Winchester's military museums

Discussion in 'WW2 Museums. Events, & places to see.' started by Chris C, May 16, 2018.

  1. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    Hi all,

    The possibility has just come up[1] to visit Winchester for about a day at the very end of my family's trip to the UK in the second half of June.

    If you only had time or energy to go to one or two of Winchester's military museums, which would you go to? i.e. Which are the best? I may be pretty tired at that point - not sure!

    Note, the Gurkha Museum is closed on Sundays, so I won't be able to visit it.

    Chris

    [1] Our second day of TankFest is on Saturday and we fly from Heathrow on the Monday. So we had the thought of maybe travelling halfway - to Winchester - early Sunday, then go on to Heathrow on Monday.
     
  2. horsapassenger

    horsapassenger Senior Member

    The Hampshire Regiment Museum is worth visiting but on your way to Winchester is the Museum of Army flying at Middle Wallop - this is certainly worth a visit and has far bigger displays than the museums in Winchester. It's just 15 miles (30 minutes) away from Winchester.
     
    von Poop likes this.
  3. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    Military history things worth seeing between (presumably) Dorset & Heathrow.

    Portsmouth dripping in military history from the dockyard to the Sally Port & DDay museum, (plus fort Nelson on the hill) though I'm not sure how easy it would be to get a 'nice' place to stay. In many ways I love Pompey & Southsea, but would be lying if I didn't acknowledge there is always a risk of unguided visitors stumbling only into the shithole bits.

    Middle wallop a good call. Not been for years but it was always a fine museum.

    Not 'on the way' (far from it) but Duxford one of our better museums. Solid land warfare hall and fine aviation collection. At least a relatively easy strike to Heathrow post visit.

    Staying in Dorset - Royal Signals museum at Blandford, and Lawrence's place is worth a quick look at Clouds Hill, around the corner from Bov.


    I like Winchester, but as the regimental museums there operate almost as a single museum complex I wouldn't fret too much about visiting one or the other. All are relatively small and there's plenty of other bits and pieces in town to occupy the interest, not least the Great Hall & some nice pubs.
     
  4. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    Well, that answers my question, thanks. I don't think it will be possible to make other stops. Next time...
     
  5. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    If you want to see the Land Warfare Hall at Duxford then go soon. There has been a report again that it is definitely to close (to make way for post-war civil aircraft...who gives a monkey's about those ?)
     
  6. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Shame that the Gurkha Museum is not open the day you are around Chris. It is a lovely place with some wonderful staff to assist you with information.
     
  7. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    Considering I had no expectations of the day at all, being able to see a little in Winchester will be just fine.

    I appreciate the suggestions to go elsewhere, but I don't think it's practical as I do not think we will have a car at that point. Also my mother has no interest in military museums so simply going to Winchester where e.g. she can go to the cathedral will make everyone happy. She was actually very excited by the idea of stopping there.
     
  8. horsapassenger

    horsapassenger Senior Member

    Go to the Great Hall in the Castle where you can see the Round Table of Arthurian legend
     

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