places to visit in England

[Jules Richardson]

William Maddox wrote:
> Alexey Toptygin wrote:
>>
>> I'm going to be in southern England for 2 weeks in mid-december, and I 
>> was wonding if listmembers could recommend any classic computing 
>> sights I should see while there. Ideas?
> 
> I would recommend Bletchley Park, but it appears that it is only
> open seasonally from April to October.  I don't know if this applies
> to the RetroBeep museum or not.

Yes, bad timing I'm afraid. Previous years (well, the few years I've been 
there anyway) the Park's opened through the winter, but this year they've shut 
to visitors until the start of April (lots of UK museums seem to do this, 
which seems a shame when there's so much indoors stuff to see!)

In addition, we're in the process of moving, so all the equipment's 
disconnected and much of it has been packaged up. Even if I could get Alexey 
onto the site under a temporary pass, there isn't much classic computing to 
see right now anyway :-(

> See the Babbage difference engine reconstruction at the London
> Science Museum.  There is also a very nicely restored Ferranti
> Pegasus on display.  I have heard that it runs, but no one I talked
> to at the museum on my last visit had any information about whether
> and when it might be demonstrated.

I'm not sure of the relevant contact there I'm afraid - but for Alexey's 
benefit, an advance email to them will hopefully find its way to the right 
people.

If you're into technology in general, I can highly recommend the steam museum 
at Kew Bridge in London, and (assuming 'south' extends that far) the air 
museum at Duxford up near Cambridge:

http://www.kbsm.org
http://duxford.iwm.org.uk

cheers

Jules