Haynes International Motor Museum
Over 400 cars and motorcycles spanning 130 years of motoring history — housed in 15 exhibition halls in rural Somerset
Over 400 cars and motorcycles spanning 130 years of motoring history — housed in 15 exhibition halls in rural Somerset
John Haynes — the man behind those famous workshop manuals — bought a disused sawmill in Sparkford in 1984 and opened it the following year with just 35 cars. Four decades later, the Haynes International Motor Museum is one of the largest motor collections in Britain, with over 400 cars and motorcycles spread across 15 exhibition halls. More than 125,000 people visit each year.
The collection spans from an 1898 Daimler Wagonette to modern supercars, taking in veterans, vintage tourers, American muscle, British sports cars, Formula 1 racers and everything in between. The famous Red Room gathers around 50 red sports cars in a single crimson gallery, while the American Dream Hall houses a 1931 Duesenberg Model J alongside Corvettes and Mustangs. A dedicated motorsport hall features a 1996 Ferrari F1 car and a 1926 Bugatti Type 35B.
The story of the Haynes International Motor Museum begins with one man's lifelong passion for cars. John Harold Haynes OBE wrote his first workshop manual at the age of 15, a guide to rebuilding the Austin-Healey Sprite that sold 3,000 copies to fellow enthusiasts. That teenage project grew into Haynes Publishing, producing step-by-step repair manuals for over 300 vehicle models and becoming an essential companion for home mechanics worldwide.
In 1984, Haynes purchased a disused sawmill in Sparkford, Somerset, and began converting it into a home for his growing private car collection. The museum opened in July 1985 with 35 vehicles. Over the following decades, Haynes funded continuous expansion, adding new exhibition halls as the collection grew. Today the museum is a registered charity housing over 400 cars and motorcycles across 15 themed exhibition areas, visited by more than 125,000 people each year. John Haynes passed away in 2019, but the museum he built remains one of the finest motor collections in Britain.
The collection spans the entire history of the motor car, from an 1898 Daimler Wagonette to modern supercars. The Veteran and Vintage halls cover the earliest decades of motoring, including a 1900 Clement Voiturette and a 1910 Renault Twin Cylinder AX. The 1950s and 1960s galleries celebrate the golden age of motoring with Jaguar E-Types, MG roadsters and Triumph TRs arranged in period settings.
The Red Room is the museum's most photographed gallery — around 50 red sports cars gathered in a single crimson-painted space. A Lamborghini Countach, AC Cobra, Austin-Healey Sprite and Ford Mustang Convertible sit among Ferraris, Alfa Romeos and Porsches. The American Dream Hall takes visitors across the Atlantic with a 1931 Duesenberg Model J, Chevrolet Corvette Stingrays and finned Cadillacs. Hall seven is devoted to motorsport, featuring a 1996 Ferrari Formula 1 car, a 1926 Bugatti Type 35B and rally and drag racing machines.
British motorcycling gets its own dedicated exhibition, Life on Two Wheels, tracing 150 years of two-wheeled history through rare BSA, Norton and Triumph models. The John Haynes exhibition tells the founder's personal story through memorabilia, archive photographs and early manual drafts.
The museum sits just off the A303 at Sparkford, well signposted with brown tourist signs from all major routes. Free parking is available on site, including eight electric vehicle charging points. The nearest railway station is Castle Cary, five miles away on the London Paddington to Exeter line, with taxis readily available.
Cafe 750 serves breakfast, lunch, snacks and drinks throughout the day and is open to non-museum visitors. The museum shop stocks specialist automobilia, die-cast models and Haynes memorabilia alongside general souvenirs. Allow three to four hours to see the full collection comfortably. The museum has excellent disabled access throughout, with wheelchairs and mobility scooters available to hire by pre-booking on 01963 440804.
Summer opening runs from April to September, daily 10am to 5.30pm. Winter hours are 10am to 4.30pm. The museum opens at 11am on the first Sunday of each month. It closes only on 24 to 26 December and 1 January.
All prices include Gift Aid — your ticket is automatically upgraded to an Annual Pass at no extra cost. 10% discount when you book online at least 24 hours in advance. Free carer ticket with every paying disabled admission.
Purchase your tickets on the museum website at least 24 hours before your visit to save 10 percent. Your ticket is automatically upgraded to an Annual Pass at no extra cost.
Head straight to the Red Room when you arrive — it is the museum's most popular gallery and quieter first thing in the morning before coach parties arrive.
With over 400 vehicles across 15 halls, this is not a museum you can rush. Budget three to four hours to see everything properly and include a break at Cafe 750.
The museum hosts classic car rallies, swap meets and themed weekends throughout the year. The annual John Haynes Classic Motor Show is a particular highlight.
Children aged four and over need a ticket, but under-fours go free. The cars appeal to all ages and the grounds have space to stretch legs between halls.
London Travel Writer · 12+ years covering UK attractions and tourism
Last reviewed: March 10, 2026
