Bletchley Park launches codebreaking fun with weekly puzzles in Milton Keynes

They are publishing crosswords, word searches and instructions for DIY code-making on their website.

In line with the current lockdown restrictions, the once-secret, World War Two intelligence centre, now a popular museum and heritage site, is currently closed to visitors .

But it is still sharing codebreaking fun with new activities added to its website every week.

New codebreaking themed crosswords are released every Friday, and people can win a family ticket to visit the park after lockdown if they manage to complete them all.

There are also word searches, which contain secret codewords for German Enigma messages.

There are activities to keep children amused, including a tutorial on how to make and their own Caesar wheel and devise a code to send messages to friends.

They can find out what role you could have played at Bletchley Park and cut out and colour uniforms of some of those who worked here during World War Two.

Bletchley Park is also a partner of Google’s Cultural Institute and there are online exhibitions ranging from ‘Bletchley Park and D-Day’ to ‘The Women of Bletchley Park’ and ‘Five facts you need to know about the Bombe machines’.

Meanwhile, more than 100 podcast episodes are also available anytime, taking listeners deeper into the story of the remarkable work that took place at the park during World War Two. New episodes are added monthly.

Rebecca Foy, Director of Public Engagement at Bletchley Park said: “We really hope these fun activities will help distract and entertain over the coming weeks. Whether you love crosswords or chilling out with a podcast, we have plenty to keep you occupied until we are able to safely reopen.”

You can view the activities here .

Bletchley Park was the home of British World War Two codebreaking and was a place where technological innovation and human endeavour came together to made ground-breaking achievements that have helped shape the world we live in today.

The unique site was previously a vast Victorian estate, where parts including the Mansion still survive, expanding during wartime to accommodate Codebreakers Huts and Blocks.

During World War Two, the Government Code and Cypher School (GC&CS), now known as the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), was based at Bletchley Park. It grew from a small team of specialists to a vast intelligence factory of thousands of dedicated women and men. This extraordinary combination of brilliant and determined people and cutting-edge technology contributed significantly to Allied victory.

In tough conditions, they provided vital intelligence and developed pioneering technological innovation that had a direct and profound influence on the outcome of the war.

The site continues to reveal secrets and tell fascinating stories of our national legacy.