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Coventry Transport Museum

 

Made in Coventry - a Triumph Herald. This image is copyright free

In many ways the industrial modern age has been made possible by clocks. Clocks regularised working days, made accurate navigation at sea possible, and brought together scattered communities, which often had their own conceptions of time. Clocks personified and made possible the large scale regular working processes of industry. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries Coventry became one of Britain's major centres of clock and watch manufacture. As the industrial revolution gained momentum it was a natural progression for people involved in this industry to get involved with other developing industries, such as bicycle, machine tool, car, and aircraft production. Coventry became a centre for these industries, and Coventry Transport Museum literature states that nearly 600 companies have made cars, bicycles, motorcycles and commercial vehicles in and around Coventry. This industrial history is commemorated at the Coventry Transport Museum. The museum has a collection of hundreds of cars, commercial vehicles, bicycles and motorcycles. Many of the vehicles on display were actually built in Coventry, and the collection concentrates on cars built in the city. The collection includes the world's fastest car (as of 2010) Thrust SSC. A simulator ride gives some idea of what is was like to drive this car to 763mph.

A document archive holds over a million separate items. There is also a collection of motoring ephemera.

 

Address: Coventry Transport Museum, Millennium Place, Hales Street, Coventry CV1 1JD

Directions: Coventry Transport Museum is in the centre of Coventry. Use nearby pay and display car parks in Bishop Street, West Orchards Shopping Centre, Fairfax Street and the Belgrade Plaza. The museum is a fifteen minute walk from Coventry train station. Click here for an interactive map centred on Coventry Transport Museum.

Opening Times: Open daily, except 24th - 26th December, 10am - 5pm, last admission 4.30pm.

Access: Most areas are wheelchair accessible, but ask for help when going into the Model World section. Contact the museum during the week to arrange dedicated parking close to the museum entrance. A small number of wheelchairs are available to borrow, and can in some circumstances be reserved. Ring 024 7623 4270 for more information. Adapted toilet facilities are provided.

Contact:

telephone: 024 7623 4270

fax: 024 7623 4284

web site: http://www.transport-museum.com/default.aspx