Revel in mind-boggling adventures for all the family at Bletchley Park

Bletchley Park, the capital of coding cool and former top-secret home of Britain’s Codebreakers, is now a heritage attraction and museum with a packed calendar of activities and interactive tours for the whole family to enjoy this summer.

Free for under-12s, Bletchley is big on experience and inspiring younger generations. This year there’s a host of things to do and learn about as well as exhibitions and historic buildings to explore.

Add to that live music and events set amid wide open spaces and it’s the perfect playground.

Crafty Commanders and Codebreakers, a specially designed, interactive learning workshop is one the big launches.

Here 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 so their real plans remained hidden. 

They can then have a go at some codebreaking of their own, make gliders and parachutes and test them out, and even conjure their own sneaky plans.

The museum will also be bringing back family-friendly tours such as Amazing People, Amazing Machines, an interactive experience where surprising new facts will be revealed as everyday life at Bletchley Park is explored and even some top-secret war work undertaken. 

Throughout the summer, the museum will also play host to live music in the grounds every Saturday in August, featuring 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 previously appeared alongside Michael Ball and Alfie Boe.  

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

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

Then they can look to the skies and soak up the atmosphere ahead of the popular autumn 1940s Weekend taking place on 23-24 September.

Families can also collect a Top-Secret Mission Pack for £1 at the admissions centre and complete exciting activities in key locations to discover what happened there during WW2.  

These include stamping your official identity card at the gate, signing the official secrets act in the Mansion, taking part in codebreaking in Hut 6 and finding out more about The Intelligence Factory. 

Dawn Barlow, Bletchley Park’s head of operations, declares: “We are hugely excited to have so much going on here this summer and are very 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 Bletchley’s elegant dining room on Fridays, Saturdays and some selected Sundays.

The perfect way to make your visit extra special with sumptuous 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 the Hut 1 kiosk and delicious seasonal food and drink in Hut 4 Café or Block B Coffee Shop. 

The giant deckchair also 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 great for an Insta pic.  

For people who live within a 10-mile radius of Bletchley Park there’s a half-price admission. 

And any ticket is an annual pass, so pay once and go as often as you wish for a year. This also applies to under-12s who go free.

For more information on all of these events and more, visit https://bletchleypark.org.uk/family-summer-fun/ Visitors can book tickets on the website or just come on down to enjoy a full day out this summer.