Business Details
43 Years
experience
Explore British Commercial Vehicle History in Leyland
Founded in 1983, we are a registered charity dedicated to preserving Britain's commercial vehicle heritage. Our museum houses a comprehensive collection of historic vehicles and archives dating back to the 1890s, including iconic brands like Leyland and Albion. Through interactive exhibits and educational programs, we engage visitors of all ages in the evolution of transport technology. Our self-funded operations rely on visitor support, memberships, and sponsorships to maintain sustainability.With state-of-the-art facilities and a dedicated team of volunteers, we offer immersive experiences ranging from school workshops to corporate events. Our mission combines heritage preservation with community engagement, ensuring future generations can explore this vital aspect of industrial history.
Services
Museum Exhibits
Educational Workshops
Conference Facilities
Gift Shop
Catering Services
Details
- Year established: 1983
Highlights and features
- We are an officially approved DVLA resource for historic vehicle registration
- Our STEM workshops align with national curriculum requirements for schools
- State-of-the-art conference facilities accommodate up to 140 delegates
- Fully accessible venue with dedicated wheelchair facilities
- Unique venue combining heritage with modern event spaces
Associations and certifications
- Registered Charity
- Visit England Quality Assurance Scheme
Services
Museum Exhibits
Our museum showcases over a century of commercial vehicle evolution, featuring horse-drawn carriages, steam lorries, and modern electric vehicles. Interactive touchscreens provide technical details and historical context. Visitors explore transport development through themed exhibits and our timeline display tracing technological advancements from the 1800s to today.
Educational Workshops
STEM-focused workshops align with national curriculum standards for Key Stages 1-2. Activities include building rubber-band vehicles, crash test simulations, and load distribution experiments. We provide free educational packs for classroom use and offer tailored sessions for college engineering students studying vehicle development history.
Conference Facilities
Our state-of-the-art conference suite accommodates up to 70 delegates with AV equipment, WiFi, and catering options. The exhibition hall offers exclusive hire for events hosting up to 500 guests. Ideal for product launches, corporate meetings, and special occasions combining heritage ambiance with modern amenities.
Gift Shop
Our themed gift shop offers unique souvenirs and specialty items related to transport history. Products include model vehicles, books, and memorabilia not typically found in mainstream stores. All items are reasonably priced, with exclusive merchandise reflecting our collection's heritage.
Catering Services
The Leyland Heritage Caf provides freshly prepared meals and refreshments in a welcoming environment. Holding a 5-star hygiene rating, it offers breakfast, lunch, and afternoon tea options. The caf accommodates private bookings and features accessible facilities for all visitors.
People
Peter Jukes
Chairman
With 44 years in commercial vehicle manufacturing, Peter led Leyland Trucks' transformational 'Team Enterprise' culture change. He chairs the museum's board, bringing extensive industry experience and leadership to preserve transport heritage.
Rick Roberton
Trustee
Co-founder of Western Truck Ltd, Rick brings international transport expertise and heavy-duty truck engineering knowledge. His career spans global sales, marketing, and import/export operations across multiple continents.
David Bennett
Trustee
An RIBA-registered architect with extensive experience in infrastructure projects, David contributes design expertise and construction industry knowledge to the museum's governance and development.
Tim Haley
Trustee
Chartered accountant Tim has advised businesses for 25 years while maintaining a lifelong interest in mechanical engineering. He applies lean manufacturing principles to support the museum's operational efficiency.
Joseph McKevitt
Trustee
With over 30 years in commercial vehicle procurement, Joseph contributes supply chain expertise. He represents the museum on the London Chamber of Commerce automotive committee and holds professional logistics qualifications.
Questions
What are the museum's opening hours?
We're open Wednesday-Sunday 10:00-16:30, plus Bank Holiday Mondays. Last entrance at 15:45.
Are educational visits available for schools?
Yes, we offer STEM workshops aligned with national curriculum requirements for Key Stages 1-2 and college groups.
Can I host events at the museum?
Our conference facilities accommodate up to 70 delegates, with exclusive hire of the exhibition hall for events hosting up to 500 guests.
Is the museum accessible for wheelchair users?
Yes, we have full wheelchair access with dedicated facilities and wheelchairs available at reception.
Do you have gift shop facilities?
Our themed gift shop offers unique transport-related souvenirs and specialty items at reasonable prices.
How can I support the museum?
Support options include volunteering, donations, corporate sponsorship, and purchasing annual memberships with unlimited visitation rights.
Videos
Reviews (6)
Stephen Ward
Dec 19, 2021
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A great collection of classic trucks and buses reflecting the commercial vehicles manufacturing history of Leyland. The recently refurbished building provides an excellent setting for a pleasant couple of hours looking at many fascinating exhibits. There is also an excellent gift shop and cafe to complete your visit.
Rachel Freeman-Powell
Dec 10, 2021
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Took my 5 year old twins and 8 year old in here thinking they'd find it interesting for an hour or so....4 yes FOUR hours later including a yummy lunch (with a great kids menu) we had to drag them away from their imaginations. They loved sitting in the fire engine used in the blitz, turning the handle to ring the bell, driving an old bus, sitting in the pope mobile, seeing the model tram go round and learning to drive a lorry in the simulator. Me and their grandparents also found it really fascinating too. All round far better than I expected and the staff were so lovely with the kids too. Highly
Claire Slack
Dec 05, 2021
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This morning we visited this wonderful museum with my 14 year old son and his friend, it had been 10 years since our last visit. This place is amazing, it’s changed quite a bit since we last visited and is now much warmer. There are lots of hand sanitizer stations dotted about the museum and masks available at the entrance. The museum and… all of the vehicles are extremely well maintained, there is a vast amount informative signage and interactive displays and engines. But the best thing about this museum is all the wonderful volunteers, they were kind enough to to spend lots of time
Louise Marie Foster
Nov 20, 2021
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Amazing afternoon with my little boy. Staff super friendly and have so much knowledge. Every vehicle is so clean and sparkling. Worth a visit, it’s like going back in time 😊
Andrew McDade
Nov 10, 2021
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We took two car mad two year old boys here, and they had a lovely time. Beautifully maintained exhibits and space to run round. The staff were very friendly and helpful. You are allowed in some of the exhibits, which went down very well. The cafe was good, and again patient and helpful staff. Would recommend highly.
Elaine Horsfield
Oct 31, 2021
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Great staff really friendly and helpful and informative. grandson loved it , would definitely recommend.
