Small English town home to cosy pubs and Medieval castles – with world’s largest British car collection nearby
PETROL heads might not know about it, but the world’s largest collection of British cars can be found hidden away near a quaint English market town.
About 40 miles south east from Birmingham is Southam in Warwickshire.
It has held a market since 1227 and prides itself on its hospitality, with the Southam town website boasting that it “knows a thing or two about welcoming visitors”.
One of the main attractions is the nearby British Motor Museum in Gaydon.
It’s home to the largest collection of British cars anywhere in the world – and has some unique and famous additions as part of its impressive hoard.
Del Boy’s famous yellow Reliant Regal Supervan from Only Fools and Horses, Lady Penelope’s pink FAB1 and James Bond’s Land Rover Defender are among items to have been on display at the museum.
Hundreds of other British classics are also out on display for visitors to have a look at while wondering around.
The museum offers free tours and teaches people the back stories of the vehicles.
The museum’s website reads: “There are over 400 British classic cars for our visitors to explore from the collections of the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust and the Jaguar Heritage Trust.
“Learn about the people behind the cars, the places they were built and hear the stories from our guides.
“Plus our free tours and interactive family activities will inspire and bring the stories to life – there is plenty to keep everyone entertained.”
Those events include slot car festivals, Land Rover shows, historic rally car open days and the national Metro and Mini show, among others.
The museum has an overall score of 4.5/5 on TripAdvisor and claimed a Travellers’ Choice award from the website last year.
One reviewer said: “A really great place to learn about the development of British Motor vehicles with some really historic items in the collection.”
Another added: “Have taken my children many times over the years and now take my grandson. He loves it and is so excited to go as much as possible.”
Away from the museum, there are other sights worth visiting, including Warwick Castle.
The medieval fort was developed from a wooden structure that was originally constructed by William the Conqueror during 1068.
The county of Warwick considers it the “ultimate historical experience” with a calendar of events planned for this year, including live shows and experiences, the UK’s largest birds of prey show and live arena jousting performances.
The castle is just a short drive from Southam, which makes a great base for exploring the area.
It has other historical sights of its own worth visiting too, including its Holy Well Walk.
The well has been a source of spring water for more than 1,000 years and the walk takes around 90 minutes to complete through fields and countryside.
Walking is another reason people love to visit the area, with plenty of country lanes and public footpaths around, making it great place to go for a ramble.
Meanwhile, the town centre is home to plenty of historic pubs, like The Olde Mint, which is housed in one of the town’s oldest buildings, the Black Dog and the Bowling Green.
Visitors can refresh themselves in any of the town’s pubs, while learning about the town’s storied history.
A night for two in a hotel in the area can be booked from around £44.
Meanwhile, this Victorian town in the UK has its own timewarp pub and is like travelling back in time.
And this “frozen in time” village is often used to film British films and TV shows.