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Great British Car Journey wins 2022 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Award

June 27, 2022

Just 13 months after opening, Derbyshire’s indoor classic car visitor attraction has become a favourite on Tripadvisor.

Great British Car Journey, which is based in Ambergate, has been recognised by Tripadvisor with a 2022 Travelers’ Choice award winner for its excellent visitor reviews.

The award celebrates businesses that have received great reviews from travellers around the globe on Tripadvisor over the last 12 months.

The attraction consistently receives five-star reviews on the world’s largest travel guidance platform with one recent reviewer even claiming, ‘I would give it 10 stars if I could’.

The attraction, which opened on 22 May 2021 in the middle of the pandemic, has wowed more than 40,000 visitors who have travelled from throughout the UK to see the unique collection of more than 130 British classic cars and even drive some of them with the Drive Dad’s Car experience.

In addition to the Tripadvisor award, Great British Car Journey and Drive Dad’s Car have picked up numerous other awards, including Gold, Silver and Bronze in the 2022 Peak District and Derbyshire Tourism Awards earlier this year.

As well as car marques that have long since disappeared from the UK’s roads, like Austin, Morris and Hillman, the collection boast cars with a very special story, like Lord Baden Powell’s former Rolls Royce (Jam Roll) and Elton John’s Bentley Continental T.

“Car museums can be very dull and that’s definitely what I didn’t want to create when I established Great British Car Journey. My team, and the many volunteers who work here, have done a brilliant job at helping create a memorable experience for everyone who visits and the Tripadvisor award certainly points to that,” explained the attraction’s founder Richard Usher.

Visitors to the attraction are guided around the display with a unique handheld audio device which tells the fascinating story of Britain’s once booming car design and manufacturing industry.

Richard added: “The cars we have on display at Great British Car Journey have played a big part in many people’s lives. Great British Car Journey is so much more than a car museum it is a trip down memory lane and, that, sets us apart from other motoring attractions and is helping us gain such fantastic Tripadvisor reviews. It’s great to see so many people love the collection and whole experience as much as I do.”

“Congratulations to the 2022 Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Winners,” said Kanika Soni, Chief Commercial Officer at Tripadvisor. “The Travellers’ Choice Awards recognize the best in tourism and hospitality, according to those who matter most: your guests. Ranking among the Travellers’ Choice winners is always tough — but never more so than this year as we emerge from the pandemic. Whether it’s using new technology, implementing safety measures, or hiring outstanding staff, I’m impressed by the steps you’ve taken to meet travellers’ new demands. You’ve adapted brilliantly in the face of adversity.”

To find out more about Great British Car Journey and purchase your tickets, visit greatbritishcarjourney.com Or, for those looking for the ultimate trip down memory lane, visit drivedadscar.com to learn more and book a drive.

Come and join us at our first GBCJ Gathering!

June 1, 2022
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Join like-minded car nuts to see what the Great British Car Journey and the Great British Car Club is all about at our first “Gathering” open to all car enthusiasts and owners.

We will be serving food and drinks from The Filling Station café from 5pm to 9pm and Thornbridge Brewery will be attending with an outdoor bar (closes at 8:30pm) Book your space on Eventbrite here: https://bit.ly/GBCJGathering

The Collection will be open to view from a distance (Audio Visual guides will not be available on the night)

There will be prizes for “British Car of the Night”, “Foreign Car of the Night” and “Pre-War Car of the Night”.

All makes and models welcome…with their owners!

Entrance to the Gathering is £5 per car and is redeemable against Adult Entry into Great British Car Journey and Membership of Great British Car Club. The Club now has more than 400 members and a full programme of Club events .

Great British Car Club is affiliated to MotorSport UK and the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs

Derbyshire Scouts welcome ‘Jam Roll ‘to Great British Car Journey

May 20, 2022
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Arrival of Baden Powell’s Rolls Royce marks 1st birthday of Great British Car Journey

Derbyshire’s Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers have welcomed the most important car in the Scout movement’s 114-year history to Great British Car Journey.

‘Jam Roll’, Lord Baden Powell’s Rolls Royce, has gone on display to the public at Great British Car Journey, marking the classic car visitor attraction’s first birthday on 22 May 2022.

The 20hp Rolls-Royce, which was manufactured in Derby, was originally presented to Baden-Powell, along with a caravan (Eccles), at the 1929 World Jamboree on the Scouting movement’s 21st birthday.

The car was subsequently named ‘Jam Roll’ in recognition of its connection to the Jamboree and Rolls Royce.

The unique car boasts the Scout Fleur de Lys emblem, etched with the Scouts motto ‘Be Prepared’ on the radiator in place of the traditional Spirit of Ecstasy or ‘Flying Lady’, making it one of a kind.

Now, 93-years after it was presented to Baden Powell, ‘Jam Roll’ has joined the collection of classic cars at Great British Car Journey. The arrival of the car at the attraction was extra special for the Cubs in attendance, as it helped them earn their Collectors Badge.

Tom Stoddart, One of the Trustees of B-P Jam Roll Ltd which owns the car, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Jam Roll is now on display at Great British Car Journey and available to be seen by Scouts and Guides throughout the world. Retaining the car in Derbyshire was very important to us. It is an important piece of Scouting history, and we know that it will be well looked after by Richard and his team.”

Richard Usher, CEO of Great British Car Journey said: “We are thrilled to have such a uniquely historic car in the Great British Car Journey collection. It is a wonderful way to mark the 12-month anniversary of opening the attraction.”

Scouts around the world were asked to donate a penny per member and enough was raised to buy ‘Jam Roll’ and ‘Eccles’. Lord Baden Powell used the Rolls Royce and Eccles for many years and after his death in 1941 his family sold it to private owners. It was seen infrequently at Scouts events before being acquired by BP Jam Roll Ltd, a trust established to purchase in the car in 2008 ensuring it stayed in the country.

Following Jam Roll’s purchase by the trust, of which Lord Baden Powell’s grandson the Hon. Michael Baden Powell is a trustee, the car was sympathetically restored by Scouting volunteers and members of the Rolls Royce Heritage Centre where it was stored until it arrived at Great British Car Journey.

Jam Roll has found a new home at great British Car Journey where it is now on display alongside more than 130 British-built and manufactured cars which have long since disappeared from the roads, including the Austin Seven, Morris Minor and Ford Escort as well with a number of cars with equally famous owners, including Elton John’s Bentley Continental T.

Richard added: “The fact that ‘Jam Roll’ was made in Derby, only a few miles from Baden Powell’s wife’s home town of Chesterfield and indeed Great British Car Journey, gives this internationally important car a lovely local connection.”

Although now on display at Great British Car Journey, ‘Jam Roll’ will continue to make special appearances at Scout events.

To view Jam Roll and the wider car collection at Great British Car Journey, you can purchase tickets at greatbritishcarjourney.com or simply turn up and pay upon arrival.

If you’re looking for the ultimate trip down memory lane, pick from the 38-strong Drive Dad’s Car fleet and get behind the wheel of your favourite classic car. Visit drivedadscar.com to learn more.

Give Dad the ultimate trip down memory lane this Father’s Day!

May 13, 2022
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If you’re looking for that unique gift for Father’s Day, then you’ve found it!

Pull out the choke, turn the key and send your loved one on the ultimate trip down memory lane!

Drive Dad’s Car gives you the opportunity to get behind the wheel of over 35 of the most popular cars ever made in Britain. Choose from an Austin Seven or a Rolls Royce Silver Spirit and everything in between, including the Mini, Morris Minor and Ford Capri!

Plus, we are offering you a 15% Early Bird discount and Drive Dad’s Car mug for the driver with all driving experiences booked in May.

Simply enter the code EARLYBIRD15 in the checkout to take advantage of this fantastic offer.

Vouchers are valid for 12 months, but this early bird offer isn’t, so don’t miss out and book an experience today!

Book Now

Come and join us on our Century of Sevens celebration day!

April 26, 2022
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2022 Marks the Centenary of our Hero car, the Austin 7.

We are looking to gather over 100 of this iconic little car, along with a celebration cake and run out into the Peak District.

Owners of Austin’s of any generation are invited to join us at Great British Car Journey on Sunday May 8th to celebrate the centenary of both the Austin Seven and the Austin Twelve. Anyone arriving in an Austin will be entitled to admission for just £10! so please get friends, relatives and anyone you know with an Austin involved!

Pre-war Austin owners are eligible to go on a 35-mile run taking in some of Derbyshire’s most glorious countryside and there will be a lunch stop at a location which will provide a further treat for car enthusiasts AND music lovers. You can enter this run free of charge, online here: https://bit.ly/38x1CON

Participants will receive a commemorative plaque, free tea and coffee and a slice of a special “Birthday Cake” which will be cut at 3:30 pm.

Contact us on info@greatbritishcarjourney.com if you’d like to arrange a club visit

Come and join us for National Drive it Day 2022!

April 5, 2022
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Great British Car Journey is proud to be part of The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs and are delighted to be supporting National Drive it Day 2022.  

National Drive it Day has been running since 2005 and five classic car owners and the public the chance to celebrate the One Thousand Mile Trial, aimed to prove the viability of this new invention….the automobile!

Last year, over £40,000 was raised over for NSPCC’s Childline and we will be once again raising funds for Childline through the sale of Drive it Day commemorative plates (available on the day) or online from http://www.driveitday.co.uk/shop We will also be offering passenger rides in a selection of our classic cars and 10% of all money taken on the day will go to Childline.

Plus, we have reduced admission to Great British Car Journey for the day!

Adult £10 – Usually £16

Child £5 – Usually £7.50

Family £25 – Usually £40

(2 Adults and up to 3 Children)

We already have over 100 cars booked in to visit throughout the day, so get the date in your diary and come and join us on what will be a great day for the motoring enthusiast.

Members of Federation affiliated clubs will be permitted to enter the building to use the cafe and gift shop (Please provide proof of membership)

Come and join us for our Easter Family Fun Weekend

April 4, 2022
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Easter 2022 is just around the corner and we’d love youto come and join us on an eggciting mystery character hunt through our car collection!

Pick your way through the classic cars and collect all the letters to spell the name of the mystery bunny at the end!

We’ve picked out eleven letters on our cars that spell the name of a famous Bunny! All you haveto do is search for the cars where the letter comes from and the arrange them into the name of the mystery bunny.

  • Start off your Easter adventure by collecting your clue sheet and pencil from reception.
  • Find all the letters in the Mystery Bunny’s name and arrange them in to the right answer.
  • Once you’ve completed the sheet with the right answer, you can collect your choccy treat from reception.

There will also be prizes for little visitors who arrive with a ‘car or motoring’ themed Easter hat/bonnet.

Best of all, family tickets for the Easter weekend have been reduced from £40to £30 – book your placetoday: https://bit.ly/GBCJTkts

Triple win for Great British Car Journey in2022 Tourism Awards

March 4, 2022
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Great British Car Journey’s apprentice mechanic Luke Henshaw has been named as the 2022 Tourism Young Achiever in the Peak District and Derbyshire Tourism Awards.

Luke (18) was one of just 15 Gold winners at the awards, which were organised by Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire. ‘Tourism Young Achiever’ was a new award category added to the awards line-up to recognise the thousands of jobs supported by tourism across the Peak District and Derbyshire.

In addition to Luke’s win, the Ambergate-based classic car attraction also scooped the silver award in the New Tourism Business category and bronze in the Experience of the Year category for its unique Drive Dad’s Car experience just 10 months after opening its door to visitors.
Luke, from Mansfield, joined Great British Car Journey in April ahead of the popular attraction opening in May 2021. He works and learns alongside the attraction’s Chief Engineer and to keep a fleet of nearly 200 cars in working order.

Delighted to be recognised, Luke said: “it’s a great honour to be recognised. I was a little nervous but the atmosphere was brilliant and a great experience for my first awards ceremony. I’m learning so much at Great British Car Journey. It’s a fantastic place to work with an amazing variety of the cars that I get to work on daily. It’s brilliant.”

Richard Usher, founder and CEO of Great British Car Journey said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been recognised across three categories in the awards after opening just 10 months ago amidst Covid restrictions.
“Luke, as indeed all the team – from volunteers and paid employees – are integral to ensuring Great British Car Journey continues to grow and become the go-to destination for classic car enthusiasts throughout the UK.

“Despite recent setbacks with the weather, we’re all really looking forward to 2022. We have even more plans for the attraction in the pipeline and the team and I are definitely aiming for more golds in the awards next year.

Designed to recognise and reward excellence and outstanding achievement in the Peak District and Derbyshire’s valuable tourism sector, the awards brought together 41 finalists in 15 categories for a glittering ceremony at Chesterfield’s four-star Casa Hotel.
Great British Car Journey is open seven days a week from 10.00am until 5.00pm and charts the history of the British motoring industry through more than 130 cars on display, including Austin Sevens, Morris Minors, Minis, Ford Escorts and even a McLaren supercar.

You can book tickets to visit us at: www.greatbritishcarjourney.com

THANK YOU TEAM!

February 25, 2022
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WOW…..What a week we’ve had here at Great British Car Journey and not one we’d like to repeat!

Like many businesses and local residents, we didn’t escape storms Dudley, Eunice and Franklin unscathed. At one point, the River Derwent was recorded as flowing at 220 tonnes per second through Matlock Bath (the highest ever recoded)

Our team has worked tirelessly to get the attraction open as quickly as possible for out visitors (it is 25,000 sq. ft!) and we were immensely proud to open the doors up at 10:00am today.

We’re not a big team, but every department has pitched in without hesitation, so thank you to the Cleaning, Catering, Office support, Reception, Maintenance teams and Volunteers. Without you we wouldn’t be where we are today.

Back open Friday

February 21, 2022
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NEWS UPDATE

Thanks for all your well wishes today, following the flooding that has affected us and our neighbours around the Derwent Valley and Peak District.

Our flood defence system worked extremely well, but we did experience some minor water ingress into the main hall and as a result, need to carry out some maintenance and cleaning up around the site.

We will re-open this Friday the 25th of February and remain open 7 days a week from 10:00am until 5:00pm

If you have booked tickets for the next few days, we will be happy to honour them when you are next able to visit us and apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Great British Car Journey’s barn find proves Austin really is ‘Britain’s dependable car’

February 11, 2022
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An Austin Heavy 12/4, which was owned from new by the same family for 90 years, is working once again despite having spent the last 43 years stored in an overgrown timber garage.

Purchased on 22 July 1931 by Fred Woodhall, the Austin 12/4 travelled many thousands of miles in the UK as well as throughout Europe. In 1961 the car was passed on to the original owner’s son and then great grandson, Charles Clarkson who has now donated it to the Great British Car Journey based in Ambergate, Derbyshire. 

Despite being forgotten about for more than 40 years, with only minor attention, the engine started, and the electrics worked. Additionally, the car’s brakes work, it pulls strongly in all gears, the dynamo charges, the radiator still holds water, and all major functions are fine; all testament to the manufacturer’s claim in the 30s that Austin was ‘Britain’s Dependable Car’.

Richard Usher, Chief Executive of Great British Car Journey explained: “I was absolutely flabbergasted when the car started given the storage conditions. The garage was so overgrown with ivy we couldn’t open the doors so had to physically remove them in order to get to the car. Once we got the car out and lifted the bonnet it looked like the engine had completely seized.”

The car retains all its original features and is in remarkable condition given its storage conditions. Now on display at the classic car visitor attraction, there are no plans to restore the Austin 12/4. Richard explained why: “We’ve given it a clean and a polish but that’s it. Great British Car Journey is all about preserving the history of vehicles and part of that is showing how they’ve been used and the life they have led.

“The fact this car has survived being driven many thousands of miles and is driveable after more than 40 years off the road is testimony to Austin’s build quality and Britain’s motoring heritage. I am delighted that we have been able to add this remarkable example of a pre war Austin to the Great British Car Journey collection.”

Christmas Gifts at the Great British Car Journey

December 10, 2021
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Great British Car Journey is a great place to buy gifts for the petrol-head in your life!!

As well as advanced tickets for our multi-award nominated attraction, you can buy a voucher for our “Drive Dad’s Car” experience from only £49, giving the lucky recipient the chance to drive one or more of our 30 Classic British cars. An attractive gift pack is available featuring an embossed travel wallet, enamel key fob and an old -style driving license.

For the really dedicated car enthusiast, why not buy membership of the new Great British Car Club? Members get unlimited access to the collection and all the amenities on site as well as some valuable discounts on a whole host of products and services. A quarterly newsletter “Classic Connections” keeps them informed of special member events and tours and their membership card comes in a stylish embossed travel wallet. Membership starts from just £31

The Gift shop at Great British Car Journey contains a great range of books, models, toys and branded car merchandise, guaranteed to raise a smile on Christmas day.

UK’s newest car club launched at Classic Motor Show

November 12, 2021
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The UK’s newest classic car club was launched by Great British Car Journey at the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show today (12 November).


The Great British Car Club celebrates diversity, welcoming enthusiasts of any old cars regardless of age, value or country of origin.


Richard Usher, founder and CEO of Great British Car Journey explained why he has launched the new club: “Having been a member of numerous clubs, I have noticed that younger enthusiasts and even oldies like me, have become less fixated on a single make and that enthusiasm for old cars now covers a very broad spectrum of makes and models and I wanted to create a club which represented this.”


As well as giving member unlimited visits access to the Great British Car Journey attraction and its facilities, membership of the new club aims to connect classic car enthusiasts through special events, newsletters and online forums as well as offering discounts on products and access to a specialist classic car insurer.


Richard added: “There are hundreds of excellent car clubs who are doing a great job encouraging interest in and the use of old cars, but we have the luxury of facilities at Great British Car Journey which we can put at our members’ disposal.”


Former CEO of McLaren, friend of Great British Car Journey and classic car enthusiast, Mike Flewitt has agreed to be Honorary President of Great British Car Club. Mike also opened the attraction in May earlier this year.

Great British Car Journey CEO Richard Usher and honorary president Mike Flewitt abourd the 1902 Affol Johnston

Annual membership of the club is from just £31.


Great British Car Journey can be found on stand 5-320 within the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC) village at the Classic Motor Show.


As well as launching the new club, the stand will also host the attraction’s newest exhibit a 1905 Arrol-Johnston Dogcart. The latest acquisition at the attraction puts a century between the oldest car and the most recent classic car on display – a McLaren 650S.


As well as the undercover exhibition at Great British Car Journey, the attraction also offers visitors the opportunity to drive more than 30 classic cars on a private route as part of the Drive Dad’s Car experience.


Since opening in May, Great British Car Journey has proved a hit with classic car enthusiasts attracting 25,000 visitors. Both the attraction and Richard Usher have also been named as finalists in the Royal Automobile Club Historic Awards and The Historic Motoring Awards.


Richard added: “We are tremendously excited to be at the Classic Motor Show and are grateful to the Federation for helping us tell thousands more people about the Great British Car journey, Drive Dad’s Car and the brand new Great British Car Club.”

Click here to find out more and join the Great British Car Club

Winter Opening Hours

October 20, 2021
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Please see below for our revised opening timetable for the winter period:

November

Open between: 10am till 5pm – Last entry at 3.00pm

Closed every Tuesday and Wednesday

December

Open between: 10am till 5pm – Last entry at 3.00pm

Closed every Tuesday and Wednesday

W/C 20th December open all week except closed on the, 24th 25th 26th

Open 27th 28th 29th 30th

Closed 31st

January

Open between: 10am till 5pm – Last entry at 3.00pm

Closed 1st

Re open 2nd Jan all week

Closed 11th -12th (Tuesday/Wednesday)

Closed 18th -19th (Tuesday/Wednesday)

Closed 24th Jan Re-open Friday 4th Feb

February

Open between: 10am till 5pm – Last entry at 3.00pm

Closed 8th-9th (Tuesday/Wednesday)

Closed 15th 16th (Tuesday/Wednesday)

Open every day from 17th Feb onwards

LOOK WHO’S DROPPING IN THIS HALLOWEEN!!

October 6, 2021
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Great British Car Journey to host Harry Potter Halloween special event

Calling all wizards, witches and muggles! Come join the Great British Car Journey for a very special Harry Potter-themed event for all the family on Sunday 31 October.

A 1960 Ford Anglia 105E, which was enchanted by Ron Weasley’s father in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets – is flying into Great British Car Journey to take centre stage at the event.

The event also celebrates 82 years since the very first Ford Anglia model, the E04A, was released for sale on the 31 October 1939.

The Great British Car Journey Harry Potter Halloween Special promises to be a magical spectacle with family entry to the attraction discounted on the day.

On the day, the Ford Anglia 105E Owners Club will be bringing along a selection of the classic cars which were immortalised in the Harry Potter film to display at Great British Car Journey.

There will also be be a ‘Hedwig Hunt’ for children in the attraction’s collection of more than 130 classic cars as well as plenty of ghoulish goodies in the café and prizes throughout the day for visitors wearing Harry Potter-themed fancy dress.

Manufactured in Dagenham by Ford between 1959 – 1968, the Anglia, with its American-influenced styling, including a sweeping nose line and its prominent ‘eye’ headlamps, has rightfully claimed its place in the Great British Car Journey collection of classic cars, which boasts its own Ford Anglia 105 Estate.

In total more than 1.5 million Ford Anglias were produced, yet only around 320 remain today.


To celebrate the Ford Anglia’s birthday 82nd birthday, family tickets (2 adults and up to 3 children) are discounted to £30, a saving of £10. Entry includes access to the special Harry Potter Halloween event from 10.00am – 6.00pm (last entry at 4.00pm). Pre-booking is essential for the Halloween event.

To book tickets for the Harry Potter Halloween Special event on Sunday 31 October at Great British Car Journey, please click here: Admissions or call 01773 317243.

Classic Mini scales the Heights

September 23, 2021

A classic 1989 Mini can now be found atop the Heights of Abraham !

Visitors to Matlock Bath’s Heights of Abraham are set for a surprise when they alight the cable car at the top of the 60-acre Hilltop Estate. They’ll be greeted by a classic 1989 Mini!


The Mini has been lent to Derbyshire’s oldest tourist attraction by Derbyshire’s newest one, Great British Car Journey, which opened in May earlier this year.


Getting to the top of the Heights of Abraham was no mean feat for the 31-year-old car, which faced a half mile climb to reach the summit which is 1000 feet above sea level.


Rupert Pugh, Director of the Heights of Abraham, drove the car to the summit himself, negotiating the steep, narrow paths and tricky hairpin bends that wrap around Masson Hill. One slip and the car could have ended up back down the hill!


The branded 30th Anniversary edition Mini, which promotes the classic car attraction in Ambergate, will now greet visitors to the hilltop attraction. Visitors to the Heights of Abraham will also get discounted entry to Great British Car Journey.


Rupert commented: “I had a great deal of fun acquainting myself with the Mini. Initially I was rather sceptical that it could make the climb, but it surprised and delighted me on the journey up to the summit. It’s already proving a real talking point with visitors with many asking how we got it up here.”


Richard Usher, CEO of Great British Car Journey said: “I am very grateful to Heights of Abraham for giving us the opportunity to promote Great British Car Journey. Being a new attraction in the area we’re very keen to ensure as many people as possible know about us and visit. We’re looking forward to welcoming many of the people that visit Heights of Abraham each year to Great British Car Journey.”


The classic Mini was produced by the British Motor Corporation (BMC) and its successors from 1959 until 2000 and is considered one of the most influential cars of the twentieth centuries. Despite 5.3 million original Minis being produced, today just 8,176 exist in the world.


Great British Car Journey boasts seven original Minis in its collection, including a rare unregistered Mini with just 12 miles on the clock. For people keen to take one for a drive, Great British Car Journey also offers a 20-minute Drive Dad’s Car driving experience in four Minis, including a 1966 Mini 850 MK1, and a Mini Cooper which was manufactured in 2000 and one of the last Minis ever made.


Alongside Minis, visitors to Great British Car Journey will find a collection of 130 popular cars designed and manufactured in the UK between 1920 and 2000, including the Austin Seven, Morris Minor, Ford Escort and Vauxhall Chevette – cars that were all produced in their millions and were on virtually every street and carpark in Britain but have since all but disappeared from the roads.


To arrange a Mini driving experience at Great British Car Journey, visit www.drivedadscar.com or to book tickets for the exhibition, click here: Buy tickets

Great British Car Journey goes back to the future with DeLorean Day event on 30 August

August 11, 2021
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Great British Car Journey will be celebrating the fortieth anniversary of the iconic DMC DeLorean sportscar later this month.

Monday 30 August has been declared DeLorean Day at the classic car visitor attraction in Ambergate. To celebrate, there will be something for every member of the family to enjoy at Great British Car Journey.

Production of the DeLorean began in 1981 just four years before the car was catapulted into the spotlight by the highest-grossing film of 1985 – Back To The Future.

With its revolutionary stainless-steel body and distinctive gull-wing doors, the DeLorean was born with film star appeal. 

The futuristic DMC-12 sportscar now enjoys cult status for its time-travelling antics with Marty McFly and Doc Brown in the blockbuster Back to the Future movie franchise.

There will be a selection of DeLorean cars on display at the attraction, including a very rare right hand drive model on loan from the DeLorean Owners Club UK.

There’s even the opportunity to sit in a DeLorean and utter the immortal words of Doc Brown – “Roads? Where we’re going we don’t need roads!”

Kids are also encouraged to come in Back To The Future costumes, with a prize for the best mini Marty McFly and Doc Brown on the day. Prizes include a ride in a DeLorean, model cars and goody bags.

However, it’s not all about Back To The Future. At the event enthusiasts can meet with one of the foremost DeLorean experts in the UK, Chris Parnham, author of DeLorean: Celebrating the Impossible. Chris has an encyclopedic knowledge of the DeLorean and its inventor John Zachary DeLorean.

Manufactured in Northern Ireland, the DeLorean has rightfully claimed its place in the Great British Car collection which features more than 130 cars manufactured and designed in the UK.

Pre-booking is essential for DeLorean Day. Family tickets (2 adults and up to 3 children) for the day are just £30, a saving of £10, and include access to the full exhibition from 10.00am – 5.00pm

To book a ticket for the DeLorean Day event on Monday 30 August at Great British Car Journey visit www.greatbritishcarjourney.com or call 01773 317243.

FOUNDERS BLOG: JUNE 11TH 2021

June 11, 2021
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Another busy week!

Another busy week at GBCJ  with some great Classics visiting today from Staffordshire and beyond.  Groups are always very welcome and hopefully as Covid recedes, we will be able to host Club meets in both the attraction and our licensed café . Like most hospitality businesses , we are struggling to recruit catering staff so if you fancy working in a place for the car-intoxicated and you have some catering experience , PLEASE get in touch by emailing info@greatbritishcarjourney.com

Practical Classics has done us proud in the July edition so thanks as ever to Danny Hopkins for his infectious enthusiasm. I have also seen an advanced copy of the next EVO which has a review by my old friend John Barker.

I hope everyone is enjoying this overdue warm spell and that it remains hoods down for the foreseeable future.

Don’t forget Fathers Day …why not buy him a Drive Dad’s Car Experience?

Stay Safe

 Just one of the beautiful cars popping in to visit today!

CHAIR OF BRITISH TOURIST AUTHORITY VISITS PEAK DISTRICT & DERBYSHIRE TO SUPPORT TOURISM RECOVERY

June 2, 2021
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We were happy to welcome the Chair of the British Tourist Authority on his whistle-stop tour of Peak District & Derbyshire

The Chair of the British Tourist Authority has enjoyed a whistle-stop tour of Peak District & Derbyshire to celebrate the reopening of local tourism and hospitality businesses.

Lord Patrick McLoughlin CH visited some of the county’s top visitor attractions and destinations during a day trip to discuss how businesses are working hard to welcome visitors back safely, and to discuss the ongoing challenges facing the sector during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Organised by Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire, the area’s official destination management organisation, the trip enabled Lord McLoughlin – who was MP for Derbyshire Dales between 1986 and 2019 – to see first-hand how the industry is preparing to recover and rebuild following the easing of lockdown restrictions.

Highlighting the Peak District & Derbyshire’s appeal as a year-round, all weather destination, the day began with a visit to the newly-opened Great British Car Journey at Ambergate. Lord McLoughlin toured the state-of-the-art exhibition – which celebrates 100 years of British motoring history – before sampling the Peak District region’s first whisky, recently launched by the nearby White Peak Distillery.

Lord McLoughlin then visited Chatsworth, where he was welcomed by the Duke of Devonshire for a tour of the magnificent Grade I listed House, before enjoying a networking lunch with local tourism businesses and representatives.

The trip also included visits to the Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop and Thornbridge Brewery, where business owners highlighted the ongoing difficulties and unique set of challenges facing the tourism and hospitality industry as businesses continue to adapt to new restrictions.

The final stop of the day was Buxton where Lord McLoughlin toured the town’s iconic Opera House, which recently reopened following 16 months of closure, and the Ensana Buxton Crescent Hotel & Thermal Spa, the destination’s first 5-star hotel which opened in October 2020 following a £70 million renovation.

The visit follows the launch of Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire’s £70,000 Escape the Everyday marketing campaign, supported by funding from VisitEngland, to boost the recovery of local tourism and hospitality businesses.

British Tourist Authority Chairman Lord Patrick McLoughlin said:“I’m so pleased to be in Derbyshire today as English Tourism Week draws to a close. The week has been dedicated to showing support for tourism businesses and destinations across the sector as they reopen and start to rebuild. Local businesses have been working so hard to welcome visitors back safely, adapting and innovating to meet new ways of working and still providing a great visitor experience.

“And it is great to see the activity that Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire will be delivering locally, with support from VisitEngland funding and aligning with our national ‘Escape the Everyday’ campaign, to encourage more people to get out and discover the outstanding destinations and quality attractions here on our doorstep and to drive bookings.

“Millions of jobs and local economies depend on tourism right across the country and the industry needs all of us to make sure it gets back on its feet.”

Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire, said: “It’s great to welcome Lord McLoughlin to the area to recognise the efforts made by local businesses to reopen safely, and to also see up close some of the exciting new additions to our tourism offer.

“Over 32,000 local jobs depend on tourism and I am confident that we left him in no doubt that, despite ongoing challenges, the businesses that make up the Peak District & Derbyshire’s visitor economy are resilient, passionate and fully focussed on the future and their role in successfully supporting the county’s economic recovery.

“More than 900 local businesses have now signed up to the We’re Good To Go industry standard, demonstrating they have all the right safety measures in place, and the continued success of the vaccination programme is going to be vital in helping us get the sector back on its feet.

“However, it will take at least two years for tourism to recover back to its pre-pandemic value, so it’s never been more important for us all to support our local businesses and visitor attractions – and the industry is looking forward to welcoming you back.”

Councillor Barry Lewis, Leader of Derbyshire County Council, said: “Tourism is a vital part of the Derbyshire economy which is worth around £2.5bn a year to the county, supports 32,000 jobs, attracts 41 million day visitors and more than 4.3 million staying visitors.

“As we move further along the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown, we’re looking forward to welcoming more visitors back and are working hard with our partners to help rebuild our visitor economy following the pandemic.

“With uncertainty about foreign travel, more and more people are looking at staying in the UK for their holidays and Derbyshire is a perfect destination for short or longer stays.

“From stunning, specially protected landscapes, exciting outdoor activities and brilliant attractions to rich history and heritage, quality accommodation and fine, locally produced food and drink, Derbyshire has everything. There are lots of new places to explore too and this year we’re especially encouraging people to come to Derbyshire to discover many of our hidden gems that are off the main tourist trails.

“Whether people are looking for a local day out or wanting to stay longer, Derbyshire is a fantastic and fun place to visit and we’re pleased that Lord McLoughlin, in his role as chair of VisitBritain, has taken the opportunity to visit Derbyshire to discuss the challenges businesses have faced during the pandemic and get first-hand experience of how they have adapted to reopen safely.”

FOUNDERS BLOG: MAY 31st 2021

May 31, 2021
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End of May round-up

Feedback from visitors has been fantastically positive and we look forward to welcoming many more in the coming weeks. The Drive Dads Car fleet has been well driven over the weekend and apart from a rather large nut falling off the Sunbeam Rapier, the cars have behaved as well as the drivers.

Our resident mechanical wizard : Doctor Mark Lawrence will no doubt be able to advise what said nut should be doing but I am afraid that the Rapier is currently in the sick bay!!  We have been visited by many superb classic cars ranging from a magnificent pre-war Lagonda to Citroen 2 CVs and a rather lovely Volvo P1800 as driven by Roger Moore in “The Saint”.

Please feedback to us with any criticisms (or otherwise) and do join us on all the usual social media channels. Above all, thanks for coming and we hope to see you again.

Richard

Visit the Exhibition, Drive the Cars & Buy the Merchandise

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