England/Ireland Vacation- Must see sites for Enfield enthusiast?

Hello Fellow Forum Members,

I will be traveling to England and Ireland at the end of July and early August and would like to poll the members here on must sees while I am there. My wife and son are 100% supportive of my hobby and are willing to go with or let me go to any historically significant sites while we are on vacation.

We will be flying in and out of London with a side trip to Ireland to see family in between. Dates of travel are July 29-August 8th. The Olympics should make the trip rather interesting!!

Thanks in advance for advice on key Enfield related sites to see.

Brian

Hate to be the tourist type here, but the Imperial War Museum is a must see. You can see Lawrence of Arabia's SMLE! What self respecting Smelly lover wouldn't want to see that??

RSAF enfield or whats left of it, worth a look!
do a search I posted some photos of it a couple of months back, also the powder works at woben Abbey - fantastic collection of small arms.

A couple of suggestions:

IWM Duxford

Combined Services Museum Maldon which now houses the Donnington small arms collection Essex, & maybe a boat trip on the Black Water

Day trip to Leigh on Sea to sample our famous Shellfish

+1 Combined Services Museum Maldon, a great personal collection of 'spy' equipment there, very interesting cold war James Bond stuff. I wonder if they still have the Chieftan Tank in 1980's Berlin urban cammo out front. Also +1 on the Leigh on sea shell fish but with a pint!
Cheers.

Don't forget the Bisley Camp. Stop into Fultons and tell them I said Hi.

If you are in Bisley, shoot a rifle and visit the Museum

John

Any location discussed will eat a full day in travel etc. There is no need or reason or sanity to rent a car as trains and buses run everywhere and are very comfortable. I hope you have reservations for rooms as the Olympics and Wimbelton Tennis matches wipe out rooms (from bitter experience). While not Enfield related (most of the neat places are gone (shops in London), unacessable (new pattern room without credentials or just a shell/monument left (RASF Enfield)) I would add National Army Musuem and Imperial War Museum (can be done in one day with subway), Tower of London and by coach, Stonehenge and the Roman baths at Bath. Also worth it is to go aboard Nelson's Flag ship Victory at Portsmuth. At Porthsmuth are three sailing ships (Victory, Steam powered Warrior and Tudor ship "Marry Rose") you can go aboard and Fort Richardson? has original gun mounts and is filled with artillery stored and on displaly from the Imperial War Museum. Tourist prices will be daunting. I am jealous and hope you enjoy the trip. Let us know it turned out.

Its a pity you didnt land two weeks earlier Brian, you could of made it to the War and peace show, 18th -22 nd July.

I may be able to offer a free guided tour of a retired cross channel ferry if its still here, other than that I can only advise avoid using the tube between 0700-0900 and around1630-1800,

SimonP mentions the IWM Duxford which I,m planning on going this week myself, but its a good way out out of the smoke, I dont know if the War Rooms are open (think thats what they were called) but if your in Ireland make a bee line to St James,s gate brewery and have a pint of the black stuff, the only place for a proper pint of Guinness is Dublin

Lucky fello indeed. Have a plesant and safe trip. I hope you can post a few pictures upon your return. For those less fotunate.