OT: UK museum trip 2017

[pontiouspilot]

An old law school buddy and I are travelling to UK/London for several weeks in April. Between the pubs we have an extensive list. I have a couple questions for locals or world travellers:

1. How much time to get through Bovington?
2. How much time to get through Bletchley?
3. Is it feasible to do Bletchley and RAF Hendon in 1 day? Is the De Haviland museum near each worthwhile? I'm guessing that Duxford is a whole day on it's own.
4. Has anyone done the Chartwell thing?...is it worthwhile? Buddy already did Blenheim thing.
5. I saw HMS Belfast 30 yrs ago....anything changed? I know the Imp War Museum itself is vastly upgraded at all facilities. I plan a full day at main museum, excepting our pub time!
6. Other than Bovington and Portsmouth (2 days) anything else required down south?
7. Any other ideas???...don't need to be war related...maybe some good walking tours
8. What are the best UK/London apps?...I bet Obvert will know this one!!

[dr.hal]

Churchill's underground bunker complex in downtown London is a must! Very interactive and informative. Also the naval museum at Greenwich. Also for an outstanding pint and a bit of history try the Royal Standard of England, the oldest free-house in England, out along the A-40 I think its near Beaconsfield. Finally the Tate Gallery Turner wing, Turner put out some really great paintings!!!

[pontiouspilot]

Yes the Churchill war room is excellent...did it 5 years ago and I doubt it will have changed. We are planning a trip to Greenwich via Thames boat or raft or some water conveyance. I made a note of the others...thanks

[Encircled]

Bovington is an all day job

My family were bored to tears after about an hour and I was still swooning over the Pz Mk IV

[sventhebold]

The Imperial War Museum is a must

[Squamry]

If you want your history a bit older the British Museum is a good choice. Good Egyptian and Assyrian collections plus much of the loot from Empire days.

In a similar vein the Ashmolean at Oxford may be worth a visit.

The Royal Armouries at Leeds may be worth a look at, but is north rather than south.

[Anachro]

Whatever you do, do not go to the Ice Bar!

I think the Kensington Gardens are fun to visit if going with a family. Other than that, a lot of good museums. Some already mentioned (British Museum, War Museum). Also the British Army museum (I had fun looking at their viewpoint/depiction of the Revolutionary War). One thing you might enjoy is heading over to the former residence of the Duke of Wellington (A.W.), especially if you are interested in the Napoleonic era.

Always fun to see the changing of the guards. When I was young and touring around at night, we found an empty guardhouse outside of the Queen Mother's palace (like the ones you see the famed guards standing in outside Buckingham Palace). Us kids started playing around in it pretending to be guards and being generally foolish (there was a big red alarm button we could've pressed inside, but luckily did not). They must've had cameras because in a few minutes a very smart-looking fellow with a big automatic gun came to check on us and asked us to refrain from standing in the guardhouse. Very nice chap after the initial confrontation and proceeded to chat with us and my dad for awhile.

[BBfanboy]

If you are down Southampton/Portsmouth way you can tour HMS Victory.

If you want something to do in London other than a pub crawl, visit the ticket booths around Trafalgar square (IIRC) - you can get tickets to top-notch plays for that evening at bargain prices. My SO and I saw Les Misèrables for about half the usual price - good seats too!

[pontiouspilot]

pub crawl....what makes you think I could crawl?...good idea

Been on any good walking tours in London?

[pontiouspilot]

I have added Apsley House to list...good idea, very central. The Brit Army museum, also a good idea...in Chelsea I think. The Brit perspective on Revolutionary War.....you mean the 1st US Civil War??

[Mike Dubost]

ORIGINAL: pontiouspilot

pub crawl....what makes you think I could crawl?...good idea

Been on any good walking tours in London?

A couple of years ago I was in London and found many good walks from London Walks.

They have a variety of walks, and I had a wonderful time on a day trip to Salisbury and Stonehenge. My current reading includes a
book about a knight named William Marshal who had some connection to a lord who controlled a castle at Old Sarum, and I can say that
I remember seeing that site from the bus, er, I mean coach window.

If you go to the linked site, you can see their catalog and pick walks that suit your interest.

[tanksone]

ORIGINAL: pontiouspilot

An old law school buddy and I are travelling to UK/London for several weeks in April. Between the pubs we have an extensive list. I have a couple questions for locals or world travellers:

1. How much time to get through Bovington?
2. How much time to get through Bletchley?
3. Is it feasible to do Bletchley and RAF Hendon in 1 day? Is the De Haviland museum near each worthwhile? I'm guessing that Duxford is a whole day on it's own.
4. Has anyone done the Chartwell thing?...is it worthwhile? Buddy already did Blenheim thing.
5. I saw HMS Belfast 30 yrs ago....anything changed? I know the Imp War Museum itself is vastly upgraded at all facilities. I plan a full day at main museum, excepting our pub time!
6. Other than Bovington and Portsmouth (2 days) anything else required down south?
7. Any other ideas???...don't need to be war related...maybe some good walking tours
8. What are the best UK/London apps?...I bet Obvert will know this one!!

A little tease....

[rustysi]

A little tease....

Stop that.[:D]

[BBfanboy]

Isn't Admiral Lord Sprior (Cap Mandrake's colleague in dastardly deeds) now working at the IWM? Might be worth a PM to him.

[AndyG1]

Duxford is absolutely a whole day, fantastic place. Highly recommended. I'll be checking it out in July when I come over to UK for first time in 10 years, can't wait!