Places to Visit
Readers of my books will know that The Intelligence Zone is a name I have coined for an area in middle England where the major breakthroughs took place which enabled Britain and her allies to win World War Two - and which have also moulded the modern age.
It also tells of how these were used in action; and the covert activities of the secret services.
The scientific breakthroughs included the development of radar, computing, atomics, modern communications and penicillin. This wealth of development makes the area, in my opinion, as important in man's development as was the north of England (the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution).
That's quite apart from the action!
My book gives some highlights of this amazing time and place. The purpose of this page is to show places to visit in the Intelligence Zone (and sometimes outside it) which have museums to visit relating to that extraordinary time.
Not surprisingly, such a formative time has given rise to many museums - which I list below (if you think I have missed any, or made any mistakes, please let me know).
The numbers below refer to chapter numbers in the books as per the map above.
For example, for museums about radar, see section 3
Museum links - location, what to see and facilities
(check museum websites for accessability information prior to visiting)
*Opening hours and adult entry cost - as at July 2024
3. Radar
The first effective radar was developed for (and partly by) the Royal Air Force; and was the means by which Hugh Dowding won the Battle of Britain
RAF Signals Museum Henlow (6miles north of Hitchin). SG16 6DN
This museum contains a radar display and a 'Y' signals room.
No cafe.
Museum scheduled to close permanently June 2024
Open first Saturday of each month, except Jan. It is housed within an operational RAF station so it's not just a matter of turning up. You will need to tell them you are coming and be authorised - and then get in (via the guardroom). See website for details.
Free*
Imperial War Museum Duxford (nr. Cambridge), CB22 4QR
Duxford houses a staggering range of aircraft, RAF and otherwise, as well as ground weapons (tanks and the like). This is a full day's visit. It houses a huge display of RAF (and other) aircraft. It is breath taking in its size and variety.
It has radar installations both British and German radar installations.
Cafe(s) and shop.
Open 10am - 6pm daily*
last admittance an hour before closure
£26.80*
RAF Air Defence Radar Museum Neatishead Norfolk NR12 8YB.
An ex RAF radar station now a museum.
23 exhibition rooms, allow 2 to 3 hours.
Cafe and shop.
Opens in summer, Tuesdays to Saturdays inclusive (and bank holiday Mondays) 10am - 5pm*
£14*
Bawdsey Radar Suffolk IP12 3BA
The place where the radar which was key to winning the Battle of Britain was developed.
I have yet to visit this museum.
No cafe.
Open April to October
Thursdays and Sundays 11am - 4pm*
last admittance an hour before closure
£8*
4. RAF Fighter Command
the winner of the Battle of Britain; one of the most important battles in history as it preserved the free world
Bentley Priory (HQ of Fighter Command) London HA7 3HT
Dowding's office. Displays about Fighter Command and the Battle of Britain.
Cafe and shop.
Open March to Sep; wed, fri, sat 10am - 5pm*
Oct to Feb; wed, fri, sat, 10am - 4pm*
last admittance an hour before closure
£8*
Royal Air Force Museum London NW9 5LL
Hangars with aircraft. Cafe and shop
Open 10am - 5pm daily*
Free*
Imperial War Museum Duxford (nr Cambridge) CB22 4QR
One of the world's foremost aviation museums. Houses a staggering range of aircraft, RAF and otherwise, as well as ground weapons (tanks and the like). This is a full day's visit.
Cafe(s) and shop
Open 10am - 6pm daily*
last admittance an hour before closure
£26.80*
5. Winston Churchill
Churchill's War Rooms London SW1 2AQ
The complex buried under Whitehall from which Churchill directed the war.
Map rooms, Churchill's bedroom, cabinet rooms
Open daily 9:30am - 6pm*
last admittance an hour before closure
£32*
6. Churchill's Toyshop
Sadly, no museum exists that covers this amazing weapons factory.
7. Bletchley Park (Bletchley unbombed) - the capture of signals and their decoding and distribution
Where the war was shortened and the modern computer age began.
Bletchley Park Milton Keynes MK3 6EB
The means used to crack Axis codes and what was done with the results. Unmissable.
Cafe and shop
March to Oct inclusive: 9.30am to 5pm*
Nov - Feb inclusive (closed Xmas): 9.30am - 4pm* last admittance 2 hours before closure
£23.40*
8. 'Y' Services (Sixth Sense: Britannia’s hidden hunters)
The vast array of communications equipment used by the Wireless Intercept 'Y' services to monitor and record enemy messages.
Much of this was fed into Bletchley Park for them to decode.
RAF Signals Museum Henlow SG16 6DN
As well as an impressive collection of communications and radar equipment, this also has a 'Y' room
No cafe
Museum scheduled to close permanently June 2024
Open first Saturday of each month, except Jan. It is housed within an operational RAF station so it's not just a matter of turning up. You will need to tell them you are coming and be authorised - and then get in (via the guardroom). See website for details.
Free*
Bletchley Park Milton Keynes MK3 6EB
The excellent signals section explains the inputs feeding into BP
Cafe and shop
March to Oct inclusive: 9.30am to 5pm*
Nov - Feb inclusive (closed Xmas): 9.30am - 4pm*
last admittance 2 hours before closure
£23.40*
9. The many voices of the Whaddon Web
The multiple sites which was used by MI6/SIS to communicate with spies and saboteurs on the ground, broadcast black propaganda and send out instructions to commanders across the globe. No site deals with Whaddon Hall, although it is covered to a degree in Bletchley Park
10. Penicillin
History of Science Museum Oxford OX1 3AX
This is where the work went on which turned penicillin into a useful drug.
Tuesdays - Sun, 12 - 5pm last entry 4.50pm*
Free - donations welcome*
St Mary's hospital, Praed Street, London (North of Hyde Park) W2 1NYI
Alexander Fleming Laboratory Museum is a reconstruction of the discovery of Penicillin in the actual laboratory where it happened.
Monday - Thursday, 10.00am - 1pm*
closed on public holidays
Free*
12. SOE - the sabotage factories of the Great North Road
The Special Operations Executive - the people who trained saboteurs and made the equipment that they used (radios, weapons, etc) and flew them to and from the continent.
Note well. This is far from being a comprehensive list of sites relating to SOE; it only covers those I know of in The Intelligence Zone
Harrington Airfield Northants NN6 9PF
This is the airfield where the American sister organisation to the SOE - the OSS - dispatched flights to deliver clandestine material to the continent. It has displays of OSS/SOE and SIS agents' equipment and radios. This is a small museum but the enthusiasm of its volunteers (of which there is a shortage) is infectious (they even supplied me with a Wagon Wheel biscuit for free!). small cafe, small shop. I love this place. Full of character and characters.
Military Intelligence Shefford SG17 5PR
also has SOE 'funnies' daggers, pistols, explosives and the like.
No cafe. Small shop.
This is within a military base (RAF Chicksands) so it's not just a matter of turning up. You will need to tell them you are coming and be authorised - and then get in. See website for details.
Free - donations welcome*
Tue - Sun 10am - 5.30pm*
Free*
14. the Siege of Britain
How the Royal Navy, Coastal Command, Bletchley Park and Whitchurch killed off the U-boats (with American and Canadian help)
Western Approaches HQ Liverpool L2 8SZ
The operational headquarters for the Royal Navy (and Coastal Command) in the second world war. This museum is within walking distance of many Liverpool attractions, such as the 360 Liver Building Tour, Royal Albert Dock, the Beatles' Story, the Mersey Tunnel Tour and the Great British Music Experience, so is worth combining into a couple of days in the vibrant, funny, friendly (mostly) city of Liverpool.
Gift shop, no cafe.
Daily, 10am - 6pm last entry 5pm* (but check website as sometimes closed for various reasons)
£14.50*
15. The Information Age is born
How Bletchley Park shortened the war and developed the computer
National Museum of Computing Milton Keynes MK3 6EB
This is at Bletchley Park but is a separate museum from 'Bletchley Park', with its own entrance and admittance costs.
The development of the computer with a rebuild of Colossus, the first important digital computer. The enthusiasm of the (volunteer) staff is infectious.
Tue, Thur, Sat and Sun 10.30am - 5pm/winter 4.30pm* - but check website as this is liable to change)
last admittance an hour before closure
£10*
Milton Keynes Museum McConnell Drive, Wolverton MK12 5EL
This museum at Milton Keynes has a very good section on telephones. It is, however, hardly a 'technical' museum like the others. It is more of a museum of rural life ...but it shows the development of Milton Keynes, which is at the heart of the Intelligence Zone; and my books are driven as much by people and places as by technology and war. Besides, it is delightful; and a wonderful place for children.
Summer: Wednesday - Sunday 10.30am - 4.30pm
Winter: wed, sat, sun 10.30am - 4.30pm
£15*
16. Bomber Commands
Although the headquarters of Bomber Command was at High Wycombe (in Buckinghamshire), Lincolnshire, of all the British counties, was home to the largest number (49) of RAF Bomber Command airfields. That earned it the nickname of Bomber County. The Spire of Lincoln Cathedral, standing up high above the surrounding plains was a landmark for thousands of bomber crews leaving for and returning from (mainly) night operations over the continent.
Note well. This is far from being a comprehensive list of museums related to Bomber Command
International Bomber Command Centre Lincoln LN4 2RF
The museum takes two to three hours to visit. It tells the story of RAF Bomber Command in World War two and has a moving outdoor garden where the names of the tens of thousand of RAF personnel who died are permanently displayed. The garden has a view across to Lincoln Cathedral, as well as a tall memorial to the aircrew who were lost.
Cafe and shop.
The museum does not have any aircraft (for that you should visit RAF Duxford).
It can well be included in a visit to Lincoln, where the cathedral and castle, museum and steep streets and pubs are well worth a visit.
Closed Mondays except Bank Holidays. Rest of week 9.30am - 5pm (winter 9.30 - 4pm)*
Last admittance an hour before closure.
See website for Christmas opening times
£10.50*
de Havilland Aircraft Museum Hertfordshire AL2 1BU
Museum dedicated to the aircraft of de Havilland. In three hangers, including the superb Mosquito.
Cafe and shop
Tue - Sun 10.30am - 5pm (winter Wed to Sun 10.30am - 3.30pm)*
last admittance an hour before closure
Also open Bank Holiday Mondays
£12*
Imperial War Museum Cambridgeshire CB22 4QR
The Imperial War Museum at Duxford, near Cambridge, has lot on Bomber Command.
Open 10am - 6pm daily*
last admittance an hour before closure
£26.80*
de Havilland Aircraft Museum Hertfordshire AL2 1 BU
Museum dedicated to the aircraft of de Havilland. In three hangers, including the superb Mosquito.
Cafe and shop
Tue - Sun 10.30am - 5pm (winter Wed to Sun 10.30am - 3.30pm)*
last admittance an hour before closure
Also open Bank Holiday Mondays
£12*
Imperial War Museum Cambridgeshire CB22 4QR
The Imperial War Museum at Duxford, near Cambridge, has quite a bit on rocketry.
Open 10am - 6pm daily*
last admittance an hour before closure
£26.80*
There are other fascinating sites/museums in France (Pas de Calais) and Germany. I hope to add these in due course.
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