Greenham Control Tower and Cafe — Attraction in Greenham

Greenham Common,Thatcham,Berksire,England.

Greenham and Crookham Commons form the largest continuous tract of open heath in Berkshire at Burys Bank Road,Thatcham RG19 8DB (nearest to Control Tower car park) It is special site for the mix of purple and pink heathers and golden yellow gorse, wildflower-filled grasslands and expanses of bare gravels - all easily accessible to visitors.This is the largest single area of lowland rare heathland remaining in Berks, Bucks and Oxon, and since 2014, BBOWT has been managing the Commons on behalf of West Berkshire Council; working to protect this site for everyone to enjoy. Best time to visit is all year round preferably the early morning for Nature watch, and, daytime for else. Grazing animals Exmoor ponies and cattle can be easily seen around. Britain’s rarest ground-nesting birds, including nightjar, woodlark and lapwing can be sighted March to September. Greenham Common is host to a late-summer wildlife spectacle as hundreds of autumn lady's-tresses orchids flower. This heathland habitat is ideal for certain species of birds because of its open nature, with just a few scattered trees and bushes for them to use as singing posts or look out points. It is also relatively warm and dry and has an abundant food source in the form of invertebrates. You may be lucky enough to hear the rich and varied song of a nightingale, or the warbling call of a skylark high in the sky In summer, the heath comes alive with over 30 species of butterflies including the small blue and the expertly camouflaged grayling. They are joined by dazzling displays from damselflies and dragonflies, all set to the unmistakable music of grasshoppers and crickets. There is a café on the site run by Greenham Common Control Tower. The heathland is on top of a flat gravel plateau laid down at the end of the last ice age, and since then its use has been many varied, feeding pre-historic hunter/gatherers, used as common land by farmers, and later gaining significance as a military air base.

General Eisenhower watched some of the 10,000 sorties flown during D-Day from the nearby Greenham Manor. At the start of the 1980's, nuclear cruise missiles were stored at the base. The demonstrations against these made regular headline news and galvanised the start of the Peace Women movement in 1981. One mass protest called 'Embrace the Base' saw over 20,000 women joining hands around the perimeter of the airbase.

After decades of military occupation the Commons were officially reopened for public use on 8 April 2000, thanks to a partnership between the Greenham Common Community Trust and the then Newbury District Council (now West Berkshire Council).

Greenham Control Tower opened its doors in Summer 2018 as a visitor centre and community hub, with the aim to preserve and share the historical legacy of one of the few remaining airfield buildings. It now shares the story of Greenham Common whilst supporting and cooperating with local organisations for the benefit of the whole community. I am sharing herewith some pictures which I clicked during my two visits to the Common. Pictures with descriptions may be...

A Must-Visit for Any Gen X Cold War Veteran

For anyone who grew up in the shadow of the Cold War—especially Generation X—this site is an essential visit. I recently had the chance to return and explore the control tower, central runway, and the GAMA (Ground-Launched Cruise Missile Alert and Maintenance Area) site on the common. It was nothing short of impressive, steeped in history and atmosphere. These locations offer a powerful glimpse into a pivotal era and stand as an important legacy for future generations to witness and reflect on.

My personal connection goes back to 1983, when I attended the International Air Tattoo (IAT). That visit left a deep impression that has stayed with me for over 40 years. Walking those grounds again brought back vivid memories, but also offered new insight into the scale and seriousness of that time.

The staff at the control tower were incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, more than willing to answer any questions and share deeper stories behind the displays. Downstairs, the cafeteria is not just a place to grab a bite—it’s filled with historical photos, artifacts, and conversation. It felt like stepping into a living museum.

Whether you’re a Cold War veteran, an aviation enthusiast, or simply curious about this intense chapter of modern history, this site is a must-do. It’s both a personal journey and a public tribute...

Having visited the site before prior to it being open for visitors in the tower, I had always thought it would have been a wonderful use of the building to see it open to the public and the reality is even better than I could have imagined. Free to enter, I found the facilities brilliant, the exhibits detailed and thought provoking. Volunteers were on hand to provide detailed knowledge of the stories of Greenham Common, both during WW2 and also latterly in the Cold War role of which it is more famed. There are quite a good few photos and explanations what various parts of the landscape are. Indeed there is actually more recognisable features than I had previously thought! Whilst the runway is long gone, standing in the control tower (now an observation deck provided with free to use binoculars) it is easy to visualise where everything was.

We then sat down outside with a coffee and a wonderful couple of slices of cake.

I am so impressed by this exhibit and cafe that I will definitely be returning when I am next in the area (it's over 170 miles...