New Forest and museums visit

Smallfry · 2026-04-29T10:25:16+0100

Late last Thursday, I resurrected a thread about Statins, just before going to bed.

Went to bed, SWMBO already there reading, and she asked "What time do you want to leave tomorrow "

A while ago she mentioned a few days away in the New Forest where we would meet Stepson and Wifey and two year old. I had forgotten (or was not listening) all about it. SWMBO does not witter, and had not mentioned it again that I can remember. Stepson had arranged an Air B&B

Friday morning packed a few things and off we went. SWMBO wanted to see ponies, and I wanted to go back to Beaulieu Motor Museum, as I had not been there since the late Sixties as a kid. Stepson and wife wanted child to see ponies and a deer sanctuary.

We saw lots of ponies over the three days, but no deer :laughing:

as they were hiding. On Saturday we went to Beaulieu. Not at all as I remembered it, when I went previously, it was in wooden sheds and very well packed with exhibits. Now it feels almost corporate, almost like a theme park. Less vehicles on display, many of which shouldn't be there IMO. Expensive admission, and overall disappointing. I have no hankering to go back.

On Sunday, we happened across the Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum, and as stepson likes and owns a couple we went in. I was not really fussed as Motorcycles are not my thing at all. Never really been interested in them. :dontknow:

Anyhow, WHAT a difference to Beaulieu. Really buzzing, great atmosphere, loads of machines there as they have some sort of meet going on most weekends, loads of people, and for me, the exhibition of machines old and new(ish) and memorabilia AND knowledge of the staff was fantastic.

Those of you into motorcycling will of course know of Sammy Miller, but as I was looking, I saw a photo of him shaking hands with a face I knew, Gordon Jackson (not he of the Professionals or Upstairs, Downstairs) who was a customer of mine back in the eighties and nineties. went to his place a few times too. Really nice guy and so unassuming. We talked about his car, but he never mentioned his motorcycle history, and I never new ..........

Strange how this was the highlight of the visit so someone uninterested !

Cobbler · 2026-04-29T11:24:18+0100

I’m not into motor cycles either, but we were camping in the forest with some friends & they love bikes, so mate & I went to the Sammy Miller museum. I really enjoyed it, well worth the money, there are loads to see, even for a non-biker peasant like me.

Seadog · 2026-04-29T11:26:15+0100

The tank museum is also well worth a visit.

DanZac · 2026-04-29T11:31:01+0100

Beaulieu is a real disappointment. We used to go as kids in the 80's and when I went back a couple of years ago for the autojumble it was exactly as I remembered it from 40 years ago. Same exhibits, all just 40 years more run down, and the autojumble wasn't much better.

I'd agree with @Seadog about the tank museum, and monkey world which is just up the road is a good day out if the Mrs and kids like their monkeys.

Seadog · 2026-04-29T11:34:53+0100

I've only done Beaulieu once, late 70s and we had a stall. I don't remember much about it

Bouledogue · 2026-04-29T11:54:04+0100

Smallfry said:
Late last Thursday, I resurrected a thread about Statins, just before going to bed.

Went to bed, SWMBO already there reading, and she asked "What time do you want to leave tomorrow "

A while ago she mentioned a few days away in the New Forest where we would meet Stepson and Wifey and two year old. I had forgotten (or was not listening) all about it. SWMBO does not witter, and had not mentioned it again that I can remember. Stepson had arranged an Air B&B

Friday morning packed a few things and off we went. SWMBO wanted to see ponies, and I wanted to go back to Beaulieu Motor Museum, as I had not been there since the late Sixties as a kid. Stepson and wife wanted child to see ponies and a deer sanctuary.

We saw lots of ponies over the three days, but no deer as they were hiding. On Saturday we went to Beaulieu. Not at all as I remembered it, when I went previously, it was in wooden sheds and very well packed with exhibits. Now it feels almost corporate, almost like a theme park. Less vehicles on display, many of which shouldn't be there IMO. Expensive admission, and overall disappointing. I have no hankering to go back.

On Sunday, we happened across the Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum, and as stepson likes and owns a couple we went in. I was not really fussed as Motorcycles are not my thing at all. Never really been interested in them.

Anyhow, WHAT a difference to Beaulieu. Really buzzing, great atmosphere, loads of machines there as they have some sort of meet going on most weekends, loads of people, and for me, the exhibition of machines old and new(ish) and memorabilia AND knowledge of the staff was fantastic.

Those of you into motorcycling will of course know of Sammy Miller, but as I was looking, I saw a photo of him shaking hands with a face I knew, Gordon Jackson (not he of the Professionals or Upstairs, Downstairs) who was a customer of mine back in the eighties and nineties. went to his place a few times too. Really nice guy and so unassuming. We talked about his car, but he never mentioned his motorcycle history, and I never new ..........

Strange how this was the highlight of the visit so someone uninterested !

Often I find, like you @Smallfry , that one is captivated by the most unexpected of things. My wife dragged me to visit Josephine Baker's old house in the Dordogne recently. I'd never heard of the woman. Had the time of my life, and am now a big Josephine Baker fan, banana-skirt 'n' all...