About Us
The Norfolk Tank Museum is located at Forncett St Peter, NR16 1HZ two miles from Long Stratton on the A140 Norwich to Ipswich road. From Long Stratton turn onto Swan Lane and follow the road out of the village for 2 miles until you come to a railway bridge over the road. We are immediately West of the railway bridge.
The Norfolk Tank Museum houses a collection of military vehicles, weapons and militaria mainly from the 20th Century and the Cold War Period. The collection of tanks and armoured cars is maintained in a working condition or is awaiting restoration by our team. including Deborah II, the replica Mk IV Tank as seen on Channel 4’s documentary ‘Guy Martin’s WWI Tank’. Other exhibits include artillery, uniforms and an extensive collection of British small arms.
We also have a unique collection of Centurion tanks: an AVRE; a Mk13 Gun Tank and an ARV, these are on static display most of the year, but can be seen in action along with other vehicles on our purpose-built course at Armourfest August 2022. Also on static display, with full public access, are a Chieftain Main Battle Tank and a Saladin Armoured Scout Car, you can climb inside and experience the confirmed space and atmosphere of the crew turret. We have many other vehicles, uniforms and small arms on display. The Norfolk Tank Museum offers a unique, ‘hands-on’ experience, giving you the opportunity, wherever possible, to have access to and to handle our exhibits.
Weather permitting you can enjoy a white-knuckle ride over our off-road course in the ‘Hagglunds BV206 All Terrain Vehicle’. The BV is an articulated, tracked all-terrain vehicle designed for use by the Swedish Army for deployment in Arctic condition, and is fully amphibious.
You can relax with a coffee and light snack in our tea room – we have disabled access to all our buildings and toilets and dedicated parking spaces. The Museum grounds provide plenty of space for children to run around in a safe environment, there is a play area and picnic site and access to local country walks.
If you would like a more personal experience for yourself, or as a gift, the Museum offers Tank Experience Gift vouchers. We can also accommodate school and group visits.
The Aim of the Norfolk Tank Museum
The main aim of the Norfolk Tank Museum is educational. Wars have been an historical fact throughout the history of most nations of the world. We hope to provide an insight into the mechanisms and machines of conflict, as well as the lives of those that have taken part, soldiers or civilians. We hope to promote an understanding for future generations. The Museum offers the visitor a small insight into the life of a British Soldier from the late-19th Century, how they lived and died, the uniforms they wore, the vehicles they drove and the weapons and tools they used to defend their country.
The Museum restores vehicles and actively maintains those that are already restored. The Museum also holds an extensive library of Military Workshop Manuals. We seek to maintain the authenticity of our collection as far as is practicably possible.
The Norfolk Tank Museum prides itself on the fact that visitors are able to handle many of the exhibits on display in our Armoury in order to experience the ‘Feel’ of a weapon, or to sit in a tank and feel the claustrophobic confines of a turret.
VOLUNTEERING AT THE NORFOLK TANK MUSEUM
Prices Adults £9.00. One FREE child under 12 with each paying Adult.
Children (Under 18s) £5.00
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Norfolk Tank Museum Tea room serves:
Hot and Cold Drinks and light snacks,
Freshly made Cakes on event days,
We have endeavoured to make the site as friendly as possible for our disabled visitors with disabled parking and toilets and ramped access to the small arms display and tea room.
Assistance dogs are welcome and, if asked, our volunteers will provide whatever extra help they can. Water is available from the tea room.
There is extensive parking, picnic and children’s play area with access to the popular Tank Museum Way and Tas-Valley Walk – a beautiful stroll through pastures and water meadows. View the ancient but marvelously preserved Forncett St Peter Church with its Saxon round tower. The herringbone construction of the walls on all three sides of the chancel denotes its saxon origin. The other church which can be seen from the Museum is Forncett St Mary’s another fine example of saxon architecture and accessible from a connecting public footpath.
Norfolk Tank Museum, Station Road, Forncett St Peter, Norwich, Norfolk, NR16 1HZ
(approx 2 miles from the A140 at Long Stratton)
Stephen 07703 337714