Great West Way Travel Magazine | Issue 07

8
MAKE A HEAD START ON YOUR
CHRISTMAS SHOPPING
Buy beautiful gifts for your friends and family as you
explore the Great West Way in the run-up to the
holidays. Christmas at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet
Swindon means a winter wonderland springing up amongst their
many designer and high street shops. Read our article on best days
out for shopping on the Great West Way by clicking here.
There will also be many Christmas Markets appearing along
the route, with the Bath Christmas Market and Bristol Christmas
Market both making lovely festive locations for an afternoon of
Christmas shopping. Think sweet little chalets selling handmade
gifts and serving hot drinks.
9
VISIT A MUSEUM AND LOSE YOURSELF
IN CULTURE AND HISTORY
At the far east of the Great West Way, in bustling central
London, is Wellington Arch. Originally built as an entrance
to Buckingham Palace, the structure later became a victory
arch proclaiming Wellington's defeat of Napoleon. Climb up to the
arch's balconies for glorious wintery panoramas over London.
Also, in the capital don’t miss The British Museum, the first national
public museum in the world. The children will love meeting Santa and
his elf at the London Transport Museum (from 25 November) – at their
Christmas at the Museum season there’s also card-making workshops
and an interactive Routemaster-inspired sleigh!
Tucked away in the Hampshire countryside alongside the
peaceful River Test is Whitchurch Silk Mill, the oldest silk mill that is
still weaving silk in its original building. In Wiltshire visit Stourhead,
Lacock and the Fox-Talbot museum, the birthplace of photography
– and motoring enthusiasts will love the Atwell-Wilson Motor
Museum, located near the historic town of Calne, an interesting and
unusual stopping-off point along the route. Perfect for a Christmas
party, in Salisbury revellers can lose themselves in a game of Spectre
in the award-winning Live Escape Room on Castle Street.
Explore the unique collection of vehicles, uniforms, and weapons
and learn more about the proud history of the Royal Electrical and
Mechanical Engineers at the REME Museum in Lyneham – a short
drive from Chippenham. Reading Museum displays an array of
historical artefacts waiting to be explored while Reading's Museum
of English Rural Life is England’s most extensive museum dedicated
to farming, food, craft, rural life and countryside issues.
Maidenhead Heritage Centre explores the history of the Berkshire
town of Maidenhead by telling the stories of its river, roads and
railway. The centre's spitfire simulator is one of the most unusual
historic experiences on the Great West Way. Experience for yourself
what it must have been like for a 1940s spitfire pilot in an authentic
simulator with replica flight controls and wide screen pilot view.
Plus, you can even step on board Concorde Alpha Foxtrot,
the last supersonic jets to ever fly, or discover the earliest days of
powered flight at Aerospace Bristol. →
GreatWestWay.co.uk
55