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The Non Theme Park trip thread.

Slugjc

TS Member
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Hello Ladies, Gentlemen and to those who identify as other.

I love a good theme park. But don't really go. The cost, geographical location and life as a while stop me from really getting to these places. However, it doesn't stop me from visiting other places. This is thread, that allows the good folk of towersstreet ™, to tell of adventures that are away from the Theme Park's and similar attractions. I shall start.

Eden Camp, Malton, North Yorkshire.

For most, this will be a place that driven past on the way to Flamingo Land. An old prisoner of war camp built during the second conflict in 1942. It was built to house Italian prisoners who were seemed at low risk. Later,.it housed the polish army before being a final place for Germans, being prepared to be sent back to Germany after the fighting had finished. After being used for farming, in 1987 and nice gentleman bought the land and camp, to.start a crisp factory. When he was clearing the site, 3 Italians came to see the camp.they called home for a while and a new idea was born. To create a museum about the people of the second would war. Every hut tells the story of that period and other conflicts. In display cases. Plus some scenes of various aspects to the war. In recent times it has gone through a major rejuvenation and is looking and sounding amazing. It is a present way to spend 3/4 hours.
 
I've passed Eden Camp loads but never stopped, good to know it’s worth a visit.
I’ll add Beamish Museum in County Durham. It’s all about life in the North East across different eras, with period buildings and streets. Easy to spend a day there. Looking forward to more suggestions!
 
Oo I missed this first time it was posted. We also love a theme park, but also love other things as well.

Bletchley Park is very interesting - all about code breaking, lots of stuff to look at, interactive displays, a shed full of radio geeks who will chat to you for hours about their passion, and a fantastic coffee shop. Gift shop is also good and sells bletchley gin - but at £60 ISH a bottle I've not bought any *yet*

National Space Museum - quite small, but like Bletchley tickets last for a year so you can pop back other times of the year. It's also close to another museum which we hope to visit next time (it was shut last time we went). The best bit is the dark ride/escape room combo. Included in the price, so I didn't expect much, however it was actually really good! The planetarium wasn't that great though sadly. Coffee shop was rammed so didn't get to sample anything, good gift shop though.

Aerospace Bristol - home of Concorde. Another annual ticket and right on my doorstep so we should go more often really. Plenty of flight memorabilia, decent coffee shop, gift shop is ok.

Anne Frank House - we did this on our Netherlands adventure to do Toverland and Efteling. It's very moving, I would recommend to anyone. Chimp had recently read Anne's diary so it was very interesting to her.

St Fagans - the museum of Welsh life. Brilliant outdoors place, they've collected lots of old buildings from around Wales and put them here with actors to help make it real. A bit like Beamish and the Black Country Museums. Excellent coffee shop.

Redwings Horse Sanctuary. We visited this on the way home from a week in Lowestoft doing PWH, GYPB etc. Free to enter, nice coffee shop, and you can wander about and smoove the rescued horses and ponies to your heart's content.

There's probably loads more I've forgotten. Good thread though! I'm always up for adding something else to a theme park trip.
 
National Space Museum - quite small, but like Bletchley tickets last for a year so you can pop back other times of the year. It's also close to another museum which we hope to visit next time (it was shut last time we went). The best bit is the dark ride/escape room combo. Included in the price, so I didn't expect much, however it was actually really good! The planetarium wasn't that great though sadly. Coffee shop was rammed so didn't get to sample anything, good gift shop though.
Do you mean the National Space Centre in Leicester? I used to love it there, we’d go several times a year when I was a kid as we lived nearby and could easily pop in for an hour or so. They used to have a somewhat rudimentary 3D simulator so it’s cool to see they’ve massively upgraded this, looking at the images on the website. The museum next door is Abbey Pumping Station and well worth a visit next time you’re nearby. :)
 
This sounds like an excuse to post trains and other nonsense transport. Prepare for nonsense.

Cite du Train, Mulhouse, France

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SNCF backed train museum, with lots of record breakers and interesting exhibits. Recommended even though I know nothing about French trains it was good and there is apparently a car museum nearby but we were distracted by a Chance Toboggan and a Maccies.

Great Central Railway, Loughborough - Leicester

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The UK's only mainline style heritage railway, with proper dual line running. The line is currently expanding to a hopefully 18 mile stretch and put on really good events taking advantage of the unique setup of the line including freight and non-passenger workings on events to enhance the feel of the line.

North Norfolk Railway, Holt - Sheringham

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Less of an interesting line than others mentioned, it makes up for it with interesting stock and runs to Sheringham which is popular with re-enactors, plus they host a few events at Holt. Worth it if you're down that way.

Churnet Valley Railway, Froghall - Leek/Ipstones

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One I am sure several members are familiar with due to location, this line runs through the Churnet Valley (surprising with such a name, I know) and features a large hill up to Ipstones. The pub behind the trees in shot, The Black Lion at Consall, is an amazing pub with these views. Can recommend sitting and watching with a pint of something you've never heard of before. Easy to pair up with Towers.

Didcot Railway Centre, Didcot

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Didcot has a very short running line, but the bonus is the sheds are open, allowing you to wander up close and personal with all the exhibits. There is also an old signalling panel on site that volunteers run so you can use it as if you were routing trains. Another one worth it if in the area.

Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway, Hythe - Dungeness

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13.5 miles of small trains to a nuclear power station, 25mph running with no doors on the carriages. I cannot recommend enough. Even has the option of getting a +1 at Dymchurch. This is not a heritage service, just narrower gauge trains, having run since 1927 and even having a part in WW2. I would imagine 2027 will have a load of events.

Severn Valley Railway, Kidderminster - Bridgnorth (Currently only Hampton Loade)

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Probably the UK's best heritage railway, about an hour end to end. They have loads of their own beers, 2 good pubs, big hill for noise and chaos, views of the Wildlife Park (which has a +3) and lots of very interesting traction. The events are legendary for being ridiculous in scope and the amount of visitors, be it trains or people. Wouldn't recommend a gala for first visit as most services are full and standing.

Swanage Railway, Swanage - Norden

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Probably the most picturesque line I have been to, running from the seaside (with a +1) to a destroyed castle and a museum about mining in the isle of Purbeck I am probably biased having been going for over 2 decades, but I'm always back when I can be. The line also has access to very rare stock too.

National Tramway Museum, Derbyshire

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One of the few places to ride a heritage tram in the UK, I always enjoy a trip here. Definitely not an excuse to post a picture of the wreck I own getting me free entry to the place as well.
 
I've passed Eden Camp loads but never stopped, good to know it’s worth a visit.
I’ll add Beamish Museum in County Durham. It’s all about life in the North East across different eras, with period buildings and streets. Easy to spend a day there. Looking forward to more suggestions!

I went there in April and loved it. That place is run with such care and attention.

What that place has achieved, by moving building brick by brick is staggering. The new 1950s bit is coming along.
 
I'd second a trip to Crich (the National Tramway Museum).

I'm not that much of a transport person, but still a delightful day out and offers a 'step back in time'. Also, I suspect a mecca if you like old Blackpool Trams. So... many... Blackpool.... Trams. And trams in general. But it is like a retirement home for Blackpool Trams.

Also famously, the trains at Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway are perfectly safe. Though, Don't Look Down on the Atlantic Coast Express...

Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway, Hythe - Dungeness

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I visited NASA Johnson Space Centre in Houston a few years ago which was just amazing, a highlight was getting to go in the old mission control which they'd renovated back to what it looked like at the time of the Apollo missions.

Saw The Alamo the same day as well.
 
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