europeannovice

I have read some references about both the WWII spy museum and the national computing museum in Blethcley Park. Has anyone been to both recently? Can you comment on your experiences?

I understand the spy museum is undergoing expansion and will add more things over the next few years.

sparkchaser

Yes!

I went last year. As a computer nerd and WW II buff, I have to admit that was somewhat disappointed because I expected so much more but I am definitely glad I went. They have parts of Enigma machines (sweet!) and quite a few artifacts related to Alan Turing. I just wish there was a lot more.

The computer history museum was very cool and if you are interested at all in computers, it is fascinating to see the early computers.

Despite the remodeling and additions they are working on, I feel that it is worth going to.

Pegontheroad

I thought Bletchley Park was fascinating. I was able to spend only a couple of hours there, but I hope to return some day and spend more time there.

hetismij2

We only went to the computer museum. If you click on my name you can read my trip report, and also follow a link to an article on it.
I have no regrets about not visiting Bletchley Park proper.
However if you are making a trip there from London or similar then you would be daft not to visit both.

europeannovice

Hetismij2--I did see your thread and read the article too. Thanks for posting. I also saw a statement that based on Rickmav's experience you decided not to visit the rest of Bletchley Park and was wondering what that was about. I searched through Rickmav's trip reports but couldn't find any review regarding the spy museum or the computing museum. If you can elaborate on that, it would be much appreciated. Or if Rickmav is reading maybe she can point to her specific review as well.

Pegontheroad and Sparkchaser--thanks for your comments too. From the articles I have read both the spy museum and the computing museum sound fascinating.

Some of the articles say the museums though are not geared to children but they are probably talking about little kids right and not teenagers?

hetismij2

Europeannovice - Rickmav wrote the following:
<i> Also visited Bletchley Park (not National Trust), the centre for code-breaking activities during World War II. We both were excited about going, but were disappointed with our visit. Felt as if it was run by volunteers, which it is, and different huts show different levels of commitment and creativity. Enjoyed seeing the Winston Churchill collection, World War II posters and the room where the first computers are kept. What you see is definitely not worth £28 for the two of us, including parking, but I considered it a donation to a worthy endeavour.</i>.

You can read their trip report here: http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-to-venice.cfm

The computing museum is great for kids, from about 6 upwards. Some areas are very hands on for them, and the volunteers love talking to them and getting them excited about computing - real computing - building them, programming them, operating them, not playing on an iPad computing.

europeannovice

Thanks for the reference. I read that trip report but somehow glanced right over the blurb about Bletchley Park.

Still sounds like a fascinating place and I think DH and DS would really like it. Plus they are expanding the offerings of what is on view so there should be more to see soon.

I also think they only do the hands on stuff at the computer museum on certain days. Tuesdays are reserved for tours but I don't think the hands on activities go on then since they have limited staff on Tuesdays from the post I read.

hetismij2

The computer museum is only open on limited days, Thursday and the weekend I believe, plus tours on Tuesday. Colossus and the Tunny gallery are open when Bletchley Park is open. It is not however included in the entrance fee.