November is here, another summer has gone and we’re looking forward to Christmas. As we discovered last November, this month’s recommendation makes a great day out or weekend away – without breaking the bank.

We’re heading for Bletchley Park, scene of so much game-changing British wartime intelligence and where, famously, the Allies’ best minds painstakingly unravelled the mysteries of Germany’s Enigma coding machine.

When we visited last year, we made a weekend of it. I would recommend this because there is so much to see at Bletchley Park and everything is presented in such fascinating detail that it’s easy to fill a day. The good news is that tickets (save by booking in advance) remain valid for a year, so you can visit again on the same ticket if you wish.

Code-breaking delights for young and old

We stayed at Milton Keynes’ Holiday Inn Express, but feel free to choose from a good range of budget and luxury accommodation in and around the area. Once you’ve got the hang of the (actually very logical) boulevard-and-roundabout road network, it’s never a long drive to Bletchley and the home of GCHQ’s predecessor.

From period military cars and dispatch motorcycles, to the Colossus computer and Lorenz cipher machines that occupied Alan Turing and nearly 10,000 colleagues, the museum delights young and old alike. It’s so much more than just the Enigma story and plenty of interactive displays ensure engaging hands-on experiences.

My top tip? Take one of the guided tours while you’re there – they last about an hour and give a great overview before you explore on your own. And do check out Bletchley Park’s website for special events and exhibitions – as I write, a ‘D-Day: Interception, Intelligence, Invasion’ special is running until April 2029.

The best foodie secret in Milton Keynes?

Snacks and light meals are available at Bletchley Park, but after a busy day’s code-breaking, you’ll want more substantial refreshment. If you love pizza, don’t miss the ‘A Pizza This’ takeaway beside East Willen Lake – maybe one of the best-kept foodie secrets in Milton Keynes. It’s run by a lovely local couple from their converted VW campervan. Their mouth-watering pizzas were amazing, as was the delicious supper at the Cross Keys pub on Newport Road the following evening.

So there you have it, my tip for an intelligent November escape just a couple of hours’ drive from Gloucestershire. You should try it sometime!