Spring is just around the corner, and what better way to combat the winter blues than by planning your Easter visit to Imperial War Museum Duxford?
Imperial War Museum Duxford is set in the beautiful Cambridgeshire countryside and is the perfect place to enjoy an active day out.
There are fun family activities on offer throughout the Easter holidays, enabling visitors to get hands-on with Second World War history.
Easter opening times are 10.00am-6.00pm and children go FREE.
AHG encourages everyone to check the
IWM Duxford website for the most up-to-date information and times.
Activities include:
Home Front BritainA family-friendly talk hosted by the team from IWM Duxford’s Department for Learning. Home Front Britain looks at the effect of the Second World War on the lives of ordinary people and focuses on rationing, ARP precautions and the volunteer organisations that protected Britain against enemy invasion.
The talk lasts for 1 hour and includes the opportunity to handle original Second World War Home Front artefacts and to ask questions. To ensure a place on one of the talks, booking is essential. To book, please contact Philip
Sawford, Informal Learning Manager on 01223 499342 or email psawford@iwm.org.uk.
Home Front Britain talks take place in AirSpace on Thursday 8 and Thursday 15 April commencing at 11.00am and 1.00pm.
Secrets and SpiesLearn about the Second World War Spooks who worked undercover in the clandestine world of espionage and sabotage. See an original spy aircraft and hear about the perilous role it undertook in dropping agents into occupied France. See some of the ingenious artefacts used in secret operations, including message containers, weapons and explosives. Children will be able to put their newly acquired cloak and dagger skills to the test by
searching a secret agent mannequin to discover where a number of spy gadgets are hidden.They will also have the opportunity to try their hand at code-breaking in true Bletchley Park style!
Secrets and Spies will take place in AirSpace on Monday 5, Tuesday 6, Wednesday 7, Thursday 8 and Friday 9 April from 10.30am to 12.30pm.
Legendary LancasterLearn what it was like to fly in the legendary Lancaster bomber during the Second World War. Meet a costumed interpreter acting the role of a Lancaster rear turret gunner and hear all about life as a member of Bomber Command. Discover more about the aircraft and its crew, hear about the dangerous missions flown over occupied Europe, handle original objects associated with the Lancaster bomber and try on authentic equipment worn by Second World War pilots.
Legendary Lancaster will take place on Monday 12, Tuesday 13, Wednesday 14, Thursday 15 and Friday 16 April from 10.30am to 12.30pm.
Additional activities will include:
B-17 Bomber Crew
Meet a waist gunner from Duxford’s B-17 Flying Fortress, Mary Alice.
Learn about what life was like for the men of the United States Army Air Force in Great Britain, a country that was completely alien to their American way of life.
Hear about bombing missions over occupied Europe and the dangers faced by the crews of the B-17 Flying Fortresses.
Exact dates and times to be advised. Please keep an eye on the IWM Duxford website for more details.
Make do and Mend on the Home FrontExperience life on the Home Front with hands-on craft activities creating ‘Make Do and Mend’ wartime toys, propaganda posters and rag rugs. All items created can be taken home to be displayed in pride of place!
Exact dates and times to be advised. Please keep an eye on the IWM Duxford website for more details.
Throughout the Easter holidays, explainers will be conducting handling sessions within the Museum. All activities are included in the standard admission to the Museum and, as usual, children go free. No booking is required and all sessions are drop in.
IWM Duxford toursIWM Duxford is offering a number of tours during the Easter holidays, enabling visitors to dig deeper into the stories behind the exhibits on site.
Imperial War Museum Duxford is just south of Cambridge at junction 10 of the M11. Ample free parking is available. For a full list of Duxford’s air shows and other exciting events in 2010, including half term activities for families, visit www.iwm.org.uk/duxford or telephone 01223 835 000.
Easter opening times are 10.00am-6.00pm and children go FREE.