The National Motor Museum is searching for a new home after 60 years in the grounds of the Beaulieu Estate in Hampshire.

The National Motor Museum Trust has announced that it will not renew its lease at the site 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, which 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, some are owned by the Beaulieu Estate, which, Lord Montagu said, will maintain cars as "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", suggesting not all exhibits will make the move. 

However, the move will mean the NMM will vacate the distinctive purpose-built building it has occupied since 1972, and which is famous for the monorail that passes through and allows 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 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 has not announced a targeted move date, but the 60-year anniversary of the site's opening will be in 2032. It says visitors to the current site at Beaulieu will see no change in the meantime.