Brooklands Museum

Right, then. After the disenchanting escapade at Mercedes World, our intrepid visitor traipsed over to the Brooklands Museum, a hop and a skip away, to soak in some real automotive and aeronautical history. Brooklands, a name that resonates with the thunderous echoes of Britain's motoring and aviation heritage, was the world's first purpose-built motor racing circuit, established in 1907. This hallowed ground birthed British motorsport, then became an aviation design and testing trailblazer, and saw over 18,000 aircraft of nearly 260 types take flight from its grounds between 1908 and 1987​​.During the war years, Brooklands was a beehive of activity. It played a pivotal role in flying training both before and between the World Wars and was a vital cog in the British aircraft industry. Post-war, companies like Vickers and British Aerospace continued this legacy of innovation​​. The site's transformation into a museum showcases an awe-inspiring array of motoring and aviation exhibits, including the legendary Concorde and other storied aircraft like the Vickers Viscount and the Vanguard​​​​.What really sets the Brooklands Museum apart is not just the exhibits themselves, but the stories they tell and the people who tell them. Our visitor, a self-professed non-museum goer, was swept up in the passion and knowledge of the volunteers. The Concorde, a marvel of engineering and a symbol of a bygone era of luxury air travel, wasn't just a static display; it was being lovingly maintained and even improved upon by a group of former engineers, a testament to the enduring legacy of these machines​​.This isn't just a museum; it's a living, breathing homage to Britain's rich history in motor racing and aviation. From airworthy replicas of pioneering aircraft to exhibitions that breathe life into the stories of the past, Brooklands is a time capsule of human ingenuity and determination​​​​​​. The experience of wandering these halls, where history is palpable, is far from the lackluster tour of Mercedes World. It's an enlightening journey that offers far more than just a glimpse into the past; it's a dive into the heart of British motoring and aviation legacy.So, in summary, while Mercedes World may have been a bit of a damp squib, Brooklands Museum emerges as a gleaming beacon of historical fascination, proving that sometimes, the best experiences come when you least expect them. It's not just about old cars and planes; it's about the spirit of an era that dared to dream big and soar even higher. And that, my friends, is something truly worth every pound spent.

A really interesting museum. Lots to see including old and new cars, aeroplanes which you can go onto and explore, a bus depot with more vehicles you can enter and you can still see part of the fascinating Brooklands race track. We went on the American car day and it made it even better as there was so many amazing vehicles to look at. Well worth a visit. The food is average and the usual expensive day out prices so it might be worth taking your own lunch.

Amazing museum, huge and very interactive - you have a formula 1 simulator, can get on old buses, airplanes (including Concorde but get tickets separately for this, in advance) ! The best part about visiting is the amazing volunteers and staff that have deep knowledge which they are more than happy to share - don't be shy to ask questions! This is really how museums should be!

Amazing venue for weekends with family and friends if your are interested in history, cars and aviation. But not limited to those only.I have gained membership for the family and we enjoyed every single visit. Plenty of opportunities to meet interesting people and learn a lot about internship apprenticeship cadet if you’re interested, music and food, available in good variety.

I love this place. Great day out. Planes, cars, bike, buses from all ages. The staff are wonderful. Our last visit was on a rainy day and it still worked out perfectly. Priced well. Would also recommend The Concorde Experience!

Fantastic museum. Steeped in history from racing to aircraft production, the volunteers are amazing and greeted everyone in each building or hall and explained their part of the experience. The Concorde experience is well worth booking in advance as well. Thanks to Sam in the Vickers Viscount today for the chat, good to meet you!

Good visit, a bit of a rambling site. Mix of aircraft and cars. Enjoyed our visit, two adults and three kids 14,12,10. Only disappointment was that they wouldn't let you walk far up the banking. To be fair it is a bit old and slippery, I think it's a health and safety thing, but really didn't look that dangerous...

Amazing experience!I visited today (Monday 11th December 2023) where it was fairly empty which was perfect for roaming around without the pressure of loads of people around you.I did the Concorde experience and it was amazing from start to finish and it’s amazing to know how pivotal Brooklands was in the golden age of aviation.The volunteers were some of the most lovely people I’ve met and were well-informed and very easy to have a conversation with. Big shout out to everyone on the aircrafts today as it was truly brilliant having a chat with you all! They definitely made my experience that much better. (Shame I don’t remember names)Will definitely be visiting again and definitely recommend it to everyone regardless whether you have an interest in aviation and motorsport or not.

I'm a fan of this sort of thing, cars, engineering etc. I thought entry price was a little steep and then a further charge for the Concorde experience a bit too much to swallow. That said, a lot of decent exhibits and a good bus museum too. Didn't eat there so can't comment about the cafe. Lovely to walk a stretch of the old banked racing circuit, very evocative.

What an absolutely brilliant day out!Where do i even start?The staff are so so friendly on entry.The exhibits are extremely well spaced.The vehicles on show are clean and we'll maintained!The utter variety is unbeatable.Nowhere else can you go from a 1800's era bicycle all the way up to a real genuine concorde.Fighter jets, motorcycles, supercars, busses and beautiful engineering.There are so many interactive exibits also.Jet engines that spin at the flick of a switch. The F1 simulator. More code machines to use and many aircraft to sit in.All the volunteers are super friendly, passionate and knowledgeable.The sheer amount of information, exibits, historical items and the utter quality of these is brilliant.You can go in with zero knowledge and return a racing or aviation genius.I cannot express my thanks to the Brooklands Museum for providing access to such a variety of vehicles!