Royal Air Force Museum London
- Military history enthusiasts
- Transport enthusiasts
- Families with children
What Visitors Say
As a huge aviation and military history enthusiast, I absolutely loved this museum. Growing up, I spent countless hours playing IL-2 Sturmovik, so seeing many of these legendary aircraft in real life and at their actual size was an incredible experience. The collection is impressive, beautifully presented, and gives you a real appreciation for aviation history. I highly recommend visiting, even if you're only casually interested in aircraft. And the fact that admission is free makes it even more amazing. ✈️
Free Entry. Easily you can walk in. You can travel by here bus and the few minutes of walk. There are 6 dome/ H1-H6. Each has unique and amazing aircrafts. This is must visit place for those who loves aircrafts, those who loves WW1 & WW2 stories. There are a plenty of original aircrafts from 1900-1960 are stored in domes with written histories and stories of that time. I strongly recommend to visit this Royal Airforce Museum.
Whether you are a hardcore aviation enthusiast or just looking for a fantastic family day out, the Royal Air Force Museum is an absolute must-visit. For Adults: The historical depth of this museum is incredible. It houses a breathtaking collection of rare and unique exhibits that you simply cannot see anywhere else in the world. Walking among legends like the iconic Supermarine Spitfire, the massive Avro Lancaster bomber, and the sleek Eurofighter Typhoon feels surreal. A major highlight is the Avro Vulcan — standing beneath its colossal delta wing is a truly humbling experience. The exhibits are beautifully curated, offering moving personal stories of RAF personnel, technical insights, and a deep dive into geopolitical history. For Kids: This place is a paradise for children! It is incredibly family-friendly and far from a boring, "don't touch anything" museum. There are tons of interactive displays, flight simulators, and hands-on activities that keep kids engaged for hours. They can sit in real cockpits, experiment with the physics of flight, and burn off energy at the fantastic outdoor themed playground. Overall Experience: The hangars are spacious, clean, and well-organized. The staff and volunteers are exceptionally passionate, friendly, and always ready to share fascinating anecdotes. With great cafes on-site, excellent facilities, and free admission (you only pay for parking/simulators), it offers unbeatable value. An inspiring, educational, and thrilling experience for all generations! Highly recommended.
An incredible, massive collection—absolutely a must-visit if you have any interest in aviation or history! The museum is huge, featuring 6 massive hangars that are divided by era, taking you on a journey from the very old generations of aircraft right up to the newest modern jets. Beyond just looking at the planes, they do a brilliant job sharing the real stories, missions, and operations behind them. As a long-time reader of Safari magazine, I grew up reading World War stories, and walking through these hangars felt like seeing those pages completely come to life. A few practical tips if you're planning a trip: • Give yourself time: Even if you aren't diving deep into every single detail or reading every plaque, it will still take you nearly 4 hours just to walk through and see it all. The collection is just that vast. • Timing: I highly recommend arriving about 30 minutes after opening time. It helps you get a smooth start to the day so you can cover as much ground as possible. • Amenities: There’s great outdoor seating arrangements if you need a break, a good merchandise shop for souvenirs, and they also have a restaurant on-site (though we didn't end up visiting it). Overall, a fantastic experience. Highly recommended!
Lovely museum and a brilliant day out with the kid! The collection of aircraft across the different hangars is stunning, and the exhibits are incredibly well-curated. It’s highly interactive and wonderfully educational for kids. The staff are friendly, the facilities are excellent, and more importantly it’s free admission. If you are going with kids, highly recommend to book the Aeroplay slot online ahead of time as it gets sold out quickly. We carried our lunch and had lots of seating next to the Aeroplay area to have it. Highly recommend!
Highlights
Lancaster “S-Sugar”
Most-flown RAF LancasterAvro Lancaster R5868 - code ‘S for Sugar’ - survived 137 sorties with Bomber Command, a remarkable wartime record.
Main WWII hangar
Spitfire & Hurricane
Icons of 1940See the RAF’s classic duo side-by-side and trace how each airframe evolved through the war years.
Battle of Britain displays
Grahame-White Factory
1917 aircraft worksStep inside an original WWI factory at Hendon - London’s pioneering aerodrome since 1911 - where early aircraft were built and tested.
Historic building, site edge
Jet Age Line-up
From propellers to afterburnersTrack post-war innovation through British jets and trainers that transformed RAF flying after 1945.
Cold War/jet hangars
Hendon Heritage
Birthplace of London aviationHendon staged air races and Britain’s first aerial derby in 1912 - crowds of hundreds of thousands watched from these fields.
Site trail & panels
Opening Hours
Fun Facts
The museum opened in 1972 on the former Hendon Aerodrome - a civil airfield first laid out in 1911.
Avro Lancaster R5868 ‘S for Sugar’ flew 137 operations in WWII, making it one of Bomber Command’s most active survivors.
Entry is free and the London site sits a short walk from Colindale Underground (Northern line).
Hendon hosted the Aerial Derby from 1912, with air displays drawing crowds estimated at 500,000.
Across its sites, the RAF Museum displays scores of aircraft from early biplanes to modern jets in climate-controlled hangars.
