The Tank Museum near our Wareham B&B has something for everyone and for all ages. It is a popular choice for our guests, 7 miles from us, mostly undercover and is open daily all year round, except 24th– 26th December.
At the beginning of January, we had family visiting from the States, one of whom was ex-military, and we decided on a family visit to The Tank Museum. It was the most enjoyable visit, which we can’t recommend enough!
The easy drive from our Dorset bed and breakfast was a short distance away, well sign posted, and the parking was plentiful. The large disabled parking area and motorbike parking was close to the entrance of the museum. The Tank Museum is also seasonally serviced by a local bus service: Purbeck Breezer 31 (although these are subject to change). For Special Events (TANKFEST and Tiger Day) there is a shuttle bus from Wool Train Station.
We received a warm welcome from the staff and we were very keen to get started.
Our beginning was a walk in the footsteps of a WW1 soldier through the realistic and heartfelt front-line trenches. It was very sensory with purposeful dimmed lighting and sound effects. It was very nostalgic and immediately gave us a touching insight into war devastation and history.
Altogether there were 9 powerful exhibitions in 7 large halls. The one described above was ‘The Trench Experience’.
Next, we came to the ‘Tank Men Exhibition’. This exhibition celebrates the life of eight WW1 British soldiers who were some of the first men in history to see action in tanks.
Mark 1V was the first tank to be produced. They went into action for the first time in the Summer of 1917. There are 6 Mark 1V tanks left worldwide, three can be found in the UK.
The beginning of the end of horse mounted cavalry and the rise of the tank was documented in the ‘Warhorse to Warpower Exhibition’ which followed.
It would be worthwhile to do some research on The Tank Museum’s excellent website before visiting to have a look at the exhibitions beforehand, so you know what to expect and have a little prior knowledge.
The ‘WW2: War Stories’ (1939 -1945) came next. It was interesting to walk through a convincing wartime shop and home, as well as sit in a realistic air raid shelter with its chilling sirens and explosive sound effects.
The 69.8 tons king Tiger 11 or Konigstiger (King Tiger) was a favourite to see in this exhibition hall, which was built at the height of German tank design in WW2. The tank was captured in Normandy by British troops and if you look carefully, you can see where the British had fired guns at it to not much effect! There is a good short video which this tank features in on their website. Click here to see it: https://tankmuseum.org/visit-us
At this point a coffee and toilet stop were required so we went to the café area which overlooks the ‘Tank Story Exhibition Hall’. The café was spacious and reasonably priced, and the toilets were spotless.
It was in this large Tank Story Exhibition Hall that a very helpful and informative member of staff pointed us in the direction of one of our next favourite tanks, which was the WW2 Tiger 1. Tiger 131 is the world’s only running Tiger 1 tank. The huge size of this tank made it a legend of its time.
‘Tiger Day,’ in April and September, can be pre booked at The Tank Museum. You can find out about these days on their website here: Tiger Day
‘The Cold War Hall’ (1945-1991) and the ‘Battlegroup Afghanistan’ (Helmand Province – 2011) were right next to one another. It was interesting to explore the recreated Forward Operating Base to see the living conditions of soldiers. We also saw the mighty Tog 11 tank here. Weighing 80 tons, the Tog 11 is the heaviest tank in the museum.
One last tank which we were interested in seeing was the Sherman M42E8. This tank, as well as Tiger 131, starred in the 2014 film ‘Fury’.
In October, the Tank Museum will be putting on a special day dedicated to this Hollywood star Sherman M42E8, which you can book on their website here: Fury Experience.
Finally, we went to the ‘Tank Factory’ exhibition where you can step into the industrial world of design, manufacture, and assembly. Interestingly it features a cut in half Centurion Mark 3 tank.
The Tank Museum near our Wareham B&B has been on our bucket list for a long while and it far exceeded our expectations.
We spent four hours at the museum, but we could easily have stayed longer. Thankfully we have our annual pass which allows unlimited entry for 12 months and is included free of charge in all purchased tickets! (Excluding special event days).
Most of the museum was on a single level, with ramps or lift, providing access to higher floors. Pathways and entrances were broad and there were several disabled toilets around the museum. Please click here to see their accessibility guide.
For children and big kids alike, there are ‘hands on’ interactive displays and games throughout the museum.
There are opportunities to dress up in military clothing and to climb inside tanks, and not forgetting the Tank Shop too!
During the Dorset Easter, May and Summer holidays, how about experiencing for yourself the thrill of riding in a M548 Troop Carrier. It seats 16 people at a time so the whole family can jump on together! (Extra charge applies)
During such holiday times, tanks also roll into action during ‘Tank in Action’ 30-minute displays. It is full of explosives and thundering engines. Feel the ground shake and learn how tanks are used in battles.
‘Behind the Scenes Tours’ to learn how the vehicles are maintained and restored by the dedicated workshop staff can also be booked. See here for Behind the Scenes Tours.
Apart from arena displays, the whole museum is indoors, perfect for British weather!
A great day out at The Tank Museum near our Wareham B&B.
Give it a go and you won’t be disappointed! Just remember to give yourself at least 4/5 hours for your visit.
Spurwing Guest House is ideally located for visiting The Tank Museum, as well as other tourist attractions in Dorset. Here are our 5 Top Tourist Attractions in Dorset within 10 miles.
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