RAF Coningsby, on the B1192 south of Horncastle, Lincolnshire. About half a mile from Coningsby…read morevillage, 13 miles north-east of Sleaford on the A153. The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight operates a Lancaster, five Spitfires, two Hurricanes, two Chipmunks, and a Dakota. In 1986, it became possible to view these historic aircraft, at their base at RAF Coningsby. In the years immediately following World War Two it became traditional for a Spitfire and Hurricane to lead the Victory Day flypast over London . From that event there grew the idea to form an historic collection of flyable aircraft, initially to commemorate the RAF's major battle honour. Since it began in 1957, the aircrew on the Flight have been drawn from volunteers who maintain the 12 historic aircraft both at Coningsby and out on the display circuit. Visitors are led on a guided tour around the BBMF hangar by knowledgeable and enthusiastic volunteer guides, who give freely of their time and who, in many cases, have first hand experience of the aircraft Entry to the exhibition centre, souvenir shop and car park is free; there is a small charge for guided tours of the hangar, with special rates for groups Well stocked shop offering an extensive range of aviation gifts. There is a permanent exhibition gallery exploring Lincolnshire's links with the RAF plus regular programme of temporary exhibitions. Open Monday to Friday 10.00am - 5.00pm Guided tours of the hangar from 10.30am - 3.30pm (3.00pm November - February) but of course in show season they cannot guarantee certain planes will be there. You will see them flying somewhere though. These are REAL planes folkand I love 'em!

Newstead Abbey Museum in Nottingham is an absolutely outstanding place to visit and easily one of…read morethe most memorable heritage attractions I have been to. From the moment you arrive the setting alone is breathtaking. The abbey is surrounded by beautiful grounds lakes and woodland that instantly make you feel calm and immersed in history before you even step inside. It is the kind of place where you want to take your time explore slowly and really soak everything in. The museum itself is fascinating and exceptionally well presented. The history of the abbey is rich and layered from its origins as an Augustinian priory to its later life as the ancestral home of Lord Byron. Each room feels thoughtfully curated and full of character with original features artworks furniture and displays that genuinely bring the past to life. The storytelling throughout the museum is engaging and easy to follow whether you are already interested in history or just curious to learn something new. What truly sets Newstead Abbey apart however is the staff. Every single member of the team I encountered was incredibly helpful friendly and welcoming. They go above and beyond to make visitors feel comfortable and informed. Their knowledge is genuinely impressive and it is clear they are passionate about the abbey and its history. Questions are answered with enthusiasm and depth and conversations never feel rushed. Their insights added so much to the visit and made the experience feel personal rather than just observational. The atmosphere throughout the museum is warm and inviting and there is a real sense of pride from the people who work there. It feels like a place that is deeply cared for and respected. Even on a busy day the experience felt relaxed and well managed with plenty of space to explore at your own pace. Outside the abbey the grounds are just as impressive. The gardens are beautifully maintained and offer stunning views at every turn. Whether you are interested in photography a peaceful walk or simply sitting and enjoying the scenery there is something for everyone. It is easy to spend several hours here without feeling like you have run out of things to do. Overall Newstead Abbey Museum is a must visit in Nottingham. It combines history beauty and outstanding hospitality in a way that few places manage to achieve. Thanks to the knowledgeable friendly and genuinely kind staff this is not just a museum but an experience that stays with you long after you leave. I would highly recommend it to locals tourists families and anyone with even a slight interest in history or culture. I will definitely be returning.

http://www.newsteadabbey.org.uk/…read more Yet another near-derelict former-country-pile-former-Abbey in Nottinghamshire!! Once home to George Gordon "Lord" B. and all his excesses and eccentricities, this bohemian pile in its glorious grounds is a wonderful place to visit. Look around the house, wander around the beautifully landscaped gardens, eat, get married, or just play a ball game in the grounds. [The horses are no longer allowed inside though! ;) ]

An amazing afternoon out with so much histrory in the fantastically develped museum. When you enter…read morethe Ops room its as though they finished their shift so we could come in to have a look around. The memrobilia dotted around is just full of histrory and local connections it is breath taking. The staff staff appear to know everything and were so engaging. Whilst not a place for children to run around in the models were definatly centre of attention for the group when we were there. Notes from web site: There is no need to book, just arrive at the Sports Ground Car Park opposite Digby main gate situated on the B1191 between the A15 and Scopwick, south of Lincoln. The tour will depart promptly so please arrive in good time.

This is a fantastic place! First of all, it's FREE, and the…read moreorganise great days for kids. It's really interesting for young & old, and well worth a visit.

I had fantastic couple of hours spent here and all for free. A realy intersting place both for…read moreadults and children alike. It has a realy nice garden area with very friendly helpfull staff and should be far better advertised. I don`t think anyone would argue that even if they charged a couple of quid that this wouldn`t be extremely good value for money.

A great place of historical significance to check out. They have an Avro Lancaster and a de…read moreHavilland Mosquito to see, along with some of the original building from the WWII days when the RAF flew out of here. They also had pieces of Handley Page Hampden bomber and a Vickers Wellington bomber. They get docked a star because they keep you far, far away from the aircraft, and you cannot quite appreciate them.

This is a must if you are a World War Two history buff. Located right in the bomber command area…read moreof Lincolnshire this aviation centre is fantastic. It is absolutely essential that you allow a minimum of half a day to do this centre justice, better still a full day. Lots of personal stories with a large hangar dedicated to recovery of plane wreckage and the stories that go with them. We did the museum in winter, and while there were no special events and some of the site was under winter maintenance, including the two Lancaster Bombers on site it was still fantastic. Cannot recommend this highly enough. Only drawback is that it is not open on Sundays, but otherwise it's great. About 35 minutes from Lincoln, don't be scared of the distance, just do it. Has free parking, facilities and a great cafe/resturant. The £7 entrance fee is exceptional value for money.

Fantastic place to visit. Great collection and well presented art as well. Don't miss any floor.read more

The Imperial war museum in Cambridge Duxford is a wonderful place to visit…read more Located at an old airfield with many hangers and buildings ready to show off pieces of history and modern technology from throughout the years of arial warfare. Many planes from all around the world are housed here. They have concorde and lots of planes from years gone by. The museum is very good at showing you military planes from the modern Tornado back to the old spitfires. So really a good jump through time. You can also other bits and bobs too here, all mainly based around aircraft. They do also have other planes which are non military too just to help show the evolution of planes through the years. Its a very big place and you do spend a while outside walking between hangers. If its windy you will certainly know it especially near the runways, where it is just pure open space. The wind really does blow around the area. Not to good if its raining also, which can be a bit of a pain with all the outside walking. But with this aside its a great day out to look at history and how things have changed.

Wollaton Hall and its Natural History Museum in Nottingham is truly an exceptional place to visit…read moreand easily one of the most impressive heritage sites in the region. From the moment you approach the magnificent Elizabethan mansion you are greeted with architecture that feels almost otherworldly. The hall stands proudly at the top of the hill surrounded by vast parkland roaming deer and beautifully maintained grounds. The setting alone is enough to make the trip worthwhile but what awaits inside is even more remarkable. The Natural History Museum housed within the hall is extensive captivating and full of fascinating detail. Every gallery is thoughtfully curated with exhibits that span everything from fossils and geology to wildlife specimens and cultural artefacts from around the world. The displays are rich with information yet accessible and inviting even for those who may not usually be drawn to natural history. There is a sense of wonder in each room whether you are standing in front of the towering dinosaur skeletons learning about ancient civilizations or examining the intricate details of preserved animals. What truly elevates the experience at Wollaton Hall is the staff. Every member of the team I encountered was incredibly helpful friendly and knowledgeable. Their passion for the museum its collections and the history of the hall is evident in every conversation. They answer questions with genuine enthusiasm sharing insights that you would not find on the information boards and they are always eager to help visitors get the most out of their visit. Whether offering historical context pointing out details you might have missed or simply greeting guests with warm smiles they create an atmosphere that is welcoming and engaging. The staff's knowledge is especially impressive. They speak with confidence and depth about the collections and their enthusiasm is infectious. It is clear that they take real pride in their work and in preserving and sharing the stories held within the museum. This level of personal connection and dedication makes the visit feel even more meaningful. The hall itself is stunning inside and out. Its rooms are filled with ornate architectural details historic artwork and glimpses into the lives of the people who lived there centuries ago. Wandering through the halls feels like stepping into a different time period and the museum's design allows you to explore both the historical building and the natural history collections seamlessly. The parkland surrounding Wollaton Hall is an added delight with peaceful walking paths lakes and of course the famous deer that roam freely. It is easy to spend an entire day here exploring the grounds taking in the scenery and enjoying the blend of history nature and culture. In every aspect Wollaton Hall and its Natural History Museum exceed expectations. The combination of breathtaking architecture immersive exhibits and exceptional staff creates a truly unforgettable experience. It is a place that appeals to families history enthusiasts nature lovers and curious visitors of all kinds. I cannot recommend it highly enough and I will definitely be returning.

Wollaton Hall is a superb Tudor-era mansion on a small but notable hill a little north-west off the…read morecity centre of Nottingham. It is home to a natural history museum caught in time, i.e. given today's plethora of information and entertainment in the form of TV/cinema documentaries, not really exciting or essential any more. Still, the architectural minutiae, the lovely surrounding deer park and the occasional special events - such as the vintage cars and bikes display when I was there - merit a visit. The architecture of Wollaton Hall is terrific, but the museum inside is quite a bit dated and truly feels like an old style museum trapped in time. Good thing then, that when I visited in early October, there was a congregation of collectors of classic cars and bikes, which added tremendously to the overall excitement. The deer park is as vast as it is attractive. All of these are/were free of charge, and there are several cafés strewn across the grounds. There is also an industrial history museum. Since Nottingham is rather short on attractions (there's Nottingham Castle, and not much beyond that!), Wollaton Hall is the runner-up!

It's an interesting place, depending on your age and knowledge of space. Plenty of interactive…read moredisplays about various aspects of space: planets, stars, basic physics, and history. Be prepared for a lot of school children, and don't expect much when it comes to food or beverages. Just bring your own snacks. Parking is £3 for the day and the wifi is free.

Very good place to go if you like space and want to learn about it. There are a lot of family…read morefriendly things to do there as well

Great collection of buses here and a collection of milk floats and other electric vehicles. There…read moreis an exhibition about bus services in the Midlands, which is well done. Interpretation in the bus halls is less good, with some displays awkwardly positioned and I spotted one description of the wrong bus. The cafe is very basic, a pity it does not do cakes and cream teas etc. However, we worth a visit an what is excellent here is that they have running days when buses offer rides that really demonstrate well what these venerable vehicles sound like and feel like to ride on.

We've all taken a bus ride in our time but how about a trip down memory lane with this excellent…read moremuseum. With buses from all eras you'll probably spot one that you used to catch often. There are all sorts of buses here which have been beautifully restored and maintain by the members. Many of the vehicles are still running, I have to admit I'm a bit of a geek when it comes to large vehicles, not quite a train spotter, but close! I defy anyone not to be impressed by the finest and largest collection of beautifully preserved buses this country has. If you are into trains as well then there's also a miniature steam railway too. This is a fabulous day out for the whole family, take grandma and pops, they'll love it. Admission is £3.00 for adults £1.50 for children.

One often sees stained glass windows in churches, smaller versions used as sun catchers in your own…read morehome. What we don't see is the history, the care that goes into their creation, and the time it takes to care and restore them. They're beautiful, intricate and a dedicated craft. Taking a spiral set of narrow stone steps up to the second level of the Ely Cathedral, pay the £4.50 per person admission fee (which goes to the continued effort of restoring pieces) place large bags and backpacks on the holding hooks so as not to accidentally bump into any of the displays. No commercial photography, selfie sticks etc are allowed, please respect those rules. From there you can take a very short walking tour of the pieces they've saved since 1972. The vast majority of the pieces were set to be destroyed when the Anglican churches that housed them closed or became redundant to the surrounding area. The pieces that are on display are fascinating, the history and information about the pieces on display next to them. If you're sight impaired, you can scan a QR code and have the audio version spoken to you from your phone. The pieces and history were super interesting with pieces dating so far back the artist was labeled as "unknown English artist", and the restorations are top notch, many of them looking as if they'd never be damaged or broken away from their original windows. I was very impressed with how well cared for the pieces were, and the amount of information given on each of the placards. There are also two placards, one inside the museum walkway, and one next to the gift shop entrance, that are dedicated to the former HRH Prince of Wales, now King Charles, when he visited on the 25th anniversary in 1997 when he became a patron and his visit for the 40th anniversary of the Stained Glass Museum in 2018. All in all, a neat little exhibit with plenty of history packed in. The pieces apparently rotate on occasion, so you may see something new every few months depending on the restoration process.

The museum is located on the upper level of Ely Cathedral in the south triforium. There is…read moreadmission separate from the Cathedral but they do offer a combination ticket. They have some nice pieces of artwork. No pictures are allowed but it is interesting to see the different pieces and how they were made. Definitely worth a stop if you have the time.