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Isle of Wight Bus & Coach Museum facts for kids

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Isle of Wight Bus & Coach Museum
Established 1997
Location Park Road, Ryde Isle of Wight, PO33 2BE
Type Transport

The Isle of Wight Bus & Coach Museum is a special place where old buses and coaches are kept. It's also known as the Isle of Wight Bus Museum. This museum started in 1997 in Newport, on the beautiful Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom.

The museum is a charity, which means it's run to help the community. It relies completely on volunteers who give their time. All the amazing old vehicles are now kept at a former bus depot in Ryde, Isle of Wight.

The museum holds two exciting bus events each year. One event is in May and is called a "running day." The other big event is in October. Many buses from all over the country come to this October event. It's a great chance to see lots of different old buses!

Explore the Historic Buses

Southern Vectis 628 SDL 638J 6
Bristol VR Previously run by Southern Vectis 628 SDL638J St James Square, Newport.

The Isle of Wight Bus Museum has a fantastic collection of old buses and coaches. There are currently 21 vehicles on display at their location in Ryde. These vehicles show how public transport has changed over many years. You can see buses from different eras, each with its own unique history.

Meet the Museum's Vehicles

Bus Registration Year Owner
Bristol K5G / ECW FLJ538 1954 Museum
Bristol K5G EDL657 1947 Museum
Bristol MW6G / ECW PDL515 1958 Museum
Bedford SB / Duple ADL459B 1964 Museum
Bristol FLF6G / ECW CDL479C 1965 Museum
Bristol MW6G / ECW FDL927D 1966 Museum
Bristol RESH / Duple Commander KDL885F 1968 Museum
Bristol RELL / ECW TDL563K 1971 Museum
Bedford YRQ / Plaxton VDL264K 1972 Museum
Leyland Leopard / ECW B51 RDL309X 1982 Museum
Dennis Dart / Duple G526VYE 1990 Museum
Volvo B10B / Northern Counties K125BUD 1993 Museum
AEC Matador / SVOC GXX785 1945 Museum
Daimler CK / Dodson DL5084 1927 Museum
Cheverton Stage Coach 1880 Museum
Merc / Robin Hood NDL 600W 1982 Museum
Bedford SB / Duple ODL400 Museum
Leyland National MDL880R 1976 Museum
Dennis Dart HW52 EPX 2002 Museum
Ford Transit B259 MDL 1984 Museum
Bedford OB / Duple FDL676 1949 On Loan
Bristol LD6G / ECW PDL519 1958 Museum
Dennis Ace / Harrington DL9015 1934 Private
Bristol LD6G / ECW SDL268 1959 Private
Bristol VRT-SL2 / ECW SDL638J 1971 Private
Bristol LD/ ECW MDL 954 Private
Leyland Olympian / ECW A700DDL Museum
Bristol RESL / ECW HDL 23E Museum

The Museum's New Home

Isle of Wight Bus and Coach Museum
The bus museum's previous site at Newport Quay

The museum needed to find a new home because its old building in Newport was going to be taken down. This was part of a big plan to redevelop the Newport Quay area. The museum wanted to build a brand new, special place for an Island Road Transport Museum.

They had a plan to buy land near Havenstreet Railway. This new site would have been much bigger than their old one. To make this move happen, they needed to raise a lot of money, around £120,000. Supporters could buy shares to help fund the project. However, there were challenges, including getting enough money and getting permission to build on the land.

Since 2015, the museum has been happily located at a former Southern Vectis bus depot. This new home is on Park Road in Ryde, Isle of Wight. It's a great place to keep and show off all the museum's wonderful collection of buses and coaches.

Photo gallery

  • Buses at Isle of Wight Bus Museum running day May 2010 2

    Buses lined up on the quay during the "Ex Island Buses" only running day during May 2010.

  • Ex Southern Vectis Bedford OB 216 (FDL 276)

    An ex Southern Vectis Bedford OB 216 (FDL676) at the Southern Vectis Bustival 2011. This bus is part of the bus museum collection.

  • Preserved 301 (KDL885F)

    This is 301 a Bristol RELH with Duple Commander Bodywork.This bus is part of the bus museum collection.