Accessible Britain

024 Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire
Address: The Mansion, Bletchley Park, Sherwood Drive, Bletchley, Milton Keynes MK3 6EB Web: www.
bletchleypark.org.uk Tel: 01908 640404 Hours: Mar–Oct daily 9.30am–5pm; Nov–Mar daily 9.30am–
4pm Dates: closed 1 Jan & 24–26 Dec and for special events (phone ahead) Entry: [D]£16.75
[C]free [A]£16.75 [12–16s]£10 under 12s – free [Con]£14.75 [Fam]£38.50
By 1939 the looming threat of war had become a reality. British intelligence was looking
for a safe base well away from central London and chose Bletchley Park with its solid
road, rail and teleprinter links. Posing as a shooting party, British code breakers took
over the estate, and Bletchley became the nation’s best-kept secret.
This government intervention rescued Bletchley from demolition, so the elegant
mansion and parklands survived, and have been open to the public since 1994. The
grounds are a great place for families to relax, but it’s the exhibits at these wartime
headquarters that really fascinate. The Block-B centre and the famous Enigma machine
help to illuminate the complexities of code breaking, and the vital role of this decryption
work during the war, while an exhibition about the Lorenz cipher system that was used by
Hitler, features an original machine. There are also exhibitions on Life at Bletchley Park,
featuring the recollections of veterans, as well as a recreated World War II classroom. A
new interactive visitor centre in Block C has an overview exhibition, a display on cyber
security, a café, shop and toilets: it’s wheelchair accessible and a hearing loop system
is promised soon. Visitors have the opportunity to collect an iPod Touch multimedia
guide (included in the admission price) with which they can explore Bletchley Park and
experience how it would have appeared during wartime. Hut 11, the Bombe Hut, has
recently been restored, with life-sized video projections of the women who operated the
Bombe machines. It’s worth planning ahead to join one of the revealing guided tours that
give you an added insight into the house and its work. There are many collections to see
and some have varying opening times, so a quick check on the website before visiting is
recommended. Note that the “Colossus” replica is now housed in The National Museum
of Computing in Block H, which has a seperate entry fee and is not included in the
admission charge to Bletchley Park.
There are two parking areas but you should choose the one to the left of the main
entrance, which has eight Blue Badge bays. This is a dedicated disabled car park, close
to the main entrance. There is an accessible lift to the left of the six steps that lead up to
the reception. Powered scooters are permitted outdoors, and free manual wheelchairs
are available to use inside the building. All the preserved buildings and exhibits that are
currently open are accessible by wheelchair, and there are three accessible toilets dotted
around the park. There is an audio tour of Block-B (with built-in hearing loop), with
information available at the press of a button at numbered points.
FOOD & DRINK aa In a converted code-breaking hut, Hut 4 Café serves ample portions of
“good, hearty British food” (think cottage pie or bangers and mash), for around £7.50, plus
sandwiches and cakes. The café is spacious with moveable seating and space to manoeuvre.
THE SOUTHEAST
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