Bletchley Park is a very famous place, and we were excited to visit it. One of the most interesting things we learnt was that the first computer was made there. It was one of the most amazing facts we discovered during our trip.

When we arrived, we took part in an activity where there was a map on a screen. We had to decode six different messages to create a master plan. One of the instructions we had to follow was, “find a clear path.” This activity helped us understand what it might have been like working at Bletchley Park during the war.

We also had a guided tour, where some of us got to play different characters. This was super fun and made the experience feel more real. After that, we had some free time to explore the site. We visited the AI area, where there was a screen that asked us to say three sentences. Then it played our voices back using AI, making it sound like we were speaking in different countries such as China and Germany.

Another interesting part of the visit was learning about the secrecy of Bletchley Park. There were small telephones we could use to listen to what people who worked there had said. At the time, most people did not know what was happening there. However, people who lived nearby thought something strange was going on because there were army vehicles coming in and out, and guards were watching the gates day and night.

We also learnt that two people died trying to save a Morse code book so that Bletchley Park could continue to decode messages. The book is still kept there today.

During our visit, we were given a clipboard with a top-secret booklet. It contained questions and challenges that we had to complete in different areas around Bletchley Park, which made exploring even more exciting.

Our highlights of the day were visiting Hut 6, where people used to translate and write Morse-coded messages, and learning about the history and story of Bletchley Park.

Overall, it was an absolute privilege to visit, and we would 100% recommend it!

By Austin J and Louie B, 6RS