Churchill War Room

During WWII England utilized an underground bunker not far from Parliament to conduct the war. The high command of the British military planed for the defense of Britain and also campaigns around the globe. Many also had living quarters there as they would spend days underground. After the war it was sealed up. In 1984 it was reopened to the public and is now a museum and part of the Imperial War Museum.. Most of what you see is how it was left in 1945.

Walking the war rooms you can see maps showing allied and axis positions and ship locations from around the world. You can also see Churchill's sleeping quarters as well those of other high ranking people. Conditions must have been bad down there as some people opted to sleep above even during the bombing of London.

I would suggest you buy your tickets ahead of time as you will get right in. The lines for those purchasing tickets there can be long. It is on Horse Guards Road not far from Parliament and is worth seeing.

British Grand Prix, Silverstone

I was lucky enough this year to go to the British Grand Pix at Silverstone which has been hosting the race since 1948. I have been trying to attend a different F1 race every year and this one was my 7th. Silverstone is the site of a RAF base and has a lot of history.

View from my seat

I went to the race decked out in my Red Bull gear and there was representation from every team but you could tell that most were for Louis Hamilton, not necessarily for Mercedes. If you don't already know Hamilton is British. Louis didn't disappoint as he and Mercedes won the race and are running away with the championship this year.

Here are some helpful hints

• Buy your tickets early. I ended up getting mine from a third party site.
• Don't drive to the circuit. I drove to the railway station in Northampton where I parked and took the shuttle from there. The same can be done at the Milton Keyes station. After the race the buses are lined up and you hop on your bus destination and as soon as it fills up it leaves. Otherwise traffic is backed up with people trying to drive out. 
• For the 3 days of the race stay anywhere close to Northampton or Milton Keyes and drive or taxi to the railway station each day.
• On race day get there early as there is a lot of pre-race entertainment.  

Stratford Upon Avon

Park at Stratford Upon Avon

Toward the end of my week in England I was looking for a place to go after York and before the F1 race in Silverstone. I had a lot of options and decided to visit the birthplace of Shakespeare.

Shakespeare's Home

Shakespeare's Grave

First impression is if you want to see history and at the same time relax in a peaceful location this is the place to go. Stratford has many pubs and restaurants as well as a beautiful park along the Avon. It is an easy walk from the house where Shakespeare grew up to the church where he is buried. I was there on a Saturday and there were concerts in the park as well as outside plays in other areas of the park. It was nice to just sit down with some ice cream and take in the sites and sounds.

Canal Cruise

For meals you won't have a problem finding a place to eat. You can find anything from new establishments to pubs dating back hundreds of years. If you get off the main streets you can find a nice quiet place on a side street.

I would recommend taking a canal tour on one of the boats. The views are beautiful and the ride is peaceful. They leave from the park area and last about 40 minutes.

Royal Shakespeare Company Theater

That night I made reservations to see The Royal Shakespeare Company performing Measure for Measure at the Royal Shakespeare Company theater. I would say it is a must do if you are in Stratford.  I wanted to eat dinner on the rooftop restaurant at the theater but found out I needed a reservation even for one person. Next time I'll know better. The play was awesome.