It’s a while since I visited HMS Belfast, but I remember it was an interesting visit. It’s one of the few surviving British WWII warships of any size, and most parts of the ship are accessible, including the command and control spaces, the engine and boiler rooms, and the insides of the gun turrets. The 6” guns were aimed at the London Gateway M1 service area on the outskirts of London :-).
During the war, the ship saw active service in a number of campaigns, and also saw active service in the Korean war.
The ship is moored on the Thames near London Bridge. It is in the care of the Imperial War Museum.
A cautionary note: warships have lots of steep ladders and narrow spaces.
Old Gorhambury House, Herts
This was once an immense Elizabethan mansion, but was largely dismantled when the present Gorhambury House was built, the remains being left as a ready-made romantic ruin in the grounds.
Though the site can be visited at any reasonable time, access is awkward, as it is in the middle of a private estate and only foot access is permitted. I got to it by parking on the A4147 near the M1 & M10, and near the entry to Beechtree Lane, and making the vexatiously long walk along the permitted path to the house. (The other end of the “Gorhambury Walk” permitted path is at the Roman Amphitheatre in St Albans). If you visit Gorhambury House by car (on a Thursday afternoon only, via St. Albans) you can reach the old house by a much shorter but still significant walk, starting from the gardens at the rear. You might need directions, as there is no clear line of sight between the old and new houses, the view being blocked by trees. The ruins don’t show up well on an aerial view, but it looks like if you start at the back of the mansion you should walk away from it bearing slightly to your left. The drive continues past the old house, but the roadway is very narrow, and there is nowhere to park.
Is it worth it? Once you get there, it’s quite an interesting historic ruin, but won’t detain you for long.
Houghton House, Bedfordshire
English Heritage
The shell of a once imposing 17th century mansion, which was stripped by its owners when no longer required. The site commands some fine views (possibly why they built there). Parking is nearby, at the end of a long access roadway. An interesting visit, but probably won’t detain you very long. A free audio guide can be downloaded from the English Heritage website.
Jervaux Abbey, Yorks
The site is privately owned and is open to the public. So far as I remember the car park is nearby, also some tea rooms which I didn’t patronise. The ruins, which don’t remain at a great height anywhere, are in pleasant garden surroundings. Admission charge.
Lyveden New Bield, Northants
National Trust
An abandoned and incomplete Elizabethan building, with its surrounding gardens. The building, a shell, is interesting, and when I visited the orchard had been re-created with a planting of period fruit trees.
Re-visited 28 Aug 2021 (10 years later). The manor house (acquired 2013) and a new car park were opened earlier this year. The new car park is further from the Lodge, and a walk from car park to Lodge takes one to the manor house which houses a cafe, toilets, and an upper floor exhibition room (the latter not open when I visited). From there one can walk onwards to the orchard and the house, past some mounds and long ponds. I didn’t see the labyrinth marked in the grass in the area enclosed by mounds and long ponds – apparently it is clear cut in late summer. The stonework of the Lodge is in remarkably good condition, and various carved religious symbols decorate the exterior. Inside, one can enter the basement rooms and look upward to the sky. In the manor house I saw a model showing what the Lodge would have looked like if completed.
Milton Keynes Museum, Bucks
A local museum, devoted to the history and development of the locality. It is located in a Victorian farmhouse and outbuildings. The museum is run by volunteers. An interesting museum of its type.
Museum of Army Flying, Wiltshire.
A specialised subject area, but if you are interested in militaria, there should be plenty to interest you. It contains over 35 fixed and rotary wing aircraft, and various other exhibits. Suggested visit duration: at least 2 hours. The Army Air Corps working airfield is next to the museum.
National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh.
Some years ago the museum acquired an extension at one end, marked by a new tower entrance. The new bit had the History of Technology stuff and there was a lot to look at in there. The trendy architectural layout was a bit confusing. Now I hear that the old bit, with the galleried hall, has been given a make-over. A major destination – it’s probably impossible to see everything in one day. Suggested visit duration: as much time as you feel like devoting to it.
Naseby Battlefield, Northamptonshire
There isn’t much for the casual visitor to look at, but if you are interested in Civil War history, you can arm yourself with a map, and drive or tramp around, visiting the various view points and seeing for yourself the terrain where the armed encounters took place.
I read that plans have been approved for a £3M. visitor centre at the site.
Naval Base, Devonport.
This is an operational base, so you can’t just turn up and have a look round! However there are a couple of ways of getting to see parts of it. One way is to apply for a place on the frequent guided tour (twice daily, several days a week). This could include a submarine or warship visit. They’ll let you know if your application is successful. You might want to enquire what you should bring with you, to avoid a panic attack on the day on the lines of “where’s my photo ID?!” I can’t tell you if they’ll run a security check on you or not…
It would be a good idea to check beforehand the location of the meeting point and how to get there. Devonport is a big place… Once you have located the meeting-point on the day, you should be able to park in front of the reception centre, assuming the armed guards let you in.
Another way of getting in is to wait for one of the Navy Days or Heritage Days, when you can just turn up and look at various museums, and go on timed minibus tours of parts of the site. This might include a submarine or warship visit, and historic buildings.
A note of caution: I don’t mean to be rude to the overweight and disabled, but for visiting warships and submarines, a certain standard of agility and fitness is required. Operational vessels have steep ladders and confined openings.