slowpainter | 07 Jan 2015 3:43 a.m. PST |
Hi fellow wargamers, I will be making my first vacation visit to London in June/July 2015. I will also be spending a week traveling around the Southern part of England. Other than IWM and Bovington (already on my list) what should I be visiting? |
yoakley | 07 Jan 2015 3:51 a.m. PST |
there is the broadside show at sittingbourne, n kent on june the 12th. this about an hour from london by train. |
slowpainter | 07 Jan 2015 3:55 a.m. PST |
Thanks yoakley. I will be Waterloo for the 200th Anniversary that weekend. I should have been more specific, I get to London June 22nd. |
TunnelRat | 07 Jan 2015 4:02 a.m. PST |
I take it from the IWM you mean the one in central London!? The IWM, Duxford (near Cambridge) The AirForce Museum, Hendon (NW London) Royal Signals Museum, Blandford Museum of Army Flying, Middle Wallop Churchill's War Rooms, Clive Steps, King Charles Street, London Royal Artillery Museum, Woolwich, London Shuttleworth collection, Biggleswade, Verulamium, Roman Life in Britain, St. Albans (Just N of London) Portsmouth, Historic Naval Dockyard – HMS Victory & HMS Warrior Gosport – Submarine Museum (just a ferry ride from Portsmouth) Tower of London National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, London Kent Battle of Britain Museum Dover Castle There are lots more museums with a military flavour that you could visit but a couple of these might float your boat. |
olicana | 07 Jan 2015 4:04 a.m. PST |
Depends what you are looking for. If you are with family, and you are interested in medieval to 17C, I recommend that you go to the Tower of London, there are some great exhibits (especially of early, experimental artillery) for all the family to enjoy. In the same 'family vein', the reconstruction of the Golden Hind (Drake's ship) very close to the Globe Theatre (Shakey,of course) might also kill more than one bird with one stone – kids love it (buy cutlasses and flintlock pistols first and don't forget to buy yourself one too). There is also the Army Museum at Chelsea, and the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich,though these are not for the younger ones. |
Londonplod | 07 Jan 2015 4:12 a.m. PST |
The National Army Museum is currently closed for refurbishment, do not forget a visit to Orc's Nest for some retail therapy! |
slowpainter | 07 Jan 2015 4:18 a.m. PST |
Thanks TunnelRat, that's exactly the list I need! Olicana, by myself and with my wife sometimes, no kids with us- excellent suggestions. And londonplod, Orcs Nest is already saved in my gps! |
TunnelRat | 07 Jan 2015 4:31 a.m. PST |
Glad I could help – beats working which is what I should be doing right now :-S |
ezza123 | 07 Jan 2015 4:33 a.m. PST |
Hello Slowpainter, You may also want to visit the Dark Sphere shop, which is not too far from the London Eye: darksphere.co.uk If you are around in London on a Thursday evening why not drop in for a game at the Exiles wargames club? We are just around the corner (literally) from Dark Sphere: link Check our Future Games page nearer the time of your visit to see what we will be playing when you are over here. Ezza |
Doug em4miniatures | 07 Jan 2015 4:47 a.m. PST |
HMS Belfast Cutty Sark Apsley House? Never been myself but looks interesting, especially after your visit to Waterloo: link You'll just miss Trooping the Colour, which is a shame: trooping-the-colour.co.uk Doug |
Fire at Will | 07 Jan 2015 5:19 a.m. PST |
Battleground South should be held at Bovington at the beginning of July, but I've not seen any announcement yet |
alien BLOODY HELL surfer | 07 Jan 2015 6:18 a.m. PST |
If you decide to come and look at the Roman stuff in St Albans let me know as I'm just up the road from it. |
Andoreth | 07 Jan 2015 6:34 a.m. PST |
If you are interested in arms and armour the Wallace Collection has recently reopened. This is just behind Oxford Street. link |
GUNBOAT | 07 Jan 2015 8:16 a.m. PST |
If you would like to pop down to a club night Wargames Association of Reading Established in 1978, we are a miniature table top club for Wargamers in the Reading area. We meet weekly where up to ninety members play table top games from Ancients to Modern and beyond. We meet every Wednesday evening ( 6:30pm–11:00pm ) at the Winnersh Community Centre, New Road, Sindlesham, Near Wokingham, Berkshire. RG41 5DU. The centre has free parking, a large well lit, heated hall, and a tea bar. link |
Cyrus the Great | 07 Jan 2015 9:08 a.m. PST |
If you are feeling "bookish" visit Foyles Bookshop at 107 Charing Cross Road, London. |
DeltaBravo | 07 Jan 2015 9:53 a.m. PST |
It'll be Armed Froces Day on 27 June, so keep an eye on any local events/parades in the area that you happen to be in on that day. Depending on how long you are in the UK and for when you have Bovington lined up, there's Yeovilton Air Day on 11 July (an hour-ish from Bovington) if you want an air show fix: link |
Doug MSC | 07 Jan 2015 10:32 a.m. PST |
Where will you be in southern England? |
David Manley | 07 Jan 2015 11:41 a.m. PST |
Naval Wargames Show is at the Explosion Museum of Naval Firepower (itself an excellent place to visit) in Gosport the weekend of June 21/22 |
Huscarle | 07 Jan 2015 12:15 p.m. PST |
It depends what you are interested in? There are a few castles such as Dover, Hever & Bodiam. link Check out the National Trust and English Heritage for places to visit english-heritage.org.uk link There are a few battle sites such as Battle and so many museums. link Not wargame related, but you & the wife may want to visit one of the county shows ukcountyshows.co.uk Have fun |
Cerdic | 07 Jan 2015 12:53 p.m. PST |
Dover Castle is well worth a visit. There is something to see from almost every period of history, from Roman to WW2! If you have any interest in naval stuff go to Portsmouth Dockyard. HMS Victory, Mary Rose etc! You are spoilt for choice, really! |
slowpainter | 07 Jan 2015 1:19 p.m. PST |
Wow, what a great list of things to see and do! I will try and arrange a visit to one of the clubs mentioned. Andoreth, I will definitely check out the Wallace Collection. Doug, we will be in Salisbury for 3 nights and Canterbury for 3 nights, day tripping from there. Thank you everyone. |
Consul Paulus | 07 Jan 2015 3:34 p.m. PST |
Another club for your list – GLC Games Club meets Monday nights at the Conway Hall, Red Lion Square (near to Holborn station). For shopping, there's Leisure Games in Finchley. |
Fried Flintstone | 07 Jan 2015 5:49 p.m. PST |
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Cerdic | 08 Jan 2015 12:10 a.m. PST |
Salisbury? Got to have a look at Stonehenge then, haven't you? |
madaxeman | 08 Jan 2015 5:27 a.m. PST |
If Orcs Nest is "in your GPS", please don't try say that you plan to drive to it (or anywhere else) through Central London! Take the tube…. |
Cerdic | 08 Jan 2015 6:46 a.m. PST |
Madaxeman is right. No sane person would drive in Central London unless they are being paid to. So leave it to them and just ride in their busses and cabs. And use the Tube. The Tube is the best way of getting round. It may be crowded, but it is fast and will take you to easy walking distance of anywhere you might want to go! |
Doug MSC | 08 Jan 2015 9:27 a.m. PST |
Since you will be in Canterbury, You must see the Cathedral and a big must, if you can, is Dover Castle. It's about 20 miles from Canterbury on the East coast. Salisbury is about 40 miles northwest of Portsmouth which is on the southern coast, if you like seeing old ships, etc. And I agree, don't drive around in London. Also, endless things to see in London. |
DeltaBravo | 08 Jan 2015 10:16 a.m. PST |
Whilst you're in Salisbury, pop to the Cathedral to see their Magna Carta – 800th anniversary and all that jazz. The Cathedral cafe does good cakes too… Plenty around the Stonehenge/Avebury neck of the woods if you want hill forts etc. Bath makes a very pleasant non-wargaming* day trip from Salisbury – the Roman Baths are worth a visit and the Spa makes for a great summer evening soak. (*though if you like looking at fields, there's the battle site of Lansdown and a hill fort which has possible links with King Arthur – wouldn't bother personally) |
slowpainter | 09 Jan 2015 5:19 p.m. PST |
Excellent suggestions for Salisbury and Canterbury, Stonehenge, Dover, the Cathedrals etc are why we are spending 3 nights in each. We wanted a base for day trips and sightseeing out of the greater London hubbub. Don't worry, I have NO intention of driving in central London! My gps is in my tablet, helps me plan my excursions. I'm actually an old fashioned map planning kind of guy (and gamer). I have ordered my Oyster card. |
Jefthing | 11 Jan 2015 9:16 a.m. PST |
A must see in Salisbury: thewardrobe.org.uk/home It's the museum of the Rifles, Berkshire and Wiltshire regiments and located in the cathedral square. Lots of nice places to eat nearby, including the cathedral itself and Mompesson House (if open). |
slowpainter | 21 Feb 2015 8:28 p.m. PST |
Thanks again everyone. The plans for my trip are progressing nicely. |
sjwalker38 | 22 Feb 2015 3:24 a.m. PST |
One non-gaming thought: while in Central London, be sure to use the clipper service (maybe a trip from Westminster to the Tower or Greenwich) up the Thames rather than the tube – some of the best views of the city and dozens of landmarks in comfort – far better than the old style tourist boats! |
LesCM19 | 22 Feb 2015 3:38 p.m. PST |
For tube & bus travel use Oyster travel cards in London-can cash in deposit & remaining balance when done :) |
John GrahamLeigh | 10 Mar 2015 4:43 p.m. PST |
if you like looking at fields, there's the battle site of Lansdown and a hill fort which has possible links with King Arthur – wouldn't bother personally Actually, Lansdown is well worth a visit if you're in Bath. You can park 50 yards level walk from the battle monument, there's a display telling you what to look for, and you can stand at the top of the hill (tree-covered now, bare in 1643) and marvel at the thought that the Cornish infantry actually charged up that slope under heavy fire and took the position. |