The Tank Museum, Bovington, Nr Wool
If you are visiting Dorset, then the Bovington Tank Museum, which is close to the spot where T.E. Lawrence died, is a must see. The museum details the history of the tank and the role that it and its operators played in some of the toughest battles of the Second World War. You will find the story of the tank from the very first Tiger Tank to the Challenger 2. The museum shows the development and importance of the tank from its invention in the First World War, up to and including the models used in the first Gulf War.
If you have a special interest in a particular type of tank, whether that is the Chieftain or the Sherman, there is plenty to interest those concerned with the part that tanks have played in the history of Britain. All the displays are inside the museum, and even on a wet day it is a good place to take kids as they can climb in and out of the tanks. In dry weather you can see the tanks being put through their paces outdoors, climbing steep hills and plunging back down into deep waters. You can take a ride on an M548, which will take you down the same route as the tanks. In case you do feel that you’ve had enough of looking at tanks for a while, then you’ll find that there is a museum shop and also a café if you feel like a drink and refreshments.
