The National Motor Museum is searching for a new home after 60 years in the grounds of the Beaulieu Estate in Hampshire - but the site itself will continue to operate as a motoring museum.

The NMM Trust has announced that it won't renew its lease at Beaulieu when it comes to the end of its 60-year term in the coming years and has begun the hunt for a new site for its collection.

The Trust, founded in 1970 to take over the management of what was previously a small collection run by estate owner Lord Montagu, said the move is part of a "long-term strategy to secure the future" of the museum.

Feature - Hidden gems: A peak behind the scenes at Beaulieu

"This strategy is focused on reimagining and reinvigorating the museum, engaging with new generations of motoring enthusiasts and diverse communities, while developing and preserving the Designated collection for generations to come," it added.

The Trust and the Montagu family, who still own the Beaulieu Estate, have discussed investment and redevelopment plans in line with that strategy but have concluded that the best option is to relocate the collection.

The NMM plans to find a "suitable new home" that will allow it to "share the stories of motoring heritage more widely than ever before". It also plans to develop a training centre for heritage engineering apprenticeships. 

The collection currently comprises around 285 vehicles. However, the Beaulieu Estate said it owns "a significant amount", which "will continue to stay" at the Hampshire site.

The Estate said motoring will remain "very much a part of our identity" as it develops its offering as a tourist destination – with "a comparable range of experiences to what people enjoy today".

It emphasised that there will be no changes to its events calendar, which includes the popular Beaulieu Autojumble in September.

Beaulieu "intends to continue to operate a motor museum in the future, as it has for over 70 years", despite the NMM's move, it said.

However, the NMM itself will vacate the distinctive purpose-built building it has occupied since 1972, which is famous for the monorail that passes through, allowing visitors to see the collection from above. 

The collection currently includes a wide range of TV and film cars, land speed record breakers, Formula 1 racing legends and some of the oldest 'motorised carriages' in existence. 

It also welcomed more than five million visitors to the 'World of Top Gear' exhibition from 2009 to 2024, showcasing some of the most famous vehicles created and used on the BBC show.

As well as vehicles, the NMM holds an expansive archive of photographs, books and other automobilia that chart the history of the British automotive industry – totalling more than 1.9 million items. 

Robert MacGregor, chair of the NMM Trust, said: "We are sad that the National Motor Museum will be leaving Beaulieu but are at the same time very excited about this once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the museum for the future.

"We want to thank the Montagu family for founding the Trust in 1970 and for their continued support as the museum finds a new home and embarks on the next stage of its journey. 

"A new home can refresh our whole approach, enable us to make the collection more accessible, expand our educational and community impact and ensure Britain’s motoring story remains relevant.”

The Trust's lease expires in 2030, until which time it can continue to operate as it does today. It said visitors to Beaulieu will see no change in the meantime.