Going to Duxford

[Moonlight]

I'm in Brighton until the 29th training on a new jet at Burgess Hill, and have this coming Thursday off. I did a little checking, and I'm a little over 2 hours from Duxford. I'm thinking seriously about heading up there, and wondered if anyone had any suggestions/advice. Do I need to call ahead? Anything else I should be aware of?

[JDK]

Do I need to call ahead? Anything else I should be aware of?

No.

How are you getting there? Driving?

[Moonlight]

Yeah...unfortunately.

[JDK]

Yeah...unfortunately.

Pretty straightforward from Brighton to Duxford, hit the M25 then it's motorway (freeway) all the way. Don't gripe about the petrol (gas) cost - the train would cost as much. Do avoid the M25 at peak hour though.

You'll easily spend an entire day (or two) exploring DX, so get there for opening and expect to leave at kick out. Most of it's public, only the offices over on the North side, the Aircraft Restoration Co / Historic Flying facility are out of bounds. If you have contacts you could buzz them an e-mail to ask to have a look around - you never know, and they're always interested in selling Spitfires to Yanks!

Don't miss the row of buildings on the north side (near the A505 road) behind the Belfast hangars. There's some interesting restorations going on in some of them.

Martin Claydon's website is a good 'guide' to the site:
http://www.duxford-update.info/

The official website's OK:
http://duxford.iwm.org.uk/

There's active aircraft in several of the hangars. If you present your secret handshake and obviously don't interrupt someone who shouldn't be interrupted, you may get a great chat with some of the guys. Likewise the IWM's own conservators in the IWM restoration hangar are doing interesting work.

If you have more time off, visit the RAF Museum or the Science Museum. You can get to both by train/tube from Brighton easily. Both have very historic aircraft you'll not find anywhere else. If you get to the RAF Museum, make sure you get briefed at reception on what's open when; there's several areas which are only open limited hours. Best London museum is the Imperial War Museum in Lambeth; like the others, can be got to by public transport, and much easier than trying to drive. The IWM's collection isn't as significant as the other two, but it's much better displayed.

Hope that's some help, have a blast!

[Moonlight]

Gas is on the company's dime, so no complaints on my end. Thanks for the info, I'm looking forward to going up there, it will be a nice (and MUCH needed) break.

[JDK]

Note a couple of edits above.

Let us know how you get on!

[RAMC181]

Brighton - Duxford by car is pretty simple, A23-M23-M25-M11.
Just avoid the M23 (Gatwick traffic) and M25 (Heathrow traffic) at peak times and the journey should be fine.

It's your call whether you do the M25 clockwise (past Heathrow) or anti-clockwise (via the Dartford Toll Tunnels, £1.00 for cars off peak).

EDIT: Plus what JDK posted while I was writing.

Best of luck,
Paul

[Bradburger]

EDIT: Plus what JDK posted while I was writing.

Best of luck,

Paul

I think JDK's advice/comments are good ones too.

It's your call whether you do the M25 clockwise (past Heathrow) or anti-clockwise (via the Dartford Toll Tunnels, £1.00 for cars off peak).

Yes, the former is a good tip, as it's often a better bet than going on the M11.

When we go to Duxford, or Old Warden, for that matter, it's better for us to go on the western part (clockwise direction) of the M25 which passes Heathrow.

We then come off at junction 23 (South Mimms) to join the A1M, and continue on it until we join the A505 at Baldock (through the new tunnel bypass which shaves off a few minutes as you no longer have to go through the town) and then it's on to DX. It usually takes us about an hour & a half to get there (it's approx a 100 miles journey for us), although that is of course fairly early on a Sunday morning!

As Paul says, it's your call.

Whichever way you go, I hope you have a good time there!

Cheers

Paul

[JDK]

Did ya get there?

How did you do?

Was it like Geneseo?