Brooklands Museum
Discussion
I've been meaning to get down to the Brooklands museum for years now, and I'm hoping to finally make it happen this year.
As it's a couple of hours drive, and a free day is pretty rare for me these days, is it worth visiting MB world at the same time?
Can we do both on the same day or is it best to make a weekend of it?
Any recommendations/experience please?
As it's a couple of hours drive, and a free day is pretty rare for me these days, is it worth visiting MB world at the same time?
Can we do both on the same day or is it best to make a weekend of it?
Any recommendations/experience please?
The MB World is a glorified showroom (for good or ill) with a few museum exhibits that claim Mercedes invented everything to do with motorcars 
I'd see how much time you have left at the end of the day after visiting the main Brooklands site, and wander around Mercedes at the end.
(I do have to point out that it has been several years since I went to MB World, so they might have added something else).
I'd see how much time you have left at the end of the day after visiting the main Brooklands site, and wander around Mercedes at the end.
(I do have to point out that it has been several years since I went to MB World, so they might have added something else).
Agree with the above - been to Brooklands a couple of times, most recently in the summer.
Definitely not a day long visit, half a day is more than enough really.
Didn't realise you could just wander into the MB place though, as I always assumed it was for those booking driving experiences etc.
Stayed in the Brooklands hotel once - a nice place and great views of the MB track if you book the track facing rooms.
Definitely not a day long visit, half a day is more than enough really.
Didn't realise you could just wander into the MB place though, as I always assumed it was for those booking driving experiences etc.
Stayed in the Brooklands hotel once - a nice place and great views of the MB track if you book the track facing rooms.
Brooklands museum is great, amd as we're quite local we're members.
The volunteers around the planes are really good and the atmospheric chamber is incredible really.
When I was there over Easter they were letting kids sit in the formula one cars. They are keen on interaction, especially if you're bringing kids.
I could easily spend a full day there, but appreciate that might be a bit much for some...
The volunteers around the planes are really good and the atmospheric chamber is incredible really.
When I was there over Easter they were letting kids sit in the formula one cars. They are keen on interaction, especially if you're bringing kids.
I could easily spend a full day there, but appreciate that might be a bit much for some...
MrBig said:
I've been meaning to get down to the Brooklands museum for years now, and I'm hoping to finally make it happen this year.
As it's a couple of hours drive, and a free day is pretty rare for me these days, is it worth visiting MB world at the same time?
Can we do both on the same day or is it best to make a weekend of it?
Any recommendations/experience please?
I hope Brooklands was as good as the first time we went and better than the second.As it's a couple of hours drive, and a free day is pretty rare for me these days, is it worth visiting MB world at the same time?
Can we do both on the same day or is it best to make a weekend of it?
Any recommendations/experience please?
The first time I LOVED it. I am fascinated by the inter-war years, Brooklands, Bentleys and that sort of thing. Walking the track was, for me, magical.
The second time, I was a bit annoyed by it. The volunteer members of staff were off-hand, exhibits were closed off or absent and the track was off limits because "it might be slippery" despite it being mid-summer and dry as a bone.
I think we went to MB but I think it was sufficiently underwhelming that I have forgotten the detail.
If you're going to explore all that Brooklands has to offer then that should take a day on its own - cars, bikes, planes, buses. Chuck in 30 minutes for lunch, 20 minutes for coffee and cake, and your day's pretty much over.
Time it with one of the event days for max value: https://www.brooklandsmuseum.com/whats-on
Time it with one of the event days for max value: https://www.brooklandsmuseum.com/whats-on
If it's blocked off in the museum, there's a decent stretch of banking on the other side of the Brooklands Community Park (the opposite side of Wellington Way to the MB World track) which always used to be deserted. Running along it making appropriately 1920s "brrrm brrrrrm BANG" noises entirely optional.
Hoofy said:
If you're going to explore all that Brooklands has to offer then that should take a day on its own - cars, bikes, planes, buses. Chuck in 30 minutes for lunch, 20 minutes for coffee and cake, and your day's pretty much over.
Time it with one of the event days for max value: https://www.brooklandsmuseum.com/whats-on
Agreed, especially the Italian car day if not too late notice. Some of us convoyed our Alfa GTVs in, a few years ago, and the array of cars was amazing. Of course with Alfas we had guaranteed parking, not sure about any others. An early arrival may be best.Time it with one of the event days for max value: https://www.brooklandsmuseum.com/whats-on
Louis Balfour said:
MrBig said:
I've been meaning to get down to the Brooklands museum for years now, and I'm hoping to finally make it happen this year.
As it's a couple of hours drive, and a free day is pretty rare for me these days, is it worth visiting MB world at the same time?
Can we do both on the same day or is it best to make a weekend of it?
Any recommendations/experience please?
I hope Brooklands was as good as the first time we went and better than the second.As it's a couple of hours drive, and a free day is pretty rare for me these days, is it worth visiting MB world at the same time?
Can we do both on the same day or is it best to make a weekend of it?
Any recommendations/experience please?
The first time I LOVED it. I am fascinated by the inter-war years, Brooklands, Bentleys and that sort of thing. Walking the track was, for me, magical.
he second time, I was a bit annoyed by it. The volunteer members of staff were off-hand, eat's aexhibits were closed off or absent and the track was off limits because "it might be slippery" despite it being mid-summer and dry as a bone.
I think we went to MB but I think it was sufficiently underwhelming that I have forgotten the detail.
cml24 mentions above that kids can sit in one of the formula cars, that's all year round and assumes the kid can get in and out on their own or with the help of the parent/gaurdian. Why cant the stewrds help the kinds get in and out if the cars? becase someome might accuse them of being kiddy fiddlers! Yes, I kid you not!
You'd get get a bit off hand if you trying to stop yet anotherperson trying to do something that they shouldn't. I was in the Jackson Shed (GP) if someone steps over a rope barrier to take some photos you tell them off if they ask politely then you move the barrier and let them in mainly so they don't accidentally damage the exhibuts most of which are on loan from the general public.
BTW the food over priced and not that good
Edited by lancslad58 on Friday 3rd May 15:05
lancslad58 said:
Louis Balfour said:
MrBig said:
I've been meaning to get down to the Brooklands museum for years now, and I'm hoping to finally make it happen this year.
As it's a couple of hours drive, and a free day is pretty rare for me these days, is it worth visiting MB world at the same time?
Can we do both on the same day or is it best to make a weekend of it?
Any recommendations/experience please?
I hope Brooklands was as good as the first time we went and better than the second.As it's a couple of hours drive, and a free day is pretty rare for me these days, is it worth visiting MB world at the same time?
Can we do both on the same day or is it best to make a weekend of it?
Any recommendations/experience please?
The first time I LOVED it. I am fascinated by the inter-war years, Brooklands, Bentleys and that sort of thing. Walking the track was, for me, magical.
he second time, I was a bit annoyed by it. The volunteer members of staff were off-hand, eat's aexhibits were closed off or absent and the track was off limits because "it might be slippery" despite it being mid-summer and dry as a bone.
I think we went to MB but I think it was sufficiently underwhelming that I have forgotten the detail.
cml24 mentions above that kids can sit in one of the formula cars, that's all year round and assumes the kid can get in and out on their own or with the help of the parent/gaurdian. Why cant the stewrds help the kinds get in and out if the cars? becase someome might accuse them of being kiddy fiddlers! Yes, I kid you not!
You'd get get a bit off hand if you trying to stop yet anotherperson trying to do something that they shouldn't. I was in the Jackson Shed (GP) if someone steps over a rope barrier to take some photos you tell them off if they ask politely then you move the barrier and let them in mainly so they don't accidentally damage the exhibuts most of which are on loan from the general public.
BTW the food over priced and not that good
Edited by lancslad58 on Friday 3rd May 15:05
That was certainly the case with the driving simulator. No engagement from the staff at all. Just standing talking to one another.
With regard to the track being closed, it smacked more of CBA. As I said, it was dry and sunny. I'll take some persuading that it was the fear of litigation.
As I said, the first visit was great. The second not.
Louis Balfour said:
The problem with volunteers, I find (and I am sure this doesn't apply to you) is that they can have an attitude of "I'm doing this for free, I will behave how I wish".
That was certainly the case with the driving simulator. No engagement from the staff at all. Just standing talking to one another.
When I saw the driving sim, I noticed the staff(? volunteers?) were very young, so probably don't know how to behave professionally, sadly. I don't know why they volunteer if they're not prepared to give it 100%. (I speak as a volunteer elsewhere and my attitude is that if you're not gonna do it properly and enjoy it, you might as well do something else.)That was certainly the case with the driving simulator. No engagement from the staff at all. Just standing talking to one another.
This was just my observation. FWIW, when asked for feedback at a recent event, I did say how friendly and helpful the volunteers were.
Louis Balfour said:
The problem with volunteers, I find (and I am sure this doesn't apply to you) is that they can have an attitude of "I'm doing this for free, I will behave how I wish".
Th[mat was certainly the case with the driving simulator. No engagement from the staff at all. Just standing talking to one another.
With regard to the track being closed, it smacked more of CBA. As I said, it was dry and sunny. I'll take some persuading that it was the fear of litigation.
As I said, the first visit was great. The second not.
Was it a Wednesday by any chance ?Th[mat was certainly the case with the driving simulator. No engagement from the staff at all. Just standing talking to one another.
With regard to the track being closed, it smacked more of CBA. As I said, it was dry and sunny. I'll take some persuading that it was the fear of litigation.
As I said, the first visit was great. The second not.
If it was, I know exactly who you're talking about, they're one of the resons I left. I used to look the main part of the shed mostly on my own until some other elderly guy turned up around ten.
Hoofy said:
Louis Balfour said:
The problem with volunteers, I find (and I am sure this doesn't apply to you) is that they can have an attitude of "I'm doing this for free, I will behave how I wish".
That was certainly the case with the driving simulator. No engagement from the staff at all. Just standing talking to one another.
When I saw the driving sim, I noticed the staff(? volunteers?) were very young, so probably don't know how to behave professionally, sadly. I don't know why they volunteer if they're not prepared to give it 100%. (I speak as a volunteer elsewhere and my attitude is that if you're not gonna do it properly and enjoy it, you might as well do something else.)That was certainly the case with the driving simulator. No engagement from the staff at all. Just standing talking to one another.
This was just my observation. FWIW, when asked for feedback at a recent event, I did say how friendly and helpful the volunteers were.
lancslad58 said:
Louis Balfour said:
The problem with volunteers, I find (and I am sure this doesn't apply to you) is that they can have an attitude of "I'm doing this for free, I will behave how I wish".
Th[mat was certainly the case with the driving simulator. No engagement from the staff at all. Just standing talking to one another.
With regard to the track being closed, it smacked more of CBA. As I said, it was dry and sunny. I'll take some persuading that it was the fear of litigation.
As I said, the first visit was great. The second not.
Was it a Wednesday by any chance ?Th[mat was certainly the case with the driving simulator. No engagement from the staff at all. Just standing talking to one another.
With regard to the track being closed, it smacked more of CBA. As I said, it was dry and sunny. I'll take some persuading that it was the fear of litigation.
As I said, the first visit was great. The second not.
If it was, I know exactly who you're talking about, they're one of the resons I left. I used to look the main part of the shed mostly on my own until some other elderly guy turned up around ten.
The guys were older, unengaged and unsmiling. My son was enthused by the sim and put in a good time, I seem to recall he was top of the leader board. No comment at all from them, and I don't think they even said goodbye as we left.
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