Danesfield House
Taylor Downing
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RAF Medmenham
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RAF Medmenham
RAF Medmenham
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RAFMedmenham
Churchill War Rooms
Tea at Danesfield House
Controllers Cabin RAF Battle of Britain Command Bunker
Plotting Room RAF Battle of Britain Command Bunker
RAF Hendon
RAF Battle of Britain Command Bunker-
Churchill War Rooms
Churchill War Rooms
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Danesfield House
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RAF Medmenham original pics
Two talks from and accompanied by acclaimed “Spies in thy Sky” author Taylor Downing
Afternoon tea at the reconnaissance base Danesfield House with guided tour
Churchill’s Cabinet War Rooms
RAF Hendon
Battle of Britain Bunker
This fantastic tour is the perfect complement to our “Secret War” tour that has been one of our most popular for the past decade. It tells the thrilling, little-known story of the partner organisation to the famous code-breaking centre at Bletchley Park, whose daring reconnaissance pilots took aerial photographs over Occupied Europe during the most dangerous days of the Second World War, and its photo interpreters who invented a completely new science to analyse those pictures. Their story is told in the book “Spies in the Sky” by Taylor Downing who will accompany the tour throughout. As well as visiting the wartime headquarters at Danesfield House (now a luxury hotel) for a guided tour, Q&A and afternoon tea, we will also visit other World War II sights that help to put their pioneering efforts into context.
Available Departures |
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| 03 - November - 2024 | £ 789.00 | Travel Info Book Now |
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Provisional Timings |
Day 1: Arrive independently at the Crowne Plaza, Ealing from 15.00.
This evening there will be a welcome reception, private dinner with wine and a talk from Taylor Downing, “Churchill and the Boffins.”
Day 2: Churchill War Bunker and RAF Museum Hendon.
Two of the London area’s best World War II museums are on the agenda today, as we head first to the Cabinet War Rooms in Whitehall, a warren of underground offices where Britain’s leaders met in relative safety to plot the Allied route to victory. They were featured in the 2017 Oscar-winning film, Darkest Hour, with Gary Oldman portraying Churchill and offer a fascinating glimpse into the chaotic and dramatic years of the war. After free time for lunch (not included) we will head to the northern suburbs of London to the wonderful RAF Museum Hendon that houses a vast collection of aircraft from the RAF’s long history, including many that saw action during the Second World War. We will return to the hotel early evening for a second talk from Taylor, “Spies in the Sky,” followed by dinner.
Day 3: Battle of Britain Bunker and Danesfield House with tour, Q&A and afternoon tea.
Our first visit of the day is to the fascinating Battle of Britain Bunker, an underground operations room at RAF Uxbridge, formerly used by No. 11 Group Fighter Command during the Second World War. Fighter aircraft operations were controlled from there throughout the War but most notably during the Battle of Britain and on D-Day. It is reached by a staircase of 76 steps (please note there is no lift), though the exhibition is on ground floor level. After free time for lunch (not included) we head to Danesfield House, the headquarters for the reconnaissance operation during the war, known as RAF Medmenham. Now a luxury hotel, the grand house was home to the interpreters whose efforts were so critical to the war effort. At its peak, the “Central Interpretation Unit” was analysing some 25,000 negatives daily, with a total staff of 1,700. Here, resident guide Peter Faarup will take you on a guided tour and the visit will end in the grand Versailles suite for afternoon tea and a farwell Q&A from Taylor. Time will also be allowed to explore the beautiful grounds and gardens. Return to the hotel for approximately 18.30.
NB: Exact order of itinerary may vary according to local conditions and tour managers discretion.
Please note: Post tour extra nights are available at a supplement.
Please note the maximum group size on this tour is 33 passengers.
INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED
Crowne Plaza Hotel, Ealing, London
Located on the outskirts of Central London, the four-star Crowne Plaza Ealing Hotel offers a restaurant, bar, gym and comfortable, contemporary designed bedrooms with private bath/shower, air-conditioning, TV and telephone.
Car parking is available at the hotel costing £18 per night, payable directly to the hotel.
Crowne Plaza Ealing Hotel Website
Please note that all our UK tours start and finish at the relevant hotel.
You can normally check in from 3pm onwards but hotels will always be happy to store your luggage if you arrive earlier in the day.
For full details of how to get to the hotel, directions and the nearest train station, please click on the hotel website or call our office for details. These will also be sent automatically with your confirmation.
The welcome reception and first evening dinner / talk will commence at about 6pm - full details will be sent with your joining instructions about 10 days prior to the arrival date.
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Robert and Taylor Browning worked very well together throughout the tour and the lectures. Their collective knowledge was impressive. Tours and visits were very well organised. Very enjoyable overall and a few more visits off our to do list. Thank you.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 05-November-2023
The trip was excellent with very knowledgeable tour leaders. The visits were most interesting and informative. Our driver was friendly and efficient. We weren’t very impressed by the food at the hotel though.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 05-November-2023
Review by Anonymous who travelled 05-November-2023
Review by Anonymous who travelled 05-November-2023
Overall we enjoyed the tour. Our guide Robert Owen was very good and he tried hard to make everyone comfortable. Taylor Downing was equally a joy and we enjoyed his lectures very much.
Review by Higgins who travelled 05-November-2023
Generally excellent but the "posh afternoon tea" on the last day was very poor due to extremely slow serviice and was a waste of time.
Review by Barrett who travelled 05-November-2023
Review by Albutt who travelled 05-November-2023
I enjoyed the tour, but it's worth mentioning that the title of the tour is a little misleading, as almost half the content wasn't related to 'Spies in the Skies'. Much of the content was about Churchill and WWII in general, rather than the title of the tour. The main topic is only covered up to WWII, with almost no mention of how aerial surveillance has advanced since then. I know the focus was on WWII, but the lectures should at least mention the progress since then. We saw a Predator drone at the RAF Museum, but the lectures didn't cover surveillance drones and satellites, which are vastly more capable than the WWII techniques that were the main focus. The coach and driver were both very good, but it does seem odd to use a coach from Gloucestershire for a London-based tour.
Review by Pendse who travelled 05-November-2023
Enjoyed this second tour I have attended. Highlights were RAF Hendon and the Battle of Britain Bunker (excellent tour guide). Danesfield House was a lovely end to the tour and Peter's amusing presentation was great but not much left of what happened here in the war. Taylor Downing pulled it all together and was perfect. Churchill War Rooms interesting but busy and museum crowded and too much to see in time available. Would prefer more time at RAF Hendon.
Review by saddington who travelled 02-October-2022
My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole tour ..both Steve the Tour Manager and Taylor Downing ..the “expert/author” were excellent …knowledgeable, friendly, approachable and easy going. The coach travel was also very good as was the hotel and the food and drink provided…one minor tweak which both Steve and Taylor, thought would be better if the Tour was to be repeated would not to include the Churchill Wat Rooms …they were a bit of the route in terms of location and a bit out of place for the theme of the tour. Maybe a longer time at the RAF Museum at Hendon would have been better.
Review by Thomas who travelled 02-October-2022
Excellent tour and Taylor Downing is a superb expert on the subject and easy going with a lovely conversational style. Visits: Churchill Bunker and Museum is worth visiting but is very crowded and somewhat claustrophobic. Signage appeared poor but may have been hidden by so many people. You spend your time going where there are fewer people and then missing things. Hendon RAF museum was wonderful particularly as they had tailored a guided tour around the subject of photo reconnaissance and we saw related displays including how the cameras were attached to the planes (Guy was an excellent tour guide). Uxbridge Battle of Britain bunker, again superb, the map room presentation was excellent. Very well worth visiting, but remember the 76 steps - there is a seat half way down! Danesfield House: worth the visit to see where all the interpretation work took place, however the presentation there should have have concentrated on how the house was used by those working there. We had the absolute expert in Taylor Downing to which nothing was usefully added about the interpretation work. Many thanks to Taylor, no praise is high enough, he shared his knowledge in an easy and charming way. Steve for keeping everything on track and for his history knowledge as well, and Sean, our driver.
Review by Williams who travelled 02-October-2022
No information provided about schedule of Tour upon arrival at hotel - this could have been included in the same envelope as the Hotel Key. Hotel Food for evening meal not exciting and limited range to choose from. Guest Speaker Taylor Downing excellent
Review by Anonymous who travelled 02-October-2022
Review by McNaughton who travelled 02-October-2022
