Fans of the film "The Imitation Game" will recall Bletchley Park as the home of code-breaking,…read morewhere Alan Turing (alongside nearly 9,000 colleagues) worked to decipher the encrypted messages of the Germans and Japanese in World War II; this included breaking the infamous "Enigma" German coding system. This is one of the best museum experiences I've ever had. It does a brilliant job of making a highly technical subject accessible and of bringing it to life, with plenty of human interest. All based in the original buildings, it tells the story of how Bletchley Park was established, and then expanded, as its operations grew during World War II. Rooms are recreated as they would have been in the 1940s, and are beautifully curated to explain how every aspect of the code-breaking operation worked. This covers not just the code-breakers themselves, but everyone from the linguists, canteen staff and administrators, to the motorcycle messengers who rode to and from the radio stations with intercepted messages, and then on to the Intelligence HQs with the deciphered messages (in all weathers, with all the road signs removed, and with blackouts at night!). I particularly liked the wall of original memos from the administrative office, which shows the vagaries of the British class system (wanting more typists of the "Roedean school sort"), alongside very modern concerns about staff shortages, and complaining about the food, heating and just about everything else! Finally, the later exhibits show the development of computers and radio interception, and the implications of the development of AI. There's a huge amount of personal detail about the people who worked here, including oral histories, letters, and diary entries. A highlight has to be Alan Turing's office, set up as he had it in 1944. Then there are the exhibits explaining how code-breaking works in general, and how the Enigma Code itself was broken, with a replica of one of the famous "Bombe" machines that helped speed the code-breaking. (If you can work out how it works, you're better than me!) But equally important was the work of turning the messages into useful military intelligence, and in turn, using that knowledge to develop counter-intelligence, which played a vital role in an early example of disinformation. On our visit, there were lots of guides, some of whom had worked there (one lovely lady was 96), but all were delightfully helpful, very enthusiastic and incredibly knowledgeable. We spent 5 hours there, and still didn't see everything, but the good news is that tickets are valid for return visits for a year. As I said, this is one of the best curated museums I've ever visited. We had a wonderful day out. On a practical level, the museum is less than 10 minutes' walk from Bletchley railway station, but there is a decent-sized car park too. The huge site has been made fully accessible for wheelchair users, and there are plenty of toilets. There are two cafes (pricey but okay) and a tea hut; and a shop, selling souvenirs and generous selection of books about WWII and code-breaking more generally.

I suspect that the museum here is quite new, though I suspect interest in it arose after the film…read morebased around Alan Turing. Mind you, a lot of what went on here was top secret for years after the war finished, so in many cases we simply had no idea that this place existed. It's pretty big mind you, and you can pretty much explore the entire complex, as well as seeing Turing's office, as well as replicas of the Bombe.

Very beautiful setting for this interesting historic property. Quite a lot to see and a great place…read morefor a picnic too. The ancient adjoining church is wkrth including in your visit, but the various art galleries might not be worth spending time at. The formal garden (not visited) costs extra.

Claydon House is a National Trust property. Though not as spectacular as some country houses it is…read morestill worth a visit. I believe the current Earl of Verney still resides on the property which has been in their family for close to four hundred years. It is quite nice for a nose around as they have not only the period furnished house, but an organic garden selling seasonal fruit and vegetables, but a second hand bookshop and various craft store items. Also look out for the annual formula 1 hovercraft racing event staged on the flat ground and lake just down the hill from the house. This is always a fun event inn the summer. There is also some Florence Nightingale memorabilia as she was related to the family and visited from time to time.

Unexpectedly brilliant. From the Victorian parlour through the street of old shops (complete with…read moretoxic chemicals, once used as pharmaceuticals, in the locked cabinets!) to the massive hall of telephony, every aspect was thoughtfully and informatively designed and executed. Best: it's accessible, with as much as possible being there to touch and examine. A gem - kudos, guys.

It is an excellent and pretty large local history museum. There was some great work by staff to…read moreinteract with visitors and offer demonstrations. The museum is much bigger than expected and we did not really have time to see it all and only just managed to grab a cream tea (very nice) in the cafe. Reccommended.

Spring had sprung full of bluebells, snow drops, jonquils and a host of golden…read moredaffodils....thousands of them at Wimpole Hall gardens! A treat too good to miss, so on with the wellies and out into the cold to view carpets of yellow bobbing heads in the wind, so many different varieties - double headed, frilled and ruffled, diverse colours, small and tall - a visual feast. Once we were seeing yellow even when we blinked we moved onto the walled garden area to nab tips on how to overwinter a garden and tend to spring plants. Next was my favourite bit the working farm full of farm animals. The piggies were oinking with delight in the sunshine, tiny piglets tucked into their mum's milky tums, teen piggies squealing and tussling in the hay, absolute porkers stretched out getting some vitamin D. Working shire horses next, all enjoying a Sunday rest in their stables, majestically tall and proud. Goats watched us from their pen as we strolled over to the rabbit area where you can stroke a soft fluffy bunny :) The National Trust are doing an amazing job at Wimpole creating such a stunning environment and still a working farm. Next visit I hope to go inside Wimpole Hall to take a peek at the treasures. Interestingly the cashier at the entrance explained you can join a US based Royal Oak Foundation to gain access to National Trust properties too: https://www.royal-oak.org/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=16989092567&gbraid=0AAAAAojR5xkph6HhxgWwr0TrOTJFbLimN&gclid=CjwKCAjw-J3OBhBuEiwAwqZ_h8aFOrcjYZKrJ52bVVUoAmKQgEiZaZPiklQqW3F1jwx77CamTcpgaxoCIoMQAvD_BwE

Wimpole Hall Estate, now in the care of the National Trust, includes a grand stately home, a…read moreworking farm, lovely gardens and grounds (excellent for long walks), a cafe, shop and bookstall, and also includes an historic parish church. The history of the site dates back 2,000 years, though the Chicheley family who owned the estate from 1428 to 1686 began the core of the house we see today. The estate then passed through the hands of a dizzying array of nobility (the Earls of Radnor, the Duke of Newcastle, the Earl of Oxford and then the Earls of Hardwicke). Philip Yorke (1690-1764), 1st Earl of Hardwicke rebuilt the north and south fronts, but is also notorious for a judgement made while he was Attorney-General, which maintained that slaves brought to the UK remained enslaved while on British soil. The house passed to Viscount Clifden in 1894, before being bought by Captain George and Mrs Elsie Bambridge in 1942. The daughter of Rudyard Kipling, Elsie used her wealth to refurbish and furnish the hall, and is largely responsible for the condition in which we find it today. The hours for viewing the house are slightly more restricted than the rest of the grounds, but it is still well worth a visit. The former stables include a shop and bookshop, and nearby in the Old Rectory (behind the church) is a very nice café, serving usual range of light meals, cakes and teas that the National Trust is well known for. My favourite part of the site is the extensive walled garden, which from spring to autumn is a riot of colour, mostly herbaceous perennials. The church is also well worth a visit; this functions as the parish church, and was largely rebuilt in the late 18th century. However, it retains a 14th century mediaeval chapel (the Chicheley Chapel) which contains an impressive array of monuments of the nobility who have owned the Hall down the years. The estate now (2025) has a large series of car parks and a new, purpose-built visitor centre with toilets, about 250m from the house. Those with accessibility needs are advised to look at the National Trust website, which has details about access.

The first point is that the museum is free so value for money can only be considered excellent! It…read moreis a small and unusual museum with some nicely designed displays and a few locomotives, all from the industrial narrow gauge railways of the region. The opening hours are limited. Very traditional exhibits but well worth a visit.

The new steaming season has now commenced and we anticipate having an engine in steam on the last…read moreSunday of the month and on Bank Holidays. However, if you are travelling any distance please check to ensure that you will not be disappointed. Situated in Irchester Country Park, Northamptonshire, the Irchester Narrow Gauge Railway Museum is home to a collection of working steam and diesel locomotives

Lots of history. Easily accessible from London on the train and you can walk from the Bletchley…read morestation, but it can be sort-of hard to find. Signs could've been better. Volunteers were helpful and knowledgeable enough. I thought the exhibits could be updated and that there could be more of them--really make it worth people's times to go out there from London!

The National Museum of Computing tour has the potential for greatness and a true educational…read moreexperience in the hands of the right docent or volunteer. Unfortunately our group got a guy who was reading off index cards and when he lost his place he just started reading the plaques to us. He would stand in front of whatever the item was, blocking the group, with backside to us and read the plaque. And then move to the next thing. Without letting group see, experience and linger on item. There are no signs to the actual tour start location. And there is a big sign saying closed when it is actually open. The one guy giving direction sent us to wrong bldg. twice !! There were so many good things to see but the icing on the cake was the big display on the internet. The volunteer's narrative "well the US didn't invent it". No follow up or information to back the comment. And he said in one small hallway "girls don't like computing so we have this special room to motivate girls." (Really??) That's your only commentary on 9 women who were glass ceiling breakers and pioneers in the field of computing??? If they can find some docent that 1.) has a basic understanding of giving a tour. 2.) knows the subject matter cold or at least knows how to field questions . 3.) don't offend 1/2 of the population -- that would be a great first step. Otherwise I would skip this museum until they get proper staff. Ok

The museum is predominantly a military museum with about half devoted to domestic history and other…read morethings. Some of the displays are good, others s bit tired. Spoiled by lack of care in text, with the misuse of the apostrophe being irritating on a fair few panels. If they are careless about punctuation, we must ask if they bothered to be accurate in what they wrote.

a well presented local facility, we've visited a few times with our young son…read moresome interesting local informaion displayed our boy is always facinated with the large display of war medals

Fot the weirdness of it, the girlyness of it, the fetishness of it, this gets a 5. (and they do…read moretouch on fetish in the exhibition). There are other things in this museum but you don't really notice. The largest collection of boots and shoes in the world. Includes Elton John's huge Doc Marten Boots from Pinball Wizard. Little Titch, Music hall artist, boots recently seen on QI. Exhibits at the gallery include shoes for animals - from horses, dogs and even elephants! Northampton was/is a shoe making town. Their Life and Sole (oh haha) galleries are the place for all dedicated followers of fashionoooer ark at me..burst into song there.

The shoe museum in Northampton provides a history of shoes in a town famous for its cobbling. There…read moreare a large collection of shoes though the ages, including some very scary looking shoes for bound feet. There are even some roman sandals as well as much more modern footware. The gift shop sells a number of suitably shoe related items along with the standard postcards, erasers and pencils. The exhibition is good for the serious shoe lover but is worth a few minutes of your time even if you only own two pairs of shoes yourself. The Shoe Museum - does exactly what it says on the tin!