Visit Bletchley Park this summer – under 12s are FREE

Free for the under-12s, Bletchley Park, the former top-secret home of Britain’s Codebreakers, and now a heritage attraction and museum, has a packed calendar of exciting activities and interactive tours for the whole family to enjoy.

From family activities, exhibitions and historic buildings to explore, through to live music, and events on the lawn, as well as plenty of wide-open space to run around in and a playground for the kids, Bletchley Park is ready for a summer of fun with lots to do inside and outside.

This summer, Bletchley Park is excited to launch ‘Crafty Commanders and Codebreakers’, a specially designed, interactive learning workshop, where families can learn more about the invasion of Sicily by sea and air by Allied forces 80 years ago. Visitors can discover some of the creative methods used by the Allies to confuse and deceive the enemy forces to help keep their real plans hidden. They can then have a go at some codebreaking of their own, make gliders and parachutes and test them out, and even make their own sneaky plans!*

In addition, the museum will also be bringing back family-friendly tours: ‘Amazing People, Amazing Machines’ is an interactive tour where you will learn some surprising new facts, explore everyday life at Bletchley Park and maybe even take part in some top-secret war work.**

Throughout the summer, the museum will also play host to live music in the grounds every Saturday in August, featuring world-renowned vintage vocalists singing jazz, blues, and swing, as well as popular songs from the 1940s. Taking the stage will be Johnny Victory, Fiona Harrison, Miss Sarah Jane and Miss Lilly Lovejoy, who has appeared alongside Michael Ball and Alfie Boe in the past.

Visitors can still experience all of Bletchley Park’s 27 exhibitions including the largest and newest exhibition The Intelligence Factory, featuring exciting interactive displays, including a chance to dress up in wartime uniforms and practice overseeing the workers at Bletchley Park at the height of the war.

There is also the cinematic experience, D-Day: Interception, Intelligence, Invasion, giving the chance to discover the top-secret role Bletchley Park played in the planning and implementation of D-Day.

Look to the skies! Visitors can also soak up the atmosphere that will surely whet appetites for the popular autumn 1940s Weekend taking place on 23-24 September as, subject to weather, the Lancaster and Spitfires of the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will be flying above Bletchley Park on certain weekends over the summer.

Families can also collect a Top-Secret Mission Pack for £1 at Admissions and complete exciting activities in important locations to discover what happened there during WW2.  Stamp your official identity card at the gate, sign the official secrets act in the Mansion, take part in codebreaking in Hut 6 and find out more about The Intelligence Factory – there’s so much to see, learn and do.

Dawn Barlow, Head of Operations at Bletchley Park said: “We are hugely excited to have so much going on here this summer. We are keen to celebrate the summer months and welcome all visitors, near and far, young and old!  We love seeing families interacting with each other and engaging in different ways with the Bletchley Park story. It is great to see different generations enjoying a puzzle, game or craft together, sparking conversation, learning AND enjoying a day out!”

For those seeking refreshment, Afternoon Tea will also be available, served in the quintessentially British surroundings of our elegant Dining Room on Fridays, Saturdays and some selected Sundays, this is the perfect way to make your visit extra special with finely cut sandwiches and freshly baked scones, and more. Pre-booking is required, but slots over the summer are still available.

As always, ice-creams and hot dogs will also be available from our Hut 1 kiosk or enjoy delicious seasonal food and drink in our Hut 4 Café or Block B Coffee Shop. Eat in or takeaway to enjoy on the lawn.

And that’s not all, the giant deckchair makes a welcome return, with a new design voted for by Bletchley Park’s social media followers.   This year it features a pattern based on the rotors of the Bombe machine. The chair is big enough to hold up to three or four people, so take a picture whilst taking the weight off your feet – perfect for that selfie spot in front of the Mansion!

For local residents there is an exclusive discount – people who live within a 10-mile radius of Bletchley Park receive half-price admission.

And, what’s more, any ticket is an annual pass, so pay once, and you can visit as much as you want for a year!  This also applies to under-12s who go free, so the whole family can return again and again.

For more information on all of these events and more, please visit https://bletchleypark.org.uk/family-summer-fun/

Visitors can book tickets on the website or simply come on down to enjoy a full day out this Summer.