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The Tank Museum, Bovington Camp, Dorset

The Tank Museum at Bovington Camp in Dorset offers exhibits illustrating the history of armoured fighting vehicles, and also demonstrates them in action. The collection includes almost three hundred vehicles, dating from World War One, to modern times. Lectures on military history, and a range of military subjects are also offered. A range of educational services is available, staffed by a team of educational specialists. Talks are geared towards the National Curriculum, Key Stages 1 - 4. The library holds one of the world's largest collections of books on armoured warfare. The photographic archive holds a quarter of a million images.

Bovington Camp is historically interesting in itself. T.E. Lawrence, or Lawrence of Arabia, enlisted as a recruit in the tank corps after the First World War. Lawrence led daring raids against the Turks in the deserts of the Middle East, and became a celebrated war hero. He wrote the classic book The Seven Pillars Of Wisdom, about his wartime experiences. Lawrence lived a rather tormented life at Bovington Camp after the war, trying to leave the war, his celebrity, and to some extent his personality behind by becoming an ordinary recruit. Lawrence took a small cottage near the camp at Clouds Hill, which he turned into a artistic retreat. Clouds Hill is now owned by the National Trust, and is a good place to visit along with the Tank Museum.

Opening Times: The Tank Museum is open seven days a week, 10am - 5pm.

Directions: The Museum is a few miles off the A352 in Dorset, and is signposted from Dorchester, Blandford, Poole, Bere Regis and Wool.

Access: wheelchair access is good.

Contact:

telephone: 01929 405096

web site: www.tankmuseum.co.uk