War Museums
 

I only have 7 days in London but would love to know what is close by regarding WW2 museums. I've heard that there are some great aircraft displays and would appreciate any advice / guidance anyone can give - Ian

Have you looked into the Cabinet War Rooms? I missed that on my recent trip and I truly regret it.

The Imperial War Museum and the National Army Museum are both in London

Seems this is what you are looking for:

www.rafmuseum.org.uk

My husband loves going to the Imperial War Museum and seeing the Spitfire that is there.

There is a RAF Museum in London, but we didn't get there, so I can't give you a first hand account. It is supposed to have lots of aircraft. Here's a quote from it web site:
"RAF Museum London is Britain's only national air museum dedicated to aviation and has a total collection of well over two hundred aircraft; over a hundred full-size aircraft from all over the world are displayed under cover on the historic site of the original London Aerodrome. The London collection includes some very early airplane designs, war planes including the legendary Battle of Britain Spitfire airplanes and Lancaster Bombers of World War II, through to the latest modern day jets and military aircraft. "
http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/

The Cabinet War Museums/Churchill Museum is a fascinating sight, and well worth a visit. In the gift shop we purchased a pamphlet that gives information about WWII sites around London.

Thank you to everyone for their advice - it is appreciate - Ian

There's a great air museum right on the M11 before it arrives to Cambridge. I cannot remember the name but take a look at a map and it's easily found.

Google showed the name.
http://www.galinsky.com/buildings/duxford/index.htm

I passed this museum often but never stopped. Let me know if it's great, if you visit.

Blackduff

For the sake of completeness, and to provide links to most of those mentioned:

www.iwm.org.uk

The Air museum above is Duxford. It's part of the Imperial War Museum

http://duxford.iwm.org.uk/

The RAF museum in Colindale is brilliant - loads of planes from the first through to Harriers and phantoms etc. The have a Vulcan - surely the prettiest weapon of mass destruction ever?

It's an easy trip on the Northern Line.

There's also HMS Belfast by Tower Bridge - a WWII battleship. This is great fun too.

I'm not a fan of the Army Museum - too many dummies in uniforms and model soldiers for my liking.

I think he means the exhibits, by the way, not the attendants...

I was rereading this thread and realize that I owe PaulRabe an apology. When I wrote my reply yesterday I was in a bit of a hurry and I didn't see that he had referenced the RAF museum already in his reply right before mine. Sorry for the repetition.

Duxford is worth the trip out to Cambridge from London. When we were there, we watched a B-17 practicing takeoffs and landings. While you are in Cambridge, take the bus out to the American Cemetery at Madingley, a truly moving experience.

How about Bletchley Park, where the cryptographers, including the great Allan Turing, worked? I haven't visited it, but I did see it listed on a tour description. I did see the Cabinet War Rooms and found that exhibit fascinating.

We found the Imperial War Museum facinating and ended up spending five hours there. We saw people of all ages and everyone seemed to find it interesting. I will definitely be making a return trip with my husband in tow.