U.K. Travel Tips

The de Havilland Museum (Formerly Mosquito Museum) near Hatfield Herts, has a historically significant collection including several Mosquitos. I’m surprised its not previously been mentioned on this thread.

If your going to live in East Anglia you are pretty close a a large number of museums . There is the added advantage that London is close to hand with attractions for you and your wife.

Time won’t be an issue. Just have to figure out which weekends I can get the wife to let me go explore! Thanks again for all the tips!

I feel pretty certain I speak for all of us who have made suggestions on here when I say you are most welcome and I hope you enjoy your time here. I also hope you return home having learned something new, something I always manage whenever I visit historic locations.

Solent Sky is one of the better of the voluntary run museums and is often over looked. Their main drawback is its in a rundown part of the city and a bit out of the way. The aircraft are jammed in but are well presented and in great condition. Nice to be able to get inside the Sandringham and see how the rich once traveled. The fact that is one of the few non-national museums with a Spitfire plus it has the S6 says a lot about the standard.

What are Forumites opinions on Solent Sky?

An excellent but well hidden museum

What are Forumites opinions on Solent Sky?

Time won’t be an issue. Just have to figure out which weekends I can get the wife to let me go explore! Thanks again for all the tips!

Just did a trip.

Dux was amazing.
Cosford is also excellent (stay in Telford, the Park Inn gives discounts if you say you are there for RAFM. Telford is also easy train trip from Cosford)
Hendon RAFM is also a must see, but I think not as good as Cosford.

I am sure others mentioned are well worth trip.

Note the Science Museum in London has a number very notable displays, worth a stop if time allows.

Ok, I’ll bite as you’ve got me thinking. You’ll need a car but a trip along the south east coast takes some beating.

Start at Reculver where Bouncing Bomb tests were undertaken and head to Manston for the RAF Museum & Spitfire and Hurricane Museum. Down to Dover Castle for where Bleriot landed and the Secret Wartime Tunnels you can spend a day here alone. There’s also a spectacular view over the harbour from the old gun battery. From here head to Capel-le-Ferne & Hawkinge for the Battle of Britain Memorial & the superb Museum. A rolling stone gathers no moss so onwards to the Romney Marshes for the Dungeness Sound Mirrors, Brenzett Museum & Lydd airport for some general avaiation. If you still haven’t had enough, head to Headcorn Aerodrome to watch some skydivers and visit the Lashenden Air Warfare Museum.

Here’s the route and to get round all of that properly will take you over a week lol http://goo.gl/maps/LurBJ

If you’re anywhere in East Anglia you’re close to a wartime USAAF or RAF airfield.
The local tourist information offices have/had? a nice brochure on the subject.

If you’re going south, try Manston and the pub seen in The Battle of Britain film.

In Lincoln you should visit the Bomber Command Memorial in Lincoln Cathedral. Stand in the North Transept and reflect that is is due to those remembered there that all this is possible.

exmpa

The Port Meadow crash was about September, remembering the centenary commemoration recently. I’m fairly certain it was the second RFC crash, so I expect Sabrejet is right.

Adrian

Thanks both of you for the replies. I’m ashamed to admit that I’m an aviation and history nut who doesn’t know much about the aviation history of my home county.

I’ve just had another quick look at the website and in the East Midlands section one of the sites that is still listed closed several years ago; and the pricing etc. at others is well out of date.

I can offer you a private viewing of the (as yet unrestored) ex-Vandy 1, Black Bunny Phantom, 153783 cockpit, Phantom II?

Contact me via PM if you’re interested.

Anon.

+1 to twinotter23 post – also if planning long trips out check the museum opening times – some are only open limited periods.
A bit of research and you can find some hidden gems out and about.

Good luck and enjoy!

The aviation museum guide website in #32 is a good starting point but I suggest that you be a little careful when using it as some of the entries are out of date.

http://www.aviationmuseumguide.co.uk/index.php

Wow! I don’t know how I’ll ever see all these places, but I’m damn well going to give it a try. I want to track down some Hurricanes and Phantoms. 🙂

The Port Meadow crash was about September, remembering the centenary commemoration recently. I’m fairly certain it was the second RFC crash, so I expect Sabrejet is right.

Adrian

It was 5th July.