Hey guys, I am visiting London and the Cotswolds in a month with my wife. We are visiting from Minnesota. I am not planning on renting a bike, but I would like to visit any cool motorcycle related places while I'm there. I love motorcycle history; Lawrence of Arabia, Vincents, WWII, all that stuff. I plan on hitting the Ace Cafe... Any other suggestions? Thanks, John
On the history front there is the Imperial War Museum in London (free entry) http://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-london Duxford in Cambridgeshire has more hangars and aircraft than you can walk around in a day, everything from Catalina flying boats to a Concorde. (Chargeable entry) http://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-duxford HMS Belfast on the Thames opposite the Tower of London is a WWII cruiser worth a visit (Chargeable entry) http://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/hms-belfast You can take a train from London to Dover on the S coast and combine medieval history (Dover Castle) with WWII history with the Hellfire Corner WWII operations centre. http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/publications/hellfire-corner-dover-castle-secret-tunnels-dunkirk/ The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich is definitely worth a visit http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/publications/hellfire-corner-dover-castle-secret-tunnels-dunkirk/ Then there is the Science museum with some great engine displays and last time I was there a Sopwith Camel hanging from the roof. http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/ The National Motorcycle Museum is close to the National Exhibition Centre in the Midlands (near Birmingham) http://www.nationalmotorcyclemuseum.co.uk/ For general petrol headedness there is Beaulieu Motor Museum situated in the New Forest on the S Coast http://www.nationalmotorcyclemuseum.co.uk/ That should keep you ticking over for a day or two.
I had a look at the OPs question earlier and I was trying to think if we had any motorbike specific sights but beyond the Ace Cafe, the National Motorbike Museum, Beaulieu (includes a lot of cars) I struggled with the question...we've great roads, amazing history, fantastic pubs etc etc...and you certainly won't be bored but bike specific? Hinckley don't do tours so that's out but Norton do - http://www.nortonmotorcycles.com/. The annual MCN bike show was in Feb, so you missed that... Anyhoo, here's a list of regular bike meets - http://www.thebikerguide.co.uk/bikemeets.html - you might find something there.
try the Sammy Miller museum in New Milton, just up the road from Bournemouth. well worth the visit. sammymiller.co.uk
London is a big place. If you are staying at one side. Allow an hour travel on the tube to the other side. There is so much to see. The wax work's and planetarium, is a good half day or a day. Tower of London will take more than a few hour's out of your day as well. As will the science and war museum. How long are you staying for? To be truthful, if you lived there for a life time, and went out every day. You would not see it all. John933
Guys- I really appreciate all the help. The biker guide site is excellent! Thank you very much. And I'll definitely take you up on a beer! I'll be in London this Thursday (April 16) until Monday morning, then Cotswolds Monday-Thursday. Then we head to Paris for a couple days. Hope to see you at the Ace on Friday night (rockers and classics). I'll be wearing an Indian motorcycle shirt from the Dark Horse release... Don't worry I ride a Triumph. Thanks again, John
Going to be on the south coast Thursday and Friday and meeting up on Saturday with another inmate who's over here so maybe wont be able to get you a beer after all. Enjoy London and enjoy the Cotswolds.
