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OT: Visit to London - 3/2/2016 2:03:38 PM

kbfchicago

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Fellow Forum mates,

Visiting London and surrounding areas early this summer for 10 days. Never been. Assume most of you, like myself have interests in history. Anticipating some have visited England or live there. Any recommendations for "not to miss" sites or museums you have visited?

In addition to the WWII period my personal focus is WWI aviation and the Napoleonic period. Wife is quite keen on ancient Egypt (but has also been to England twice before to include the British Museum with large Egyptian collection)

Thanks in advance for your observations and suggestions...

Kevin

Post #: 1

RE: OT: Visit to London - 3/2/2016 2:08:46 PM

Oberst_Klink

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quote:

ORIGINAL: kbfchicago

Fellow Forum mates,

Visiting London and surrounding areas early this summer for 10 days. Never been. Assume most of you, like myself have interests in history. Anticipating some have visited England or live there. Any recommendations for "not to miss" sites or museums you have visited?

In addition to the WWII period my personal focus is WWI aviation and the Napoleonic period. Wife is quite keen on ancient Egypt (but has also been to England twice before to include the British Museum with large Egyptian collection)

Thanks in advance for your observations and suggestions...

Kevin

For your ancient history interests: British Museum
WW1/WW2: Imperial War Museum
Maritime Museum in Greenwich I can highly recommend, as well as the Observatory there.

Klink, Oberst

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RE: OT: Visit to London - 3/2/2016 3:01:24 PM

dr.hal

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I fully support Klink's recommendations and in addition, a new "must see" is Churchill's bunker complex that is right off Whitehall, as it is an interactive piece of history that really has a LOT to offer for you and your wife. Hal

PS There is also a great pub, the oldest free house in England called "The Royal Standard of England" if I'm recalling correctly that is about 20 miles out along the London Oxford road (A-40?). I can't remember the name of the town but it has the very BEST home brewed beer I've ever tasted. I'll try to look up the name of the town... but a really great country setting (you will need a car).

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RE: OT: Visit to London - 3/2/2016 3:04:47 PM

dr.hal

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Just found the pub's location, Beaconsfield... here is the web site: http://rsoe.co.uk/

Hal

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RE: OT: Visit to London - 3/2/2016 6:07:47 PM

pontiouspilot

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The Imp War Museum has 3 locations. In addition to the main location there is an RAF museum north of London and the cruiser anchored in the Thames by the Tower of London (name escapes me). Also north of London is a second RAF Battle of Britain Museum...I think it is RAF Hendon.

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RE: OT: Visit to London - 3/2/2016 7:06:16 PM

Anachro

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In addition to the above mentioned (Imp War museum, British museum), the National Army Museum is also good.

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RE: OT: Visit to London - 3/2/2016 7:35:05 PM

Arnhem44

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Upvotes for IWM London, Churchill War Rooms and HMS Belfast.

In addition I also recommend the Guards Museum at Wellington Barracks, it's a fairly small museum which you can easily cover in about an hour.
http://www.theguardsmuseum.com/
While there you can also pop into the Guards Chapel next door, this one is a real special place to visit, I daresay you won't visit many chapels like this one in your lifetime, well worth the look.
http://www.army.mod.uk/chaplains/23369.aspx

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RE: OT: Visit to London - 3/2/2016 11:23:35 PM

geofflambert

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Stay out of those phone boxes. You never know where you'll end up. You really don't want to run into any Daleks.

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RE: OT: Visit to London - 3/3/2016 12:36:04 PM

AndyDuke

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If you get the chance, go to the Shuttleworth collection - best collection of WWI aircraft in airworthy condition in the UK.
Andy

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RE: OT: Visit to London - 3/4/2016 4:07:25 AM

Mike Dubost

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I highly recommend London Walks. No reservation required, just show up at the meeting point (usually a tube station). Their schedule is available at www.walks.com.

On my recent trip, I found multiple walks that I enjoyed. There are a range of topics and areas of London covered, and a few day trips too (Salisbury and Stonehenge, WOW!).

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RE: OT: Visit to London - 3/4/2016 8:38:10 AM

Oberst_Klink

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quote:

ORIGINAL: pontiouspilot

The Imp War Museum has 3 locations. In addition to the main location there is an RAF museum north of London and the cruiser anchored in the Thames by the Tower of London (name escapes me). Also north of London is a second RAF Battle of Britain Museum...I think it is RAF Hendon.

+++Double Posting+++

< Message edited by Oberst_Klink -- 3/4/2016 8:39:09 AM >

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RE: OT: Visit to London - 3/4/2016 8:40:43 AM

Chris21wen

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quote:

ORIGINAL: pontiouspilot

The Imp War Museum has 3 locations. In addition to the main location there is an RAF museum north of London and the cruiser anchored in the Thames by the Tower of London (name escapes me). Also north of London is a second RAF Battle of Britain Museum...I think it is RAF Hendon.

IWM Duxford http://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-duxford. Might be a bit far from London.

Attachment (1)

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RE: OT: Visit to London - 3/4/2016 3:08:49 PM

m10bob

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If you land at Heathrow, you are already at the site of the very historic "Biggin Hill" airbase from WW2 where true legends Douglas Bader and Johnny E Johnson flew from.

Seek out the Sherlock Holmes museum of 221b Baker Street. (I mean, as long as you are gonna be there...)

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RE: OT: Visit to London - 3/5/2016 8:48:16 AM

Chris21wen

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quote:

ORIGINAL: m10bob

If you land at Heathrow, you are already at the site of the very historic "Biggin Hill" airbase from WW2 where true legends Douglas Bader and Johnny E Johnson flew from.

Seek out the Sherlock Holmes museum of 221b Baker Street. (I mean, as long as you are gonna be there...)

Your incorrect on all counts.

Heathrow is not Biggin Hill. Heathrow is west London while Biggin Hill is NW Kent, distance 40 or 50 miles away. It might have been attached to Biggin during the Battle of Britain but I think this is doubt full as it was attached to nearby Northolt.

Bader might well have used Heathrow but he was never based there. During BofB but he was based at Duxford (see pic I post earlier) in charge of the big wing.

For Johnston, he was based at Tangmere during the BofB, this time in W Sussex close to the south coast. Late war Bader was also based here.

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Post #: 14

RE: OT: Visit to London - 3/5/2016 10:41:12 AM

obvert

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A good selection here already.

I'd add some more far flung attractions like Portsmouth, Dover, Bletchley Park and Bovington.

I've yet to visit the Bovington Tank Museum in Dorset, but may do this summer if another forumite comes (as planned) over from Germany.
http://www.tankmuseum.org/home

There are two sites for the RAF Museum as well, one at Hendon on the outskirts of London.
http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk

There are quite a few other aviation museums in the UK. This list looks pretty comprehensive, if daunting, but you may find more WW1 centered exhibits in some of these too.
http://www.deroeck.co.uk/aviation-museums.html

HMS Victory at Portsmouth harbor, which is pretty amazing to tour, and near to lots of modern naval vessels that may or may not be visible in the port.
http://www.hms-victory.com

The Royal Navy Submarine Museum is also there, with HMS Alliance to visit.
https://www.submarine-museum.co.uk

Fort Nelson Royal Armories Museum of artillery pieces is there as well.
https://www.visitengland.com/experience/discover-spooky-tunnels-royal-armouries-fort-nelson

Bletchley Park is a great visit.
https://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/content/visit/

Museum of London - a good place to go or a more thorough history of London, good ruins and views of Roman wall and fortifications, and rotating exhibits. Has photographs of London during the blitz available.
http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/london-wall/

Dover is also interesting, although a bit seedy. Walks of course are amazing along the cliffs. There is a small museum that has a range of stuff on the city's importance over time, and includes a WW2 section on the large artillery battles across channel that is fascinating and terrifying.
http://www.dovermuseum.co.uk/Home.aspx

Also, ifyou're intersested in pubs, good food, markets or anything else from a local perspective contact me directly. I'm always happy to recommend. Been here for going on 9 years, so I've learned a few tricks.

I'd also be happy to treat any forumite to a pint if you make it to London!

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RE: OT: Visit to London - 3/5/2016 10:43:37 AM

RogerJNeilson

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Bovington, whilst not so easy to get to from London is the best tank museum I have seen - and very well laid out I feel.

If you can get to Duxford for the Imperial War Museum planes there you will also find an almost complete RAF station from the Battle of Britain on the site - superb to wander round.

Roger

< Message edited by Roger Neilson 3 -- 3/5/2016 10:46:02 AM >

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RE: OT: Visit to London - 3/5/2016 1:09:48 PM

kbfchicago

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Thanks all, great list to work our way through! Kevin

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RE: OT: Visit to London - 3/5/2016 1:56:34 PM

Jellicoe

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Lots of excellent suggestions. Could I also mention the royal artillery museum down in Greenwich, not too far from national maritime museum. Also worth a look is the dockyard museum at Chatham which has a Ca class destroyer HMS Cavalier, an Oberon class sub and a Victorian sloop, HMS Gannet. Victory was built here. Just under the hour on the train from London

For food Borough Market is worth a trip just south of the river and have a pint in the Market Porter or over the road at the George

Best pint for my taste is a Sussex Best from Lewes but the best approach to British beer is to try as much as possible!

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RE: OT: Visit to London - 3/5/2016 2:51:33 PM

m10bob

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From: Dismal Seepage Indiana
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Chris H

quote:

ORIGINAL: m10bob

If you land at Heathrow, you are already at the site of the very historic "Biggin Hill" airbase from WW2 where true legends Douglas Bader and Johnny E Johnson flew from.

Seek out the Sherlock Holmes museum of 221b Baker Street. (I mean, as long as you are gonna be there...)

Your incorrect on all counts.

Heathrow is not Biggin Hill. Heathrow is west London while Biggin Hill is NW Kent, distance 40 or 50 miles away. It might have been attached to Biggin during the Battle of Britain but I think this is doubt full as it was attached to nearby Northolt.

Bader might well have used Heathrow but he was never based there. During BofB but he was based at Duxford (see pic I post earlier) in charge of the big wing.

For Johnston, he was based at Tangmere during the BofB, this time in W Sussex close to the south coast. Late war Bader was also based here.

Thank you for the correction..Now the OP will know where to look..

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RE: OT: Visit to London - 3/6/2016 12:48:25 AM

obvert

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From: PDX (and now) London, UK
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Jellicoe

Lots of excellent suggestions. Could I also mention the royal artillery museum down in Greenwich, not too far from national maritime museum. Also worth a look is the dockyard museum at Chatham which has a Ca class destroyer HMS Cavalier, an Oberon class sub and a Victorian sloop, HMS Gannet. Victory was built here. Just under the hour on the train from London

For food Borough Market is worth a trip just south of the river and have a pint in the Market Porter or over the road at the George

Best pint for my taste is a Sussex Best from Lewes but the best approach to British beer is to try as much as possible!

I've been wanting to get down there to Chatham. Thanks for the reminder!

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RE: OT: Visit to London - 3/6/2016 7:49:21 AM

Chris21wen

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From: Cottesmore, Rutland
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quote:

ORIGINAL: m10bob

quote:

ORIGINAL: Chris H

quote:

ORIGINAL: m10bob

If you land at Heathrow, you are already at the site of the very historic "Biggin Hill" airbase from WW2 where true legends Douglas Bader and Johnny E Johnson flew from.

Seek out the Sherlock Holmes museum of 221b Baker Street. (I mean, as long as you are gonna be there...)

Your incorrect on all counts.

Heathrow is not Biggin Hill. Heathrow is west London while Biggin Hill is NW Kent, distance 40 or 50 miles away. It might have been attached to Biggin during the Battle of Britain but I think this is doubt full as it was attached to nearby Northolt.

Bader might well have used Heathrow but he was never based there. During BofB but he was based at Duxford (see pic I post earlier) in charge of the big wing.

For Johnston, he was based at Tangmere during the BofB, this time in W Sussex close to the south coast. Late war Bader was also based here.

Thank you for the correction..Now the OP will know where to look..

Your more than welcome.

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RE: OT: Visit to London - 3/7/2016 11:24:50 PM

rustysi

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You understand that I literally get 'lost' in all such places. With all these suggestions I would have to spend months in the UK to get it all in.

Thanks though. Oh well, if ever...

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