Military history
Enthusiasts can enjoy the sights and sounds of battlegrounds and warfare from the safety of a warm and welcoming visitor centre and military museum. There are lessons in everything from the difference between a cutlass and a broadsword, the evolution of the suit of armour to the use of cannons in moorland battles. You can even learn about the development of the supersonic jet fighter. Military re-enactments offer a spectacular opportunity for the amateur historian who longs for the past to be brought to life complete with the whiff of gunpowder in the air.
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Visit the home of the WWII codebreakers at Bletchley Park
Once Britain’s best kept secret, this major visitor attraction was also the filming location for The Imitation Game starring Benedict Cumberbatch.
Location: Bletchley, Milton Keynes
Learn the ropes at Chatham’s The Historic Dockyard
Immerse yourself in 400 years of discovery at the world’s most complete dockyard from the Age of Sail.
Location: Chatham, Kent
Visit the oldest recorded battlefield in Britain
Viking raiders used Northey Island as a base during the Battle of Maldon in AD991. Today it’s a lot more tranquil...
Location: Northey Island, Essex
See living history at Bosworth battlefield
See a history lesson come to life at the Battle of Bosworth Field in Leicestershire, where King Richard III fought for his crown and lost his life.
Location: Near Market Bosworth, Leicestershire
Learn about the bravery of England’s World War II heroes
A story of daring exploits and courageous acts, as commemorated along Hayling Island’s WWII heritage trail.
Location: Hayling Island, Hampshire
Rainy Day Activities: Explore history at Winchester’s Military Museums
Broaden your knowledge of the British Army and the various battles fought throughout history at Winchester’s six Military Museums.
Location: Winchester, Hampshire
Uncover the secrets of the last British WW2 submarine
Be prepared for the horrors of the deep, as you discover what life on board wartime submarines at the Submarine Museum.
Location: Gosport, Hampshire
Rainy Day Activities: Discover military history at The Royal Armouries
Britain’s national museum of arms and armour is home to a fascinating and unique collection, including the only existing suit of armour built for an elephant.
Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire
Discover spooky tunnels at the Royal Armouries Fort Nelson
Hear the echoes as you head deep into the dark tunnels of this unique Victorian Fort, poised for attack from a French invasion.
Location: Portsmouth, Hampshire
Get hands on with history at sites across Hadrian's Wall
Enjoy a deeper exploration into our Roman heritage through reconstructions and live excavations on a visit to Hadrian’s Wall.
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne / Carlisle / Hexham
Admire the picturesque views from Housesteads Roman Fort
Housesteads is the most iconic of all the Wall sites and the views and Roman remains are spectacular.
Location: Housesteads, Northumberland
Walk the Wall at Steel Rigg
Take a walk around Steel Rigg and Crag Lough to see how the Romans used the natural landscape to maximise the strength of the Empire's frontier.
Location: Steel Rigg, Northumberland
Follow in the footsteps of William the Conqueror
The Battle of Hastings in 1066 changed the course of English history forever. Explore the site and learn about history’s most famous date.
Location: Battle, East Sussex
Visit the Dornier Do 17 display at the RAF Museum Cosford
See for yourself conservation work being undertaken on the world’s only surviving Dornier Do 17.
Location: Cosford, Shropshire
Get chilled at the Cold War Exhibition at RAF Museum Cosford
The National Cold War Exhibition is the only place in the UK where you can see Britain’s V Bombers: the Vulcan, Victor and Valiant.
Location: Cosford, Shropshire
Discover Danebury mysterious Iron Age world
Danebury is perhaps the most extensively studied Iron Age hillfort in Europe. Its intriguing finds can be found at Andover’s Museum of the Iron Age.
Location: Test Valley, Hampshire
Fly high at RAF Museum Cosford
Here you can experience aviation life in wartime including the chance to see the world's oldest Spitfire.
Location: Cosford, Shropshire
Meet Normandy veterans at The D-Day Story
Visit The D-Day Story in Portsmouth and you may be able to meet some of the men and women who took part in the Normandy Landings.
Location: Portsmouth, Hampshire
Experience the life of a Royal Marine
Train yourself to the peak of physical fitness at an outdoor assault course and see if you've got what it takes, at the Royal Marines Museum.
Location: Portsmouth, Hampshire
Rainy Day Activities: Treat the kids at Portsmouth's Action Stations
Let your kids loose on this indoor playground, packed with exciting activities including a ninja course and the UK's tallest indoor climbing tower.
Location: Portsmouth, Hampshire
Strap on your sea legs on a Harbour tour
Get closer than ever to the Royal Navy's ships on a 45 minute guided boat tour of Portsmouth Harbour.
Location: Portsmouth, Hampshire
