Aldershot Military Museum Tourist Guide Olympics 2012 Hampshire UK

Aldershot Tourist Information

Aldershot was originally a small agricultural village until the first military army base was established in 1854 during the Crimean War. It continued to grow as its military bases became established. Aldershot is very much a military town today where you can find out more about military history at the museum.

The town is split in two with the northern side of the town containing the military barracks and the Military Museum. The south side of the town contains the town centre with its shops and The Wellington shopping centre.

Aldershot has a tourist information centre covering the town and the Rushmoor area which includes Farnborough and the Blackwater countryside. It's just up the road from the main shops and has local information about what to do and see in the area. Aldershot Visitor Centre, 35-39 The High Street, Aldershot Hants GU11 1BH. Tel: 01252 320968. Fax: 01252 311479. Email: mail@rushmoorvic.com

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Official Training Camp for Team GB Olympics 2012

Recently Aldershot has been chosen as the official training camp for Team GB in preparation of the 2012 Olympics. The Army's Centre for Sporting Excellence already has some excellent facilities such as an Olympic sized pool and 400m running track.

The town is now undergoing a massive regeneration scheme that is likely to improve many local facilities.

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Aldershot Military Museum

Aldershot Military Museum is a must if you want to find out all about the military history of Aldershot, Farnborough and Cove. There are various galleries covering different aspects of military life in the area as well as local history collections.

The John Reed Gallery is named after the museum's creator and is one of only two surviving barrack bungalows built in North Camp in the late nineteenth century. Inside you can see recreations of barracks from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries as well as a typical married quarters living room from the 1960s. The Cody Gallery covers the story of Samuel Franklin Cody who made the first British powered flight at Farnborough in 1908. He was a flamboyant American who was seen in the area wearing a stetson riding a white horse! There are other galleries on the site including a building from Field Marshall Montgomery's home near Alton and now houses bigger field guns and vehicles.

The museum is open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm throughout the year except the Christmas week. Click on the link right for more information.

Aldershot Military Museum, Queens Avenue, Aldershot Hampshire GU11 2LG. Tel 0845 603 5635.

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Aldershot Army Show - Military Tattoo

The Aldershot Army Show is an annual military tattoo that attracts around 60,000 visitors. It's a two day event showcasing military bands, the Royal Horse Artillery gun teams, free-fall parachute displays, army motorcycle display teams. On the site are also an array of stands from regiments and corps giving more details about the life and work of the modern soldier. A variety of civilian groups and historical organisations also attend the show so there's plenty to keep you occupied for a full day out.

The show is usually open from 10am-6pm and is held in the summer. Check the weblink for this year's visitor information. The way to the showground is well signposted on major roads and there are three rail stations within easy reach of the showground: Farnborough Main, North Camp and Aldershot.

Tickets to the event are only available from the following outlets: Rushmoor Borough Council, Council Offices, Farnborough Road, Farnborough. Aldershot Area Office, Princes Gardens, High Street, Aldershot. Aldershot Military Museum, Queens Avenue, Aldershot. Princes Hall, Princes Way, Aldershot.

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Basingstoke Canal

For recreation near Aldershot visit the Basingstoke Canal. Stretching from Basingstoke through Aldershot and into Surrey it's popular for walking and cycling and has been restored to be fully navigable. The canal has long been a good site for wildlife with a rich variety of aquatic plants - more than any other waterway in Britain - including water crowfoot, frogbit, arrowhead and pondweeds . Twenty five species of dragonfly have been recorded here!

You can cycle or walk short stretches of the canal or even attempt longer stretches and stop over at bed and breakfast accommodation along the way. The railway runs nearby so it's possible to walk or cycle the whole towpath using public transport.

If you want to navigate the canal yourself you will need a licence which is available by printing off the information on the Basingstoke Canal website or by contacting the Canal Visitor Centre direct.

There's a Canal Visitor Centre at Mytchett in Surrey from where you can take boat trips on an authentic narrow boat. The Centre is open Easter-September Tues Sun 10.30am 4.45pm. Oct-March Tues-Fri 10.30am-4pm. The Centre is open seven days a week during school holidays. Canal Visitor Centre, Mytchett Place Road, Mytchett, Surrey GU16 6DD.

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