Fans of the film "The Imitation Game" will recall Bletchley Park as the home of code-breaking,…read morewhere Alan Turing (alongside nearly 9,000 colleagues) worked to decipher the encrypted messages of the Germans and Japanese in World War II; this included breaking the infamous "Enigma" German coding system. This is one of the best museum experiences I've ever had. It does a brilliant job of making a highly technical subject accessible and of bringing it to life, with plenty of human interest. All based in the original buildings, it tells the story of how Bletchley Park was established, and then expanded, as its operations grew during World War II. Rooms are recreated as they would have been in the 1940s, and are beautifully curated to explain how every aspect of the code-breaking operation worked. This covers not just the code-breakers themselves, but everyone from the linguists, canteen staff and administrators, to the motorcycle messengers who rode to and from the radio stations with intercepted messages, and then on to the Intelligence HQs with the deciphered messages (in all weathers, with all the road signs removed, and with blackouts at night!). I particularly liked the wall of original memos from the administrative office, which shows the vagaries of the British class system (wanting more typists of the "Roedean school sort"), alongside very modern concerns about staff shortages, and complaining about the food, heating and just about everything else! Finally, the later exhibits show the development of computers and radio interception, and the implications of the development of AI. There's a huge amount of personal detail about the people who worked here, including oral histories, letters, and diary entries. A highlight has to be Alan Turing's office, set up as he had it in 1944. Then there are the exhibits explaining how code-breaking works in general, and how the Enigma Code itself was broken, with a replica of one of the famous "Bombe" machines that helped speed the code-breaking. (If you can work out how it works, you're better than me!) But equally important was the work of turning the messages into useful military intelligence, and in turn, using that knowledge to develop counter-intelligence, which played a vital role in an early example of disinformation. On our visit, there were lots of guides, some of whom had worked there (one lovely lady was 96), but all were delightfully helpful, very enthusiastic and incredibly knowledgeable. We spent 5 hours there, and still didn't see everything, but the good news is that tickets are valid for return visits for a year. As I said, this is one of the best curated museums I've ever visited. We had a wonderful day out. On a practical level, the museum is less than 10 minutes' walk from Bletchley railway station, but there is a decent-sized car park too. The huge site has been made fully accessible for wheelchair users, and there are plenty of toilets. There are two cafes (pricey but okay) and a tea hut; and a shop, selling souvenirs and generous selection of books about WWII and code-breaking more generally.

I suspect that the museum here is quite new, though I suspect interest in it arose after the film…read morebased around Alan Turing. Mind you, a lot of what went on here was top secret for years after the war finished, so in many cases we simply had no idea that this place existed. It's pretty big mind you, and you can pretty much explore the entire complex, as well as seeing Turing's office, as well as replicas of the Bombe.

Unexpectedly brilliant. From the Victorian parlour through the street of old shops (complete with…read moretoxic chemicals, once used as pharmaceuticals, in the locked cabinets!) to the massive hall of telephony, every aspect was thoughtfully and informatively designed and executed. Best: it's accessible, with as much as possible being there to touch and examine. A gem - kudos, guys.

It is an excellent and pretty large local history museum. There was some great work by staff to…read moreinteract with visitors and offer demonstrations. The museum is much bigger than expected and we did not really have time to see it all and only just managed to grab a cream tea (very nice) in the cafe. Reccommended.

Visited the museum while in Oxford for the day. Lots of history and neat exhibits to visit. We…read moresaw insects, fossils and tons of other things, almost too many to list. The day of our visit, there were a few schools visiting but everyone we encountered from the staff to the young preschool students were friendly and considerate. Definitely worth a visit if you're in Oxford.

A museum of natural history would generally be on my list of "museums I don't wish to visit" but…read morethe Oxford Museum of Natural History proved that I barely know myself. First, it's free of charge which automatically makes it attractive. But though free may get me in the door it won't guarantee I'll enjoy it. This museum isn't just free but it is also gorgeous and interesting, a real home run. And, in the event that Natural History isn't your jam even here, this place contains the portal to the almost indescribable Pitt Rivers Museum (also free). One of these is bound to be your happy place.

This is a wonderful quirky space. Like the attic of your eccentric uncle who travelled widely,…read morebrought back whatever he could carry, then carefully catalogued everything (idiosyncratically) and then left it for you to go through--that is, if your uncle was the entirety of the British empire. Can't say enough. You can spend days here and still be saying "did you see THAT?"

We had a great time exploring the Pitt Rivers Museum! There is SO much on display it's almost hard…read moreto take it all in. If you're an anthropology buff, this is your place. So many neat things to see and everything you can imagine, too many to list. From clothing to masks to weapons to toys all from different cultures and different times. We even saw a Totem Pole! Overall a fascinating place to visit, just wish we'd had more time to explore!

What an amazing place! We happened to see this museum as we…read morewere walking by and were intrigued by their moving signage. Inside there are plenty of machines that whir and perform small tasks or even make music. Lots of interactive things to see and do, buttons to push, pedals to press, even a magnetic marble track you can build yourself! It's a treat for young and old and definitely worth the small entry fee.

The opening hours are stated for October to March. Opening hours from April to September are a…read morelittle longer (10:30 to 18:30 daily). A friend recommended this place to me thinking that my boys would like it. My friend was right! We did all enjoy the interactive displays. The extent of the interactivity is mainly pressing a button though but it's still good. There is an interesting range of mechanical art and my boys and I were fascinated by the mechanisms. It is quite a small place. It cost £19 for the four of us (2 adults and 2 children) which isn't too bad but, considering we spent less than an hour in there and saw everything, it does seem a little expensive. There are two floors. One very small room on each floor displaying different pieces of art. It can get rather crowded due to the small size, especially downstairs where the entrance/exit is the same. In the same small area, there is a counter where there is a single member of staff who both admits people and serves the gift shop. The gift shop is basically a small portion of the wall within the ground floor of the museum. Many items are over-priced and the selection is very limited. We did enjoy ourselves there and would recommend it but it could get claustrophobic and the upstairs can be noisy (although it does state this on the signage).

I visited this house a few years ago which was only a few miles from my high school in…read moreHertfordshire and realized its historical significance. This was the house where Mary I, Elizabeth I and Edward VI were raised. London in Henry VIII's time was riddled with disease such as typhoid, cholera and smallpox, hardly a place fit for little royals where childhood mortality was common. King Henry VIII choose Hatfield house for its proximity to London but far away enough from its scourge. Located in the North Downs, you could see the Thames and from London, you could see Hatfield House. Henry could signal his intention to visit his children and the royal household at Hatfield would make preparations to cater for his arrival with his royal entourage. The journey on horse from London to Hatfield would take a day by the way of Saint Johns Wood. Now you could get to Hatfield from Central London in probably an hour. On a clear day you should be able to see the London Eye from Hatfield if you know what you are looking for. This house was a crucial incubator of the protestant faith. King Henry had the best scholars of the time to instruct his children so that they can continue their reign as protestants. Without Elizabeth I being a strong protestant, England might have kept the Catholic faith as the country's religion. Her eldest sister Queen Mary reinstated Catholicism as the faith of the land when she reigned after the death of Edward VI and the brief reign of Jane Earl Grey. It was reverted to the Church of England when Elizabeth I became Queen. So, if you are ever within spitting distance of this place you should try and see it.

Hatfield House is a lovely day out from London. It is about a 25 minute train ride north of London…read more Hatfield House is the family home of the Marquess of Salisbury, and was built by Robert Cecil (Chief Minister to James I, and son of William Cecil) from 1607-1611. The house is gorgeous, and has loads of beautiful furniture and art. Also on site is Old Hatfield Palace, where Elizabeth I spent much of her childhood. Elizabeth was out on the grounds at Hatfield when she learned that she was now queen, following the death of her sister Mary. Hatfield has somewhat limited opening hours, and is closed (except for the grounds and for special events) during the winter. Check the website (great info) for details. I recommend going at the weekend: during the week you must take a guided tour of the home. The guide was knowledgable and entertaining, but we had to keep moving ahead of the group behind us, so did not have time to savor all of the wonderful things about Hatfield. I will definitely go back.

This is an amazing 2 story museum with all kinds of artifacts from old wedgewood to Egypt's tomb…read moreand artifacts Teapots and tea cups old coins to everything in between. 2 nd floor loads of paintings to look at. Entry is free which is always a plus.

The Fitzwilliam Museum offers a well rounded and varied collection. It is sure to please most…read moremuseum visitors regardless of interests. If you're a fan of the work of Georges-Pierre Seurat, you're sure to enjoy the 1884 Neo-Impressionism painting, "The Couple" (original title: Un dimanche après-midi sur l'île de la Grande Jatte). Does it somehow look familiar? This was a study for A Sunday on the Island of la Grande Jatte! "This work is one of many that Georges-Pierre Seurat made in preparation for a much larger painting. The woman's stiff posture is accentuated by her tightly buttoned jacket and the exaggerated bustle of her skirt, which echoes the curve of her parasol. Given that the area of Paris depicted here was known for prostitution, it has been suggested that the woman is a sex worker on the arm of a male client." Give yourself several hours if you plan to take in the entire collection. If you are fortunate enough to live nearby and can visit often, take your time and you're sure to fall in love with one of the many wonderfully curated items found within the museum walls.

The Ashmolean was a wonderful surprise during our stay in Oxford. I had heard of the museum and did…read morea little research so I knew what to focus on, but it far surpassed my expectations. There's archeological artifacts, art, and so much more from so many varying parts of the world and times. Best of all, it's FREE! If you're planning a visit to Oxford, carve out some time and be sure to visit the museum. (Great rooftop restaurant to boot)

Another great free museum in Oxford so worth the price! A great place to dive into art, culture and…read morehistory. The ceramics exhibits dazzled us all. We enjoyed learning about currency and there was a lot to spend time on. The cafe was also nice. The facilities were clean and the staff was helpful and kind.

The Brits plundered many fascinating archeological artifacts from around the world, and the…read moreBritish Museum displays some of the most famous, such as the Rosetta Stone. Admission: free Time budget: minimum 4 hours Free WiFi is available Plenty of clean bathrooms Caution: The museum has no air conditioning. I visited during a rare heat wave, and the museum was a sweat box. Also, if you don't like crowds, you won't like this museum. It gets packed early. Pre-opening tour: The museum offers for UK $35 various pre-opening tours. I took the Greece pre-opening tour. Pros: Small group of 20 before the unwashed masses crowd into the museum. Tour guides are knowledgable. Guides may offer extra time at no charge (e.g. 15-20 minutes extra). Cons: My tour guide did not enunciate or project his voice, so much of the tour was unintelligible.

How is this place free?!?! As they state themselves, it is the greatest collection of stolen items…read moreanywhere...lol. Meaning there are artifacts from countries all around the world. You do have to register for timed tickets ahead of time to get in. We got some just a few days before and they didn't check for times as we were almost an hour late. It was super crowded and getting through the queue took about 10 minutes. Once inside, we knew we had to move fast since they close at 5pm and you could spend all day here. The information booth was helpful as they gave us a map with the option of hitting the highlights, which was perfect for our amount of time. The items from the Easter Islands were my favorite and the library room right when you walk in was cool too. Of course the Rosetta Stone was amazing as well! There is food and a gift shop inside so get an early time and spend the day here.