Procopius Posted December 18, 2018 Author Share Posted December 18, 2018 14 minutes ago, perdu said: This amazing place allows you to pass time at King John's tomb, yes him! I didn't even know it was there 'til a casual visit last month, totally impressive place I should try just for this, though, my employer paid for a big Magna Carta memorial over in Runnymede, and it might be fun for our social media. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harley John Posted December 18, 2018 Share Posted December 18, 2018 Well since Scotland is off the map for this trip, I'd recommend Lincoln as a base to visit the International Bomber Command Memorial, East Kirkby & Just Jane, the BBMF, many memorials and if you like a beer visit to the Dambusters Inn in the village of Scampton. I'd echo comments made about Norwich being a great base for visiting all the museums & memorials to the 8th & 9th. As mentioned above the Norfolk & Suffolk museum is a little gem packed to the rafters. Elsewhere YAM is excellent, there's a great pub in one of the villages south of the M23 down the hill from Biggen Hill full of Fighter Command memorabilia. Always wanted to drive down the hill to it in an open topped sports car at high speed - wish I could remember the pubs name! But if you're mostly in the Bath area then Yeovilton, Cadbury Camelot, Wells Cathedral and the Rec although other rugby clubs are available! Have a great time whatever you do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted December 18, 2018 Share Posted December 18, 2018 When I was at Mont St Michel (anyone going to suggest that is over-rated?) the French guide to the Abbey stated that the finest Gothic cathedral in Europe was Durham. OK, I'm biased, but ... Ely is also interesting, and Lincoln, and York ..just keep going North until you hit Hadrian's wall. (yeah, OK, over-rated.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gorby Posted December 18, 2018 Share Posted December 18, 2018 (edited) 15 hours ago, Graham Boak said: When I was at Mont St Michel (anyone going to suggest that is over-rated?) the French guide to the Abbey stated that the finest Gothic cathedral in Europe was Durham. OK, I'm biased, but ... Ely is also interesting, and Lincoln, and York ..just keep going North until you hit Hadrian's wall. (yeah, OK, over-rated.) Perhaps I'm not a fan of 'Gothic'. As I said, I might have been underwhelmed, because I was told I'd be overwhelmed. At the most, I was whelmed. I think this is starting to sidetrack the thread. Edited December 19, 2018 by Gorby Sorry, I didn't realise it sounded as confrontational as it did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truro Model Builder Posted December 18, 2018 Share Posted December 18, 2018 If you're visiting Telford, then the RAF Museum at Cosford is a must (it beats Hendon every day) as is the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas. Neither is that far. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bentwaters81tfw Posted December 18, 2018 Share Posted December 18, 2018 3 hours ago, perdu said: Eduardo do consider, if you fancy a little religion, visiting Worcester cathedral This amazing place allows you to pass time at King John's tomb, yes him! I didn't even know it was there 'til a casual visit last month, totally impressive place I was surprised at what a little short a... that he was so lacking in stature. Perhaps it's true what they say. You could spend a good half day in the cathedral looking at all the tombs. There is a very impressive library in the tower as well. Ely has a copy of Magna Carta on display. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admiral Puff Posted December 30, 2018 Share Posted December 30, 2018 One that hasn't been mentioned is the Shuttleworth Collection, if it's open at Telford time. Another is Brooklands - full of fascinating stuff, and not just aviation. And the Aviation Bookshop is a must - I bet you won't be able to leave without buying something (= heaps). My last visit proved expensive, and I didn't get near the second-hand kits! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hairystick Posted February 15, 2019 Share Posted February 15, 2019 On 11/30/2018 at 2:50 AM, Whofan said: Warwick? Hmmm, last time I was their it seemed a bit theme parky. ^------ What he said. Has anyone mentioned Bruntingthorpe? Or Midlands Air Museum yet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted February 15, 2019 Share Posted February 15, 2019 Thanks HS - Midlands on the list already and we'll look at Bruntingthorpe, although our party's interest is mostly (mostly) WWII based. Our list so far is below and I'm aware we need to 'trim' this a bit if we're to get around the tour in one piece. Dates are 2nd to 13th November and, of course, we're at SMW on Saturday 9th. If any BMers are involved with the sites and would like to meet the tourers (Procopius, Cookenbacher, Navy Bird and me) and/or be prepared to give us a look around please let me know - it'd be great to meet up. Old Buckenham Airfield The Eagle Cambridge Shuttleworth Hannants IWM Duxford / American Air Museum Shuttleworth Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum City of Norwich Aviation Museum Fenland and West Norfolk Aviation Museum Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome Parabellum Wellesbourne Wartime Museum Jet Age Museum Sywell Aviation Museum Midland Air Museum Scale Model World! RAF Museum, Cosford De Havilland Aircraft Museum Bentley Priory Museum Aeros Nottingham Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre Newark Air Museum International Bomber Command Centre BBMF Visitor Centre Yorkshire Air Museum Army Flying Museum Boscombe Down Aviation Collection Gatwick Aviation Museum Tangmere Military & Aviation Museum Trust The Aviation Bookshop Headcorn Aerodrome Aero Vintage Ltd Kent Battle of Britain Museum Trust Battle of Britain Memorial Spitfire & Hurricane Memorial Museum Medway Aircraft Preservation Society Battle of Britain Bunker Farnborough Air Sciences Trust Museum Museum of Berkshire Aviation Runnymede Air Forces Memorial Brooklands Museum The Helicopter Museum Fleet Air Arm Museum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aeronut Posted February 15, 2019 Share Posted February 15, 2019 I’ll happily show you around the Army Flying Museum, Middle Wallop and tell you all you never wanted to know about Assault gliders and Raoul Hafner. 🤓 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted February 15, 2019 Share Posted February 15, 2019 Very kind, thanks Aeronut - if I may I'll PM you when we have the bones of a schedule Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowen250 Posted February 15, 2019 Share Posted February 15, 2019 If you are at the Kent Battle of Britain museum and memorial it is but a short trip along to the Hornby Visitor centre, which has a nice group of displays about Airfix. May appeal, may not! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beard Posted February 15, 2019 Share Posted February 15, 2019 If you're going to the Spitfire & Hurricane Memorial Museum then you have to go to the Manston Museum as it's opposite and they share a car park. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whofan Posted February 15, 2019 Share Posted February 15, 2019 2 hours ago, CedB said: Thanks HS - Midlands on the list already and we'll look at Bruntingthorpe, although our party's interest is mostly (mostly) WWII based. Our list so far is below and I'm aware we need to 'trim' this a bit if we're to get around the tour in one piece. Dates are 2nd to 13th November and, of course, we're at SMW on Saturday 9th. If any BMers are involved with the sites and would like to meet the tourers (Procopius, Cookenbacher, Navy Bird and me) and/or be prepared to give us a look around please let me know - it'd be great to meet up. Old Buckenham Airfield The Eagle Cambridge Shuttleworth Hannants IWM Duxford / American Air Museum Shuttleworth Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum City of Norwich Aviation Museum Fenland and West Norfolk Aviation Museum Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome Parabellum Wellesbourne Wartime Museum Jet Age Museum Sywell Aviation Museum Midland Air Museum Scale Model World! RAF Museum, Cosford De Havilland Aircraft Museum Bentley Priory Museum Aeros Nottingham Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre Newark Air Museum International Bomber Command Centre BBMF Visitor Centre Yorkshire Air Museum Army Flying Museum Boscombe Down Aviation Collection Gatwick Aviation Museum Tangmere Military & Aviation Museum Trust The Aviation Bookshop Headcorn Aerodrome Aero Vintage Ltd Kent Battle of Britain Museum Trust Battle of Britain Memorial Spitfire & Hurricane Memorial Museum Medway Aircraft Preservation Society Battle of Britain Bunker Farnborough Air Sciences Trust Museum Museum of Berkshire Aviation Runnymede Air Forces Memorial Brooklands Museum The Helicopter Museum Fleet Air Arm Museum When you say trim that a bit, I would think a lot. Each of those could easily take a full day, depending on how deep you want go into the exhibits at museums, or browse shops. Talking of shops, I see Parabellum there; if that's the Birmingham shop, it's only open Thursday Friday and Saturday, 11 am to 1730. I live quite close to it, and have been there! It's packed, but small. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bentwaters81tfw Posted February 15, 2019 Share Posted February 15, 2019 On 30/12/2018 at 05:26, Admiral Puff said: One that hasn't been mentioned is the Shuttleworth Collection, if it's open at Telford time. See post #2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Tomohawk Kid Posted February 15, 2019 Share Posted February 15, 2019 (edited) On 18/12/2018 at 15:36, Harley John said: Well since Scotland is off the map for this trip, I'd recommend Lincoln as a base to visit the International Bomber Command Memorial, East Kirkby & Just Jane, the BBMF, many memorials and if you like a beer visit to the Dambusters Inn in the village of Scampton. I would 3rd Lincoln too, I would wouldn't I? Just down Canwick Hill from BCM is Sincil Bank the how of the World's greatest football team! Other than saying I have been there, there is not a lot to do or see in the Scampton, even the Dambusters pub is relatively new. If one want to go pubs that the aircrew inbibed, there is the Adam and Eve at the top of Lindum Hill. Gibson used hang out in the Rose and Crown (opposite the theatre Royal), but sadly it has not been a pub for years. There is a small viewing area off the A15 if one wishes to spend an hour or so watching the coming and goings at RAF Waddington. Plenty to do in the Cathedral quarter, millions have been spent up there recently particularly on the Castle, one can walk around all of the walls now and on a clear day its reputed you can in excess of 30 miles. It now houses the Manga Carter Experience, which as a former Lincolnonian I was surprised how good it was when I visited home a few years ago. The Cathedral is free to have a wander around if no filming is taking place, although it is 20p to see the Imp, I don't think the public are allowed up to the top of the spires these days. Plenty of great real ale pubs; The Strugglers, Magna Carter, Golden Eagle, Wig and Mitre and the Treaty of Commerce to name a few. The Brayford Waterside and Cornhill areas has been totally regenerated in the last 15 years loads of pubs, restaurants and hotels and is always really buzzy! If beer or lager is not your thing, there is Stokes Coffee shop on the High Bridge/Glory Hole. I would say it would make a decent base. Tommo. Edited February 16, 2019 by The Tomohawk Kid 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harley John Posted February 15, 2019 Share Posted February 15, 2019 1 hour ago, The Tomohawk Kid said: Plenty of great real ale pubs; The Strugglers, Magna Carter, Golden Eagle, Wig and Mitre and the Treaty of Commerce to name a few. Cheers Tommo (and apologies in advance for the thread hi-jack.) I usually go to the Victoria when I visit and I've been to The Strugglers so will need to give the others ago next time I'm down as well as visit the Adam & Eve as well. I mentioned The Dambusters due to the collection of memorabilia which makes it worth a visit in my book - oh and the beer ain't too shabby. I have a friend in Lincoln whose Dad was stationed at Scampton in the fifties and he can remember them filming bits at Scampton for the film although most of the filming was done I believe at RAF Hemswell. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Tomohawk Kid Posted February 15, 2019 Share Posted February 15, 2019 (edited) 22 hours ago, Harley John said: Cheers Tommo (and apologies in advance for the thread hi-jack.) I usually go to the Victoria when I visit and I've been to The Strugglers so will need to give the others ago next time I'm down as well as visit the Adam & Eve as well. I mentioned The Dambusters due to the collection of memorabilia which makes it worth a visit in my book - oh and the beer ain't too shabby. I have a friend in Lincoln whose Dad was stationed at Scampton in the fifties and he can remember them filming bits at Scampton for the film although most of the filming was done I believe at RAF Hemswell. Ah! I forgot about the Victoria, thanks for the memory jog. The Adam and Eve is nothing special, but worth a having a quick half in, in the knowledge of it's history. After growing up in Lincoln (I left circa '87) I always thought it was a bit 'backwards' compared with other places of similiar stature. But, in the last 15 years or so - its improved out of all recognition and I would say its now ahead of the curve now. When I return these days the differences are really noticeable to me. However, I do mourn the loss of all the model shops, back in the day in the late '60s/early '70s Lincoln must have had least 5 dedicated models shops, Hobbins down Gowt's Bridge before he moved to Tentercoft Street, Nobbs now flattened to make way for the new transport interchange and Pete Russell's shop at the top of Wigford Way and the one opposite the Odeon (now the Ritz, a 'spoons) were de riguer on Saturday mornings. A lot of the filming of the Dambusters movie, was carried out at Spitalgate. Tommo Edited February 16, 2019 by The Tomohawk Kid 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hairystick Posted February 16, 2019 Share Posted February 16, 2019 (edited) On 2/14/2019 at 11:56 PM, CedB said: Old Buckenham Airfield --snip-- Fleet Air Arm Museum Hi Ced. Perhaps highlight (bold?) the confirmed locations as they are decided on? Also, some of those places are limited to days on which they open. I believe Hannants in London is only 2 days per week(?) & I was seriously less than impressed when I visited there, but hopefully the main warehouse is on the tour... I doubt PC's credit card will appreciate that visit though! Farnborough Air Sciences Trust Museum is only open on weekends, for example. It most certainly will be an epic tour!! Edited February 16, 2019 by hairystick 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex-FAAWAFU Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 I’ll happily go round the FAA Museum with you - I don’t work there but I do know it better than most. Keep in mind that it isn’t open every day in the winter. And the Boscombe Down collection is about 10 minutes from my house 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaw Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 And if you visit Tangmere on a Monday in November I would be happy to show you around the museum. John 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul821 Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 (edited) On 2/15/2019 at 10:47 AM, Whofan said: When you say trim that a bit, I would think a lot. I would agree. There are 43 places on that list and after taking out SMW you have 11 days. At that time of the year many places (if they open at all) will only be open for 6 hours. This gives you 66 hours of visiting time - about 1hr 30 mins per site - and that's without any travel. Knowing a bit more detail about what you would like to see and do would help. For example at IWM Duxford getting an entire aircraft in a photo' is practically impossible for many items and a speed visit can be done if you only want to focus on certain exhibits. However be aware you can get distracted,. So do you have a list of items on your must see list. Another issue is duplication. The City of Norwich collection has little that is unique and you will not see elsewhere. If yo wish to pay respects to WW2 US aircrew I sill feel a visit to Cambridge American Cemetery is a must. It opens at 9am everyday so you can fit a short visit in prior to Duxford opening at 10am. Please also do extra research for the 11th. Many sites have special events on that day to mark Remembrance Day, or on the Sunday. Most years Duxford holds an event on one of these days and entrance is free. Edited February 18, 2019 by Paul821 addition 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amblypygid Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 Thanks, @CedB, as I'd completely missed this thread. I would be proper chuffed if I could meet up with you all should you venture to Duxford/Cambridge/Suffolk/Madingley/Old Warden. Also very happy to provide transportation around the neighbourhood, given that public transport around these parts is generally god-awful. One spot that hasn't been mentioned is Bassingbourn; although it's been substantially altered and operated as an army barracks for many years, the tower is still there and there's a museum. Currently shut because the MoD have closed the base, but the curators are trying to get it reopened this year (the museum, not the base). 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 Not long now chaps… Thanks to all that have offered hosting. We're close to an itinerary and I'll post it here once agreed. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spruecutter96 Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 On 12/18/2018 at 2:26 PM, Procopius said: But are its spires as tall as Salisbury's? A Russian gentleman told me that they're the tallest in England and not to be missed. Please tell me you didn't shake hands with this nice, Russian man... Chris. PS: I appreciate that this could be considered poor taste. That was not my intention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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