indeed both lol.
There are some wonderful cars on display, all in a very good condition. You can tell time, money, and love has been invested in this museum. It's not the largest motor museum, but the space available is utilised very well.
Not only cars are on display, there are motor bikes, bicycles, and all manner of motor memorabilia. As an added bonus you have the separate Bluebird exhibition, with some great displays of the Campbell's record breaking exploits.
I'd recommend visiting the cafe, and if you're lucky enough to bag a table outside next to the river you might catch the steam trains arriving at the nearby Haverthwaite Railway.
We enjoyed our visit... it wasn't crowded, although quite busy, plus you have free parking opposite the museum. It's worth the £12 entry fee, £7.20 for children.
There are some wonderful cars on display, all in a very good condition. You can tell time, money, and love has been invested in this museum. It's not the largest motor museum, but the space available is utilised very well.
Not only cars are on display, there are motor bikes, bicycles, and all manner of motor memorabilia. As an added bonus you have the separate Bluebird exhibition, with some great displays of the Campbell's record breaking exploits.
I'd recommend visiting the cafe, and if you're lucky enough to bag a table outside next to the river you might catch the steam trains arriving at the nearby Haverthwaite Railway.
We enjoyed our visit... it wasn't crowded, although quite busy, plus you have free parking opposite the museum. It's worth the £12 entry fee, £7.20 for children.
Written 14 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for posting such a positive and detailed review of Lakeland Motor Museum and Cafe Ambio. It's always heartening to read reviews from visitors, such as yourself, who clearly appreciate the time and care which our team has invested into acquiring and caring for our exhibits. We're delighted that you enjoyed your visit and considered the entrance fee to be good value for money. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back again in the future.
Written 23 August 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Nippy22
Clacton-on-Sea, UK5 contributions
Sept 2024 • Friends
During a week long holiday in the lakes with friends, the weather forecast was rain so we needed to find an undercover activity to keep us busy and oh my did we hit the jackpot here. This wonderful museum was jam packed with exhibits big and small and beautifully laid out. An informative welcome greeted us and we then followed the arrows on the floor so we didn’t miss any of the cars, motorbikes, scooters, cycles, car and bike parts and so much more. All well explained at each exhibit with text and many videos. Having taken our time to enjoy seeing as much as we could, we then had a nice bit to eat in the superb cafe restaurant before finishing our visit in the Campbell Bluebird Exhibition before spending a few quid in the gift shop!
All four of us plus our 4 legged friend thoroughly enjoyed the experience!
Thank you
All four of us plus our 4 legged friend thoroughly enjoyed the experience!
Thank you
Written 19 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
It sounds as though you really made the most of your day at Lakeland Motor Museum and we'd like to thank you for posting your kind comments. We're thrilled to know that all four of you, as well as your four-legged friend, enjoyed your time with us and hope we can look forward to welcoming you back again in the future.
Written 11 October 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Marc W
Bracknell, UK574 contributions
Jul 2023 • Solo
This isn't the biggest motor museum you'll visit but it's still an interesting place to visit with some unique attractions.
I was greeted by a friendly staff member on arrival and was told I was first there. I always like getting to places before it gets crowded as it's much easier to take photos. The cars are well arranged in the building to get quite a few in whilst still being able to see them. There is a wide range of ages from quite early machines right up to a relatively modern Rover at the end. All the cars look to be well looked after and I enjoyed seeing them. In amongst the cars in the early part of the museum are some shop displays and other mocked up buildings such as a garage showing other interesting items relating to motoring. There's also an excellent small exhbition showing the buildings original usage. Then there's some more cars before signs showing the way to some more displays upstairs. This has the museums motorbike and cycle collections as well as an interesting display on the TT and especially John McGuiness with several of his racing bikes. There's also a great selection of old pedal cars and some interesting old car related arcade machines. The upper level also provides a balcony where you can get a view over the initial cars you see as you walk in as well as the cars leading to the exit. There are also some aviation exhibits hanging from the ceiling.
Back downstairs the cars and some more mock up buildings lead you to the exit and the gift shop. This would probably be worth the entrance fee on it's own but wait there's more! Across the courtyard of the museum is a second building with a Bluebird exhibition with full sized replicas of a Bluebird car and two of the record breaking boats. Although these are replicas, they are every bit as good as seeing the real thing. Surrounding them is an exhibition on the record breaking exploits of Sir Malcolm Campbell and his son Donald including a film about them. It's clear a lot of effort has gone into this exhibition and it's a welcome addition to the already excellent main museum.
The site also features a café which has possibly the best view of any I have been to. It has a small menu but the food is very good. A wider choice of hot meals would improve things but it's clean and again has friendly staff like the museum itself.
Overall it's a great place to spend half a day and I would certainly return the next time I visit the area.
I was greeted by a friendly staff member on arrival and was told I was first there. I always like getting to places before it gets crowded as it's much easier to take photos. The cars are well arranged in the building to get quite a few in whilst still being able to see them. There is a wide range of ages from quite early machines right up to a relatively modern Rover at the end. All the cars look to be well looked after and I enjoyed seeing them. In amongst the cars in the early part of the museum are some shop displays and other mocked up buildings such as a garage showing other interesting items relating to motoring. There's also an excellent small exhbition showing the buildings original usage. Then there's some more cars before signs showing the way to some more displays upstairs. This has the museums motorbike and cycle collections as well as an interesting display on the TT and especially John McGuiness with several of his racing bikes. There's also a great selection of old pedal cars and some interesting old car related arcade machines. The upper level also provides a balcony where you can get a view over the initial cars you see as you walk in as well as the cars leading to the exit. There are also some aviation exhibits hanging from the ceiling.
Back downstairs the cars and some more mock up buildings lead you to the exit and the gift shop. This would probably be worth the entrance fee on it's own but wait there's more! Across the courtyard of the museum is a second building with a Bluebird exhibition with full sized replicas of a Bluebird car and two of the record breaking boats. Although these are replicas, they are every bit as good as seeing the real thing. Surrounding them is an exhibition on the record breaking exploits of Sir Malcolm Campbell and his son Donald including a film about them. It's clear a lot of effort has gone into this exhibition and it's a welcome addition to the already excellent main museum.
The site also features a café which has possibly the best view of any I have been to. It has a small menu but the food is very good. A wider choice of hot meals would improve things but it's clean and again has friendly staff like the museum itself.
Overall it's a great place to spend half a day and I would certainly return the next time I visit the area.
Written 28 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
marcw957, thank you for posting such a detailed and positive review of Lakeland Motor Museum. It's clear that you took the time needed to appreciate and enjoy our exhibits and the details you provide will, undoubtedly, be helpful to other readers who are planning a visit. We are delighted to know that you enjoyed your experience so much and your kind words regarding the museum and Cafe Ambio are appreciated. It will be a pleasure to welcome you back.
Written 8 December 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kaywarrington007
Warrington, UK572 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
We had a great trip here, there was loads to see from old cars to old signs and tools, it was like going back in time and really interesting. A personal favourite was the 1966 amphicar which they showed a video of.
We were given a quiz to do which was interesting for my niece and there were loads of photo opportunities. Also included in the price was entry to the Donald Campbell Bluebird exhibition which was fascinating.
I would definitely recommend a trip here if you get the opportunity.
We were given a quiz to do which was interesting for my niece and there were loads of photo opportunities. Also included in the price was entry to the Donald Campbell Bluebird exhibition which was fascinating.
I would definitely recommend a trip here if you get the opportunity.
Written 27 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mariewarrington07, we'd like to thank you for your kind review and your recommendation of Lakeland Motor Museum. We're thrilled that you had an enjoyable time exploring our collection of vintage vehicles and taking a trip down 'Memory Lane'. We appreciate your reference to the quiz which we provide for younger visitors. and we're glad that it provided an element of fun and engagement for your niece. As you say, the ample photo opportunities throughout the museum allow visitors to capture memorable moments and relive their experiences upon returning home. Thank you again for visiting us and we hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back in the future.
Written 9 December 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Peter R
24 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
It has been a long while since me and my wife have been to the Lakeland Motor Museum. Since we last went, my wife had become disabled and needed wheelchair access. I was pleasantly suprised to see there was plenty of room to manoeuvre a wheelchair and also they had a lift to take a wheelchair to the upper floor.
The entrance charge is £11 per person as of oct 2023 which i thought was not too bad considering how much there is to see and how well the exhibits are documented.
Although not disabled myself, my wife is and i found it very difficult to access the Bluebird display which is a fair distance from the main building and over quite rough terrain pushing a wheelchair. It would have been hard also to access the Bluebird venue with a scooter i feel. Maybe there points may be taken onboard?
Great Family day out though for anyone with a love of Cars, Motorbikes and even Cycles plus you can take Photos in there too. I would recommend.
The entrance charge is £11 per person as of oct 2023 which i thought was not too bad considering how much there is to see and how well the exhibits are documented.
Although not disabled myself, my wife is and i found it very difficult to access the Bluebird display which is a fair distance from the main building and over quite rough terrain pushing a wheelchair. It would have been hard also to access the Bluebird venue with a scooter i feel. Maybe there points may be taken onboard?
Great Family day out though for anyone with a love of Cars, Motorbikes and even Cycles plus you can take Photos in there too. I would recommend.
Written 30 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your valuable feedback and for sharing your experience at Lakeland Motor Museum. We are delighted to hear that you were generally impressed with our wheelchair accessibility, particularly the ample room to move around in the main display area and the elevator to the upper floor. We are always striving to improve facilities for our visitors, and we value your comments regarding access to the Bluebird display which is housed in a separate building. We'd like to thank you for recommending Lakeland Motor Museum and hope you will visit again before too long.
Written 9 December 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Agatha D
Chester, UK230 contributions
Aug 2024 • Family
Forced to find something to do on a very rainy day, the family vote was for this place, and it worked out well.
Well I don't know if you HAVE to be into cars to enjoy this museum, but I suppose it helps. I've been to car museums before that I enjoyed less than this one, and it is because of the amazing variety of exhibits. As soon as you walk in, you might be thinking it is only a small building, but so much is packed into it, with not only stunning cars, but a treasure trove of collectible and fascinating items stuffed into display cases everywhere. I noted that even inside the cars, there were different ages of picnic baskets, coats and hats on the back seats - adding that special bit of historical detail. This collection has been put together with so much love and care, and I enjoyed every moment of our stroll around.
Highlights for us were Donald Campbell's bright blue Bentley, an Amphibious car imported from Germany, and a mint Ford Fiesta with a collection of Smurfs on the parcel shelf.
The gift shop was also pretty cool to look around too. We actually forgot to go and see the Bluebird Exhibition (included in our ticket) because we had enjoyed ourselves so much, which was a shame. Anyway, it was definitely a good 2 hours well spent.
Well I don't know if you HAVE to be into cars to enjoy this museum, but I suppose it helps. I've been to car museums before that I enjoyed less than this one, and it is because of the amazing variety of exhibits. As soon as you walk in, you might be thinking it is only a small building, but so much is packed into it, with not only stunning cars, but a treasure trove of collectible and fascinating items stuffed into display cases everywhere. I noted that even inside the cars, there were different ages of picnic baskets, coats and hats on the back seats - adding that special bit of historical detail. This collection has been put together with so much love and care, and I enjoyed every moment of our stroll around.
Highlights for us were Donald Campbell's bright blue Bentley, an Amphibious car imported from Germany, and a mint Ford Fiesta with a collection of Smurfs on the parcel shelf.
The gift shop was also pretty cool to look around too. We actually forgot to go and see the Bluebird Exhibition (included in our ticket) because we had enjoyed ourselves so much, which was a shame. Anyway, it was definitely a good 2 hours well spent.
Written 11 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Agatha, thank you for posting such a positive and encouraging review which is a pleasure for our team to read. We're delighted that you and your family enjoyed browsing the hundreds of exhibits on display at Lakeland Motor Museum and we're impressed that you did not miss the detail such as the picnic baskets and items of clothing from the era which are also displayed in and around the vehicles. We hope you will return in the future to take a look around our Bluebird (Donald & Malcolm Campbell ) exhibition and we will certainly look forward to welcoming you back.
Written 23 August 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
michael N
4 contributions
Sept 2024 • Friends
Visited on Friday 6th September. Very good. IT is almost impossible to appreciate all the exhibits as there are so many in limited space. A fabulous collections of motorbikes. I liked the mannequins for their realistic looks and dress. And the food was good and reasonably priced. Well worth a visit
Written 7 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for posting a review. We're very pleased that you enjoyed your visit to Lakeland Motor Museum and Cafe Ambio. Your kind comments and your recommendation of our attraction is much appreciated and we hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back in the future.
Written 12 September 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lionel T
Preston, UK154 contributions
Oct 2024 • Family
Visited 28th October and we thoroughly enjoyed visiting the main building which contains a variety of vehicles and a host of memorabilia relating to transport. The grandchildren were also interested in the exhibition but they were too young to understand the 'Bluebird" exhibition. Many of the ancilliary exhibitions enhance the visit. It was also interesting to see early signage, some of which I haven't seen before. Well worth a visit.
Written 29 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We appreciate you taking the time to post a detailed review and we're very pleased to know that your whole family, including young grandchildren, were able to enjoy our exhibits at Lakeland Motor Museum. We'd like to thank you for recommending us and hope we can look forward to welcoming you back in the future.
Written 31 October 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
How much time should we allow for our visit here?
Written 15 June 2021
It depends how much you like cars and bikes. If you're really interested you can easily spend the whole morning or afternoon. Otherwise I would say an hour to one & a half hours. There is a really good cafe there so slow extra time if you want food and /or a drink.
Written 16 June 2021
Can you go on any of the exhibits?
Written 16 October 2019
BluebirdC
Kendal, United Kingdom
Hello- many thanks for your enquiry. As most of our exhibits need to be preserved, we don't allow people to sit in or on them. However if there is something you're specifically interested in engaging with, please contact us in advance or speak to our staff on the day and we'll see how we can offer assistance. There is a 1930s dodgem car on the ground floor and a static pedal car on the first floor viewing gallery children are allowed to sit in. Hope this helps!
Written 20 October 2019
BluebirdC
Kendal, United Kingdom
hello- many thanks everyone for your prompt replies- just re-confirm- our four-legged friends are very welcome at our museum.
Written 17 June 2019
Are there any vehicles that children can sit in?
Written 7 April 2019
BluebirdC
Kendal, United Kingdom
hello- we have couple of toy dodge cars that children are allowed to sit in- just check with us in reception and we'll show you which ones.
Written 8 April 2019
BluebirdC
Kendal, United Kingdom
Hello - yes well behaved dogs are welcome in all areas in our museum including Cafe Ambio.
Written 23 April 2018

Jnb3805
Is this a good place for children aged 6-8 years please?
Written 11 July 2017
BluebirdC
Kendal, United Kingdom
Thanks for the question. We receive a lot of visiting children, both families and schools who enjoy the Museum. We offer a free children's quiz which is well suited to this age range - children receive a medal for doing the best at the quiz, which follows the route around the Museum.
Written 11 July 2017
Why did someone have doubts about being a photographer and the museum. ????
Written 22 April 2017
BluebirdC
Kendal, United Kingdom
Hi, We welcome photography, and are happy to share visitors photos on our social media. Yes we like to know when it's for commercial reasons. I've answered the reviewer's comments in detail in their reply, but suffice to say you can't please all of the people all of the time, though we do try!
Written 4 May 2017
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