DL021 From United States of America, joined May 2004, 11436 posts, RR: 81 Reply 1, posted (7 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 1391 times:
Yes I have and it is a tremendous museum. There is an entire section on TE Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) including his motorcycle (I think its the one he wrecked on).
This is the birthplace of the tank, and where the first actual working tanks really started....although you'll hear arguments from the French on that...but they think they invented the airplane, lightbulb and telephone too...
There are tanks from all over, and it's right off the tank proving grounds off the Salisbury Plain and it's well worth spending the entire day. You can go see Stonehenge in the morning or evening (or both) so you can take some spectacular photos, and the museum is very cool.....did I mention that?
All this is, of course, reliant on the concept that you are a military history buff, or an armored vehicle buff, otherwise it may not be so cool.
I went when I was 12, 18 and 30 and it was cool every single time.
Big mechanical objects with tracks, guns, and lots of noise. Between that and the Terex plant tour you'd have difficulty choosing.
Willo From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2003, 1352 posts, RR: 13 Reply 3, posted (7 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 1371 times:
I haven't been for about 20 years. I really enjoyed it and I'm sure it will have improved in the meantime. Just a shame it's a bit off the beaten track. I presume that the Army still have the base and firing ranges there.
The last time I went I took a big box of bits that had belonged to my grandfather. He was one of the first conscripts to the Tank Regiment in WW1 and drove the early models in France and Belgium. The box contained regimental pennants, photographs and campaign medals. I thought they may be more use in an archive rather than sitting in our loft rotting away.
Grandfather was invalided out of the Army in 1917 - his "war wound" having been sustained while playing football (leg broken in 2 places) just behind the front line. He had bow shaped legs from the injury, the gap being so wide you could have driven a tank through it. I suppose he was lucky to have been posted to the tanks - had he been in the infantry I may never have known him.
Swatpamike From United States of America, joined May 2004, 581 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (7 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 1358 times:
Not sure if it would be feasible as a day trip from London - it depends on how long you want to travel. There is an hourly train service from Waterloo to Wool, with the journey time being about 2 hours 20 minutes. As a standard return (£38) is only one pound more than a cheap day return (restricted to travel after 9.30am (£37)) you could get the 7.30 train and have nearly a full day there. I guess you have already found the museums own site, which gives further information.
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