Lakeland Motor Museum
Lakeland Motor Museum in Backbarrow is a vibrant celebration of British motoring heritage, set within a former industrial mill beside the River Leven. Its collection spans over a century of transport history, and one interesting fact is that the museum displays more than 30,000 motoring‑related items—from rare badges and signs to beautifully restored engines—making it one of the most comprehensive collections of its kind in northern England. Inside, visitors can admire over 140 classic vehicles, including vintage cars, motorcycles, scooters and pedal cars. Highlights include elegant early 20th‑century touring cars, iconic British models from the post‑war era and a striking selection of microcars that once defined economical travel. The museum also features a dedicated Campbell Bluebird Exhibition, telling the dramatic story of Malcolm and Donald Campbell’s world speed‑record attempts, complete with full‑size replicas and original memorabilia.
Backbarrow United Kingdom
The Lakeland Motor Museum is located at Backbarrow, in the southern Lake District, Cumbria. You’ll find it beside the River Leven, on the site of a restored riverside mill and packing sheds that once served the area’s iron and gunpowder industries. The setting is quiet and scenic, tucked between Windermere and Coniston Water. You’re in the heart of the south Lakes. Just 2 miles north is Lakeside, the southern terminus for Windermere Lake Cruises and the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Steam Railway. Both offer scenic trips with mountain views – the steam train runs through woodland to Haverthwaite, and the boats cross Windermere to Bowness and Ambleside. Drive 10 minutes west to reach Coniston Water, a quieter lake with boating, swimming, and the village of Coniston at its head. Brantwood, the former home of John Ruskin, sits on the eastern shore with gardens and exhibitions. Grizedale Forest is close too, with sculpture trails, mountain biking, and Go Ape treetop adventures. For gardens, Fell Foot Park at the southern tip of Windermere has lakeside lawns, picnic areas, and boat hire. And if you head east, the market town of Ulverston offers cobbled streets, the Laurel & Hardy Museum, and a lively events calendar.