Toy Collection
This wonderful toy collection is a true expression of our passion for travel over the years. From old favourites from time gone by to more modern items, you’ll be transported back to your childhood with this great display of toys and games. We have a huge selection of pedal cars, bicycles and aeroplanes – even a pedal-snail!
Some of the toys were made lovingly at home by parents, while others were one-offs produced by manufacturers with their intricate details based on real cars. Of all our items, the Austin pedal car and our spring-based rocking horse are named most often by visitors as taking them back to the ones they had in their back gardens as children.
Although a large number of our toys are displayed together, many of them are also dotted around the rest of the museum. We have display cases full of toy boats, model aeroplanes, jigsaws, board games galore and many boys’ and girls’ annuals. We hope you enjoy browsing our toy collection; it’s one of the most fun parts of the museum – for kids of all ages!
Model kits and smaller toys
On a smaller scale, the museum has everything from Meccano models of windmills, cars and cranes, Scalextric sets, push-along wooden and metal vehicles to penny tin toys that are so popular with collectors and adults nowadays. From a time when it was safe to play anywhere, there’s a collection of outdoor games including sledges, skates, a skittle-set and a rather strange swimming appliance...
A nice touch about many of our toys is that they’re not in perfect condition and boxed. Many have reminders of their former owners and those who loved them, often shown by a scratch, a bump or a spot of wear and tear. In our opinion this doesn't devalue them in any way; rather it adds something special – after all, these toys were made to be taken home and played with by happy children.
Situated within the museum’s toy collection we also have a real collectors’ haven. Based on a toy collector we knew personally, we have a room full of many of the model cars he donated to us; it’s packed with virtually every Dinky model and magazine you can think of.
If you’re a fan of model kits, you can see many of the wooden, plastic and metal kits that have been on sale over the last 50 years expertly constructed and hand-painted. Remember to be quiet though, the room looks as if our collector could pop back for his hat and coat at any second…
Cotswold Motoring Museum is a great day out for all the family! A family of four (two adults and two children) can visit for just £26.00.