Editing National Motor Museum, Beaulieu (section)

== The museum today ==
[[File:Beaulieu National Motor Museum panorama.JPG|thumb|National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, main hall in the 1990s.]]
[[File:Motorcycle gallery at the National Motor Museum.jpg|alt=Motorcycle gallery in the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu|thumb|Motorcycle gallery in the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu]]
:''See [[List of vehicles at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu]]''

Today, in addition to around 285 vehicles manufactured since the late-19th century, the museum has a collection of motoring books, journals, photographs, films, and automobilia of the world and is affiliated to the [[British Motorcycle Charitable Trust]].<ref name="BMCT">{{cite web|url=http://www.bmct.org/index.html|title=British Motorcycle Charitable Trust|access-date=29 November 2009}}</ref>

Vehicles in the museum collection range from the earliest motor carriages to classic family saloons, motorsport cars, motorcycles, and World Land Speed record breakers. A 'Streets Ahead' gallery displays cars, motorcycles and shop fronts from the 1950s to the 1970s. The museum's In Focus gallery houses temporary exhibitions, some containing artefacts and media from the museum's Collections Centre.  Grand Prix Greats celebrates the history of Formula 1, whilst Road, Race & Rally focuses on sports cars from rallying and hill-climbing. A recreation of a rustic 1930s garage contains artefacts, fixtures, fittings, tools and ephemera from the era. A multi-media display tells the story of British Land Speed record attempts and contains iconic vehicles such as the Bluebird CN7, Golden Arrow, Sunbeam 350hp, and the Sunbeam 1000hp. <ref name="Beaulieu">{{cite web|url=https://www.beaulieu.co.uk/attractions/national-motor-museum/|title=Beaulieu website|access-date=31 January 2025}}</ref>

The "On Screen Cars" exhibit has a display of TV and film cars including Del Boy's Reliant Regal as featured in the BBC sitcom ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]'', [[Mr. Bean]]'s lime green Mini and ''[[Doctor Who]]'''s Bessie.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.beaulieu.co.uk/attractions/on-screen-cars/|title=On Screen Cars|work=beaulieu.co.uk|access-date=31 December 2019}}</ref>

Some of the cars used in various [[James Bond]] films were displayed in the Bond in Motion – ''No Time To Die exhibition'' in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Morgan |first=Richard |date=2022-05-24 |title=James Bond chase car and props join No Time To Die exhibition |url=https://www.beaulieu.co.uk/news/james-bond-chase-car-and-props-join-no-time-to-die-exhibition/ |access-date=2024-04-05 |website=Beaulieu |language=en-US}}</ref> A Jaguar XKR Convertible used in the Bond film Die Another Day is part of the museum's permanent collection.

The exhibit "World of ''Top Gear''" showcased cars created and used by ''[[Top Gear (2002 TV series)|Top Gear]]'' presenters [[Jeremy Clarkson]], [[Richard Hammond]], [[James May]], [[Matt LeBlanc]], [[Rory Reid (journalist)|Rory Reid]], [[Chris Harris (journalist)|Chris Harris]], [[Paddy McGuinness]] and [[Andrew Flintoff|Freddie Flintoff]] from June 2009 until November 2024. The exhibit welcomed over five million visitors, showcasing both vehicles and props from the BBC series. It closed on 3 November 2024, replaced by a modern classic car display entitled 'We had one of those.' .<ref>{{Cite web |last=Whale |first=Hannah |date=2024-10-11 |title=Last chance to see: World of Top Gear exhibition |url=https://www.beaulieu.co.uk/news/last-chance-to-see-world-of-top-gear-exhibition/ |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=Beaulieu |language=en-US}}</ref>
[[File:Motopia? Past Future Visions exhibition.jpg|alt=Motopia? Past Future Visions exhibition at the National Motor Museum|thumb|Motopia? Past Future Visions exhibition at the National Motor Museum]]
[[File:One of the first electric vehicles at the National Motor Museum.jpg|alt=Columbia Electric (1901), one of the first electric vehicles in the National Motor Museum|thumb|Columbia Electric (1901), one of the first electric vehicles in the National Motor Museum]]
The museum also hosts a collection of the well-known Rolls-Royce radiator mascots – the ''[[Spirit of Ecstasy]]'' – also known as the ''Flying Lady''. The collection includes a figurine commissioned by [[John Douglas-Scott-Montagu, 2nd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu|John Walter Edward Douglas-Scott-Montagu, the 2nd Baron]] to his friend [[Charles Robinson Sykes]] who sculpted a personal mascot for the bonnet of his Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. Sykes originally crafted a figurine of a female model, [[Eleanor Thornton]], in fluttering robes, pressing a finger against her lips – to symbolise the secret of the love between John and Eleanor, his secretary. The figurine was consequently named ''The Whisper''.

Additional attractions include the [[National Motor Museum Monorail]], veteran bus ride, playground, restaurant and a substantial part of the [[Beaulieu Palace House|Palace House]] and grounds, including the partially ruined [[Beaulieu Abbey]]. Among the monastery buildings to have been preserved are the domus (now used for functions and exhibitions), and the refectory, which is now the parish church.