The National Motorcycle Museum is the world’s largest collection of British motorcycles, located at Junction 6 of the M42 motorway near Solihull, just two miles from Birmingham Airport.
This guide was updated in May 2026: One key update that many guides overlook: the museum now operates a cashless-only policy, meaning no cash is accepted anywhere on site — not at admissions, the shop, or the food court. Visitors who arrive expecting to pay in cash will be turned away at the desk. You can book through GetYourGuide to secure your ticket and pay in advance.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Coventry Road, Bickenhill, Solihull, West Midlands, B92 0EJ |
| Hours | Daily 08:30–17:30 (last admission 16:30) |
| Closed | Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day |
| Adult admission | £17.00 |
| Senior citizen | £17.00 |
| Child (5–15) | £10.00 |
| Family ticket | £45.00 |
| Parking | Free |
| Payment | Card and debit card only — no cash accepted |
| Nearest station | Birmingham International (~5 min by taxi) |
| Typical visit | 2–4 hours |
Opening hours
The museum is open seven days a week, 08:30–17:30. Last admission is at 16:30. It closes on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day — the only three days in the year when the doors shut.
Museum Live, the annual free-entry weekend, takes place on 24–25 October 2026. During this event the entire museum is open to the public at no charge. This event is not mentioned in most static visitor guides and is worth factoring in if your travel dates are flexible.
Ticket prices
All prices include VAT. The museum is cashless — payment by card or debit card only. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online in advance.
| Ticket type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £17.00 |
| Senior citizen | £17.00 |
| Child (5–15 years) | £10.00 |
| Family ticket | £45.00 |
| Under 5s | Free |
Book through GetYourGuide for confirmed advance tickets.
Why visit the National Motorcycle Museum?
- 🏍️ The world’s largest British motorcycle collection: Over 1,000 machines from 170 manufacturers, with around 850 on display across five halls at any one time — the most comprehensive gathering of British motorcycles anywhere on Earth.
- 📅 120 years of British engineering in one building: From an 1898 pioneer machine through to the latest British superbikes, the collection traces every decade of the UK’s proud motorcycle manufacturing heritage.
- 🅿️ Free parking and easy access: The museum sits directly on the J6 island of the M42, with free parking for cars and motorbikes — an unusually practical setup for a major UK attraction.
- 🎟️ Free entry weekend every October: Museum Live takes place annually in late October and opens the full collection to the public at no cost for the whole weekend.
- 🔧 Every machine fully restored: All bikes in the collection are restored to the original manufacturer’s specifications — these are not static exhibits under dust sheets, but working machines preserved to exhibition standard.
How to get there
By car: The museum is situated directly on the J6 roundabout of the M42 motorway. From the junction, follow the brown heritage signs. The sat-nav postcode is B92 0EJ, but some TomTom systems misdirect visitors at this postcode — rely on the brown signs once you are at the junction.
By train: Birmingham International station is approximately five minutes by taxi from the museum. Direct trains run from London Euston, Birmingham New Street, and Coventry.
By air: Birmingham Airport is less than two miles away. The museum is a practical stop for visitors flying in or out of the West Midlands.
5 great things to do near Birmingham 🏙️
- 🧢 Discover the sites from the gang stories – on a Peaky Blinders walking tour.
- 🌙 Take an after-dark walking tour – and learn Stratford’s ghost stories.
- 🔒 Experience life behind bars – on a tour of Shrewsbury Prison.
- 🎢 Head to Alton Towers – Britain’s biggest theme park.
- ⚔️ Watch jousting and trebuchets – at Warwick Castle.
Parking
Parking is free for all visitors, with space for both cars and motorcycles. The car park is on-site and signposted directly from the M42 junction. On busy event days — particularly during motorcycle auctions or Museum Live — the car park fills quickly. Arriving before 09:30 on peak weekends is advisable.
How long to spend
Most visitors spend between two and four hours. Motorcycle enthusiasts who read the information boards and study individual machines in detail regularly fill a full day. Families with younger children typically complete the self-guided tour in around two hours. Guided Highlights Tours are available for those who want expert context; these must be booked in advance via the official website.
Accessibility
The museum is wheelchair-accessible throughout the display halls. Disabled parking spaces are available in the main car park. The foyer food court and museum shop are on the ground floor and fully step-free. The museum staff are knowledgeable and available to assist. Riding gear storage is provided for visiting motorcyclists, including lockers for helmets and jackets.
What to see in the museum
Hall One — The Pioneer Era and Edwardian Period opens the journey with machines dating from the very beginning of British motorcycle manufacturing. The oldest exhibit in the collection — an 1898 pioneer machine — is displayed here alongside early Edwardian machines that established the fundamental engineering principles still recognisable in modern motorcycles.
Hall Two — The Pre-War Golden Age covers the extraordinary period of British dominance in global motorcycle manufacturing. Brands including BSA, Triumph, Norton, AJS, and Ariel are represented by landmark machines. Many of these manufacturers competed fiercely in export markets and on international racing circuits during this era.
Hall Three — Post-War Britain and the 1950s covers the decade when British motorcycles commanded the largest share of the global market. The collection here includes road bikes, competition machines, and early café racers that defined the cultural identity of British motorcycling.
Hall Four — The 1960s and the Triumph of the Twins focuses on the twin-cylinder machines that became the definitive sound of British roads. Triumph Bonnevilles, BSA Gold Stars, and Royal Enfield Bullets from this era are among the most requested machines in the collection. The hall also charts the beginning of the competitive challenge from Japanese manufacturers.
Hall Five — The Final Decades and Modern British Machines covers the turbulent 1970s and 1980s, when British motorcycle manufacturing contracted sharply, through to the modern revival led by brands including Triumph, Norton, and Royal Enfield. It is a story of near-extinction and remarkable revival, told through the machines themselves.
The Foyer Food Court is the museum’s informal eating area, serving hot and cold food and drinks from 08:30. It is useful for early arrivals and is also open to visitors between hall visits. Payment is card only throughout.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Bring a card, not cash | The museum is completely cashless. No cash is accepted at admissions, the shop, or the food court. This catches visitors out regularly and is not mentioned in older guides. Book in advance to pay online before you arrive. |
| Allow more time than you think | Most visitors underestimate how long five halls of 850 motorcycles takes. Enthusiasts regularly spend a full day. If you’re bringing non-riders, plan for at least two hours. |
| Arrive early for the best experience | The museum opens at 08:30, earlier than most UK attractions. The first hour or two are noticeably quieter, especially on weekdays. |
| Check the events calendar before visiting | The museum hosts H&H Classic Motorcycle Auctions on 22 July and 28 October 2026, and various other fairs. The public atmosphere changes significantly on event days. |
| Book guided tours in advance | The Highlights Tour with a museum guide brings the collection to life in a way the display panels cannot. Places are limited and sell out. |
FAQ
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Can I pay with cash? | No. The museum operates a cashless-only policy. Only credit and debit cards are accepted for admissions, the shop, and food. Book tickets in advance to pay online. |
| Is parking free? | Yes, parking is free for all visitors, including coaches and motorcycles. |
| When is Museum Live? | The annual free-entry weekend for 2026 is 24–25 October. The entire museum collection is open at no charge during this event. |
| Are the motorcycles real or replicas? | All machines are original and have been fully restored to manufacturer specifications. There are no replicas in the main collection. |
| Is the museum open on Bank Holidays? | Yes — the museum is open every day of the year except Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. |
Things to do nearby
Birmingham Airport is less than two miles away and a useful orientation point. Its landside shopping, restaurants, and hotel connections make it a practical base for visitors flying into the Midlands specifically for the museum.
The NEC (National Exhibition Centre) is directly adjacent to the museum site and regularly hosts motoring and engineering events, including the Motorcycle Live show (typically November), which pairs naturally with a museum visit.
Coventry Transport Museum is approximately 25 minutes by car and holds the world’s largest publicly owned collection of British road transport, including significant motorcycle and sidecar exhibits. It is free to enter.
The British Motor Museum, Gaydon is about 20 minutes south by car and houses the world’s largest collection of historic British cars, including significant Jaguar, Land Rover, and Austin Healey archives. Free parking and reasonable admission.
Warwick Castle is around 25 minutes south and provides a complete contrast — a medieval fortress on the River Avon, suitable for a second half of the day after the museum.
What to visit tomorrow
Dedicated motorcycle museums within two hours of Solihull are limited. The Triumph Factory Visitor Experience in Hinckley is the most direct companion piece; most other comparable collections are further afield.
Triumph Factory Visitor Experience, Hinckley (~30 min by car): The home of Triumph Motorcycles, one of the great British marques with a presence throughout the NMM collection. The visitor experience includes factory floor access, archive exhibits, and current model displays. Combining the two is a natural day-trip pairing.
Coventry Transport Museum, Coventry (~25 min): Broader in scope than motorcycles, but the British transport collection is substantial and includes motorcycles, cars, bicycles, and commercial vehicles. It is free to enter, which makes it a low-commitment addition to a Midlands trip.
The Black Country Living Museum, Dudley (~25 min): An open-air industrial heritage museum that reconstructs a working-class Black Country community from the early 20th century. Not motorcycle-specific, but the engineering culture that produced so many British bikes is palpable throughout.
Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum, New Milton, Hampshire (~3 hours by car): The finest specialist motorcycle museum in the UK outside the NMM itself. The Sammy Miller collection focuses on rare and exotic machines — competition bikes, prototypes, and one-offs — that complement the NMM’s more comprehensive survey. Acknowledge the distance and plan an overnight stay to make the combination worthwhile.
York Motorcycle Museum, York (~2 hours by car): A smaller but well-curated classic motorcycle collection in the centre of York, covering the full arc of British and European manufacturing. York itself is a full day’s destination, making this a natural overnight extension of a Midlands motorcycling tour.
More West Midlands travel
Other West Midlands travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Guide to parking at the Black Country Living Museum.
- Plan your visit to Dudley Zoo and Castle.
- Guide to parking at Cadbury World in Birmingham.
- Plan your visit to Winterbourne House and Birmingham Botanical Gardens in Birmingham.
- Discover the Tolkien connection at Sarehole Mill in Birmingham.
- What to know before visiting Aston Hall in Birmingham.
