If you think of a museum as a dull place, think again. The nearly new Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre in Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire, is an inspiration for young and old alike.
It’s truly hands-on: visitors can create their own film, invent crazy words and learn how Roald Dahl wrote his wonderful stories. It even has a mouse in a gobstopper jar.
We went with our friend Vanessa and her son Matthew. Matthew had a great time, and enjoyed sitting at a replica of Dahl’s writing desk.
Storytelling is timeless. Video games and the internet haven’t killed books, any more than radio and television did. Roald Dahl still captures the imagination, over 16 years after he died.
Our visit got me thinking about the books I read when I was growing up. One of my favourite authors was Malcolm Saville, whose Witchend books I loved. Most of Saville’s books were set around the dramatic Long Mynd in Shropshire. I liked the stories but the sense of place – especially as my aunt came from Shrewsbury – was a huge appeal. Another author I liked was Leon Garfield, although I found his books harder work. Finally, Arthur Ransome’s Swallows and Amazons were great fun.
Ertblog 
Given that I spent most of my childhood immersed in books it perhaps isn’t surprising my adult job involves words and communication. I too was an Arthur Ransome addict and must have read every book at least three times.
Stuart – I remember reading We Didn’t Mean to go to Sea with a mixture of excitement and terror. I loved the way Ransome described the way the children accidentally sailed across the North Sea, especially the near miss with the ferry.
I’d love to go there, we visited the Beatrix Potter Attraction in Ambleside a week or so ago (which I have blogged about!) and that was great, but one day I hope to make it to the Roald Dahl museum, it looks amazing. Thanks for the write-up!
Linda
Hope you do make it sometime – it’s in a lovely setting, although not as spectacular as Ambleside!