During our recent stay in the Cotswolds, we managed to squeeze in several activities to entertain the young man – one of which was difficult to prise him away from.
The Cotswolds Motoring Museum & Toy Collection
As with most boys, Monkey is obsessed with cars, motors and construction vehicles – so as we wandered around the pretty village of Bourton on the Water, it wasn’t hard to miss the topiary mini display of the Cotswolds Motoring Museum & Toy Collection, which had Monkey running in excitement. Before we knew it, he was dragging us by the hand and we were paying an entrance fee – which allows you to come and go as you please should you so wish to return for another look around on the same day.
The Brum Car Museum
The Museum is set in a converted 17th-century water mill and is famous for being the home to Brum, the popular kids’ BBC TV series about a radio-controlled car, narrated by Toyah Wilcox. Kids can have photos taken with Brum, ride on Brum, and make individual Brum brass rubbings. Monkey, however, wasn’t too bothered.
What to see in the Cotswolds Motoring Museum
He was more interested in the seven galleries packed with vintage car collections, a unique toy collection, History of Motoring exhibition as well as motorbikes, tractors, caravans and memorabilia. The museum may not look big from the outside, but it’s comparable to the TARDIS as the rooms seem to go on and on.
Monkey particularly enjoyed looking at the old toy collection from Meccano built into windmills, cars and cranes, scalectrix, push-along wooden and metal vehicles to the penny tin toys.
Meanwhile, it was nigh on impossible for Monkey not to jump into all the vehicles on display. I don’t think we were allowed to do this… as hubby got a few stern looks from the staff! But with over 30 vintage cars on show, it was hard stopping him.
The oldest car on display dates from the early 1900s to the latest addition, a Mini Clubman from 1972. From sleek Jaguars, quirky Austins to sporty, open-topped MGs the collection definitely wowed my husband. And with labels on all the vehicles, we could read the history of the car as well as who owned them.
The Cotswolds Motoring Museum is definitely worth a visit if you are already in Bourton on the Water – and even more so if you’re a car and motorbike enthusiast. If you take in each display properly and read all the fascinating history, I can imagine you’d spend quite a few hours inside.
For us, it was an extra special treat for Monkey to what was already a great day exploring the picturesque village. Luckily, the admission prices are very reasonable, so it didn’t feel like a huge expense and, of course, there was no refusing him from getting a toy car from the gift shop. We certainly weren’t going to get away with walking out empty handed!
Cotswolds Motoring Museum & Toy Collection Bourton on the Water Gloucestershire GL54 2BY; Adults £5.25; Children 4-16 £3.25; Family Ticket £16.50
Sounds like you guys had an awesome trip to the Cotswolds hon. I’ve never been but you’re inspiring me to check it out. Have a fab weekend xx
You guys would love it there – it’s so pretty and not far at all xx
This looks great – perfect for Monkey! Your photos are wonderful because he just looks like he’s having so much fun. Have you taken him to Brooklands Museum in Surrey? That’s full of cars, planes and buses so he’d probably enjoy that too.
He really enjoyed himself. It was nice to capture that. I will definitely make a note of Brooklands – thanks for the recommendation
What a lovely place – perfect for your little one! Bourton on the Water is so gorgeous, isn’t it? We love the Cotswolds. It’s utterly beautiful there.
So pretty, although I do feel sorry for the residents. It must be hard for them to have so many people right on their doorsteps!
My 3 year old would love this – he is car mad….although he would want to jump into the cars too!! I love Bourton on the Water – I haven’t been back in ages, I should change that!
We were told off! But it’s hard to resist for car-mad little children!
This looks great, I’m not a car maniac but it looks a superb family day out. I would go if only to see Brum – brings back nice memories when my son used to watch it!! Now he’s past all that but I wouldn’t mind seeing the cute little car myself!!
I barely remember Brum, maybe I am too old? It is a lot of fun and such a reasonable admission price! For a change!
Well worth the money I can see! Monkey looks like he loved every minute of it! We always try to give the kids a chance to pick what some of what we do each day when we travel. That means every goes home happy each day, full of a variety of travel stories that can be filed away as wonderful memories!
Absolutely, and for a change, it didn’t cost the earth!
I missed that museum! 🙁
Sadly, we only had a few minutes to roam around Bourton On The Water before our bus leaves back to London.
That’s such a shame!
Looks like a great trip; one I think my husband and son would definitely enjoy. The prices seem very reasonable too.
Yes, so reasonable which makes it all the better 🙂
My boys used to love Brum and they were both car mad so I can understand why Monkey loved this place. He looks so happy in the photos.
He was in his element!
Haha, looks like the perfect place for a little boy that loves cars 🙂
Love it, he would have stayed all day if I’d let him 🙂
Now this is a more reasonably priced attraction (see my comment on the Shrek Adventure) and I think many families would enjoy a trip here. I never went when I used to live in The Cotswolds so if I am back there with the boys anytime soon I think we might go. #MondayEscapes
Yes, absolutely. It was a very well-priced museum. Monkey really enjoyed it here.
you got up to a lot of stuff in the Cotswalds! Monkey seems to have a great time with cars!!
I still haven’t written everything up! 🙂
Monkey looks so cute and cheeky in the vintage car (second last pic)! #MondayEscapes
Thanks Kat, he loves cars 🙂
Looks like a great place and your Monkey clearly loved it! I think my Monkey would too so will definitely bear iy in mind xx
We seriously couldn’t get him out!
How fun – my husband would love this too! Have you been to Beaulieu too? #MondayEscapes
No… but I have heard it’s brilliant. Another one to add to the list!
My bestfriend would never leave this place if I brought him here! It looks like a neat place to go for car lovers. I love the car with the plants 😉
What fun, love the vintage car and the topiary pic with your little Monkey!
A great photo op 🙂
This looks like great fun! And a much better option than the Shrek adventure! 🙂 #MondayEscapes
I think so! Much more up his street!
Bourton on the Water is such a pretty place – we have visited a few times. I can’t remember seeing the museum – which is odd as our son loved visiting car museums too!
Your little monkey looks so happy in these photos.
He was very happy. We got told off though – but not sure how you can stop a little boy getting into the cars…
How cute, such a lovely place to visit. Mine are so girly at the moment though, we would just be having – this is for boys!!
Oh gosh, yes. No princesses here 🙂
So cool! I’m not a big fan of cars but I enjoy vintage cars, it feels like traveling in time. I can imagine it is a great place for cars lovers, kids and adults alike!
It’s certainly a fun way to while away an hour or two 🙂
Looks like fun for all ages!
It is!
Monkey’s face is a picture! This is exactly the type of attraction we enjoy – cars for Mr Tin Box, tractors for Tin Box Tot and a bargain price for me 🙂 #MondayEscapes
It’s such a bargain! We loved it here.
Thankyou so much for hosting #mondayescapes I love this post, my girls would love to go there!
Pleasure, and glad you could pop by 🙂
I definitely need to take my boys to enjoy this attraction 🙂 It looks like every little boys dream place! Thanks for sharing Ting. We will pop in next time we are visiting the village as it is only a short drive from our home #MondayEscapes
Oh they would love it! And a bargain price for a family ticket
I love that picture of Monkey on the tractor! Sounds like a fun museum. I love quirky little museums like that.
He absolutely loved it!
We love the Cotswolds and sometimes go camping there. I went to the car museum when I was little but I’d forgotten all about it! It will be a great place to go when Baby is a bit older. Bourton on the Water is such a lovely place to spend a few hours. #MondayEscapes
It’s such a wondeful place to visit, even with the tourists everywhere 🙂
That looks great fun – looks like you’ve got a junior petrolhead on your hands there 🙂 #mondayescapes
Oh gosh, he really is obsessed!
Oh my god, I think my boy would LOVE this. And all those little cars, he’d go crazy! Bourton on the Water – that’s such a cute name, will have to add it to my list of places to visit. Thanks for the inspiration! Sabrina xx #MondayEscapes
You definitely need to go! xx
The old toy collection looks great! I had a lot of toy cars when I was a kid too….not sure what happened to them, haha.
Yep, all boys and their car toys! Both my guys loved it!
Monkey looks like he is having the most wonderful time, Ting! How lucky that the museum and toy collection was in Bourton On The Water. There looks to be plenty to keep adults occupied here as well – especially motoring enthusiasts! 🙂
He really was in his element! Great to see him so happy 🙂
There definitely seems to be a lot to do in the Cotswold! And to be honest, since I saw your first post about it, I cant seem to stop thinking about visiting the Cotswolds the next time I visit family! #MondayEscapes
Go, go, go! 🙂
Motoring museum not so much me…, but Cotswolds sure sounds fine!
It’s lovely there