Climb inside the iconic Chieftain tank and learn about Cold War history with guided tours and hands-on object handling.
Book a 15 minute tour in the Chieftain tank – the British Main Battle Tank during the Cold War. You’ll be getting inside the turret, learning where each crew member would have sat, and seeing what it would have been like to serve inside an armoured vehicle.
With only four people permitted per slot, our expert educators will be able to answer any questions you have about life inside a tank – from how to load the gun, how to make tea, and where to go to the toilet.
Key Details
- 11 December & 14 December 2025.
- Guided tours and hands-on-object handling.
- 15 minute Chieftain tour slots available to book between 1100 and 1300.
- Pre-booking of Chieftain tour essential.
- Tank Museum entry ticket, Annual Pass or membership card required in addition to tour booking. Entry tickets can be purchased online to save 10% or on arrival at The Tank Museum.
Important Information – Read Before Booking
Arrive 5 minutes before your slot for a short safety brief.
Visitors need to be 1.25m tall or over for this tour.
Children under 16 will need to be accompanied by an adult inside the vehicle.
The space is small and not advised for anyone who suffers with claustrophobia.
Visitors will need to be able to enter/exit the vehicle unaided.
Wear sensible footwear and clothing. No high heels or flipflops. Bear in mind if you are planning on wearing a dress/skirt, you’ll be entering the tank through the turret and there may be other members of the public/Museum staff already inside the vehicle. Please wear something you are comfortable being seen in from below.
Mobile phones are permitted inside but at the owner’s risk. Due to the machinery inside, we can’t always retrieve them if they drop out of your pocket.
Further information on tours and hands-on-object handling will be available at the Information Point.
Chieftain Tour
Just four spaces available each tour.
