Coventry Transport Museum sits on Hales Street in the city centre, a short walk from Pool Meadow bus station. It holds the largest publicly owned collection of British-made road transport, from early bicycles and penny-farthings to buses, military vehicles and racing cars. The land speed record cars Thrust SSC and Thrust 2 are the main draw for many visitors, and a 4D simulator lets you try a record run. Plan a couple of hours, and allow more time if you enjoy cars.
Built on Coventry's car and cycle industry
The museum opened in 1980, after its collection outgrew its former home at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum. It sits in a city that was once the centre of Britain's car and cycle industries, and that history shapes almost every gallery.
Most of the vehicles on show were made in the UK, and many were built in Coventry itself. The museum describes its collection as the largest publicly owned collection of British road transport, and it includes cars, commercial vehicles, buses, motorcycles, bicycles and military vehicles.
The city's role in manufacturing also explains a harder part of the story. Coventry was one of the main targets of the Blitz in the Second World War because of its factories. An interactive wartime exhibit and a recreated air raid bunker scene cover this period.
What is on display
The galleries are spread across two floors, and a lift serves both. The earliest exhibits include early bicycles and penny-farthings, and the displays move forward through the motor age to modern cars.
The collection includes a brushed stainless steel DeLorean DMC-12, the car from the Back to the Future films, with gull-wing doors. Other highlights include a Jaguar E-type, a Daimler armoured car, a Triumph TR7 and an Austin Allegro Special. Queen Mary's Daimler and King George V's state limousines are also on show.
Some visitors remember the fabric-bodied cars as one of the unexpected parts of the displays. Plan your route so you do not miss the bicycles at the start, since they give useful context for the rest of the collection.
The land speed record cars
The final exhibits are the land speed record cars. Thrust 2 set the record in 1983, and Thrust SSC broke the record in 1997 and still holds it. Thrust SSC is the first car to break the sound barrier on land in a record run, which is why many visitors single it out.
A 4D Thrust speed simulator lets you go through the motions of a record attempt. The simulator has been closed at some visits, so check on the day if it is important to you.
The jet-powered cars take up a lot of attention, but the engineering behind them is the reason many visitors stay longer at the end of the route.
Planning your visit
Admission is charged. A ticket covers repeat visits within a year, so families who cannot see everything in one day can return. Some visitors have said the price feels fair for that reason, while others find it high for a single visit, so check the website for current prices.
A cafe on site serves coffee and homemade cakes, and there is a museum shop. The building is wheelchair accessible at the entrance, with accessible seating, accessible toilets and changing facilities for babies. Wheelchairs are available to borrow.
The museum is under cover, so a rainy day does not change the plan. Holiday workshops run during school breaks and include hands-on STEM activities. Some interactive exhibits may be out of order during a visit, so keep your expectations flexible for those.
FAQ
Is there an entry fee?
Yes, admission is charged. One ticket covers return visits within a year, so check the museum's website for current prices and book online in advance.
How long do you need?
Most visits take 1.5 to 3 hours. Car enthusiasts often stay most of the day, especially for the land speed record cars and the workshop tours.
Is the museum wheelchair accessible?
Yes. The entrance, toilets and seating are wheelchair accessible, a lift serves both floors, and wheelchairs are available. Parking for wheelchair users is also provided.
Is parking available nearby?
There is a paid parking lot and paid street parking nearby. Spaces can be hard to find on busy days, and Pool Meadow bus station is a short walk away.
