Beaulieu’s licence to thrill boosts visitors (From Daily Echo)

Beaulieu’s licence to thrill with James Bond Exhibition boosts visitor numbers

12:35pm Tuesday 7th August 2012 in New Forest By Chris Yandell, Chief Reporter, New Forest

HE spends his life saving the world and even aided the Queen in making a dramatic arrival at the London Olympics .

Now the legendary super-spy James Bond has helped one of Hampshire’s top tourist attractions to notch up a huge increase in visitor numbers.

The National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, was handed a licence to thrill when it agreed to stage an exhibition celebrating 50 years of 007 movies.

More than 100,000 people have visited the Bond in Motion display since it opened at the start of the year.

Visitor numbers are up 20 per cent on 2011, partly as a result of the Bond phenomenon.

Bond in Motion was launched in January at a ceremony attended by Bond girls Eunice Gayson Britt Ekland, Jenny Hanley and Madeline Smith.

Many of the most recent visitors will doubtless have seen the moment when 007 and the Queen supposedly parachuted into the Olympic stadium for the opening ceremony.

Bond In Motion celebrates the 50th anniversary of the first 007 film, Dr No, which was released in 1962.

It comprises 50 forms of transport used by Bond and his enemies in Dr No and all the subsequent movies, including the three adventures starring Daniel Craig.

A Beaulieu spokesman said: “The exhibition displays Bond vehicles throughout the decades. Exhibits range from the humblest parachute to the most iconic gadgetladen car, plus video footage of some of the most memorable stunts.

“Bond In Motion recently welcomed the Aston Martin DB5 from GoldenEye.

“And two Honda motorcycles from the set of the new Bond film Skyfall have arrived ahead of the film’s release in October.”

• The Bond exhibition runs until December.