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RAF MUSEUM-LONDON-UK

London other attractions and things to do

(Image credit-Clemens Vasters from Viersen, Germany, Germany, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

ADMISSION IS FREE

Prebook the ticket.

OPENING TIMES: Daily open 10.00am – 5.00pm.

HOW TO REACH:

ADDRESS: RAF Museum London, Grahame Park Way, London, NW9 5LL.

NEAREST TUBE STATIONS: The Museum is situated near by Colindale Underground Station on the Edgware branch of the Northern Line.

BUS: Route 303 passes the entrance to the Museum

FACILITIES

  1. Perfect for picnicking – There is an outdoor picnic area near the playground to the rear of Building 51, and an indoor area is located at the entrance to Aeronauts in Hangar 3.
  2. A new themed outdoor play area for under 11s
  3. Restaurant: Hendon Kitchen and The Sunderland Café (Hangar 1)
  4. A packed programme of family activities and events for all ages
  5. Public toilets
  6. Baby changing area
  7. Cloakroom: a payable cloakroom available with lockers
  8. Quiet room
  9. Museum map: check out online

TIPS

  • Though admission is free it is good to PREBOOK THE TICKET.
  • Use the 4D Simulators: 4D Theatre- The Red Arrows, B-17: The Mission, Ravine Race (Tickets to the Museum’s 4D Theatre may be purchased from the 4D Theatre, H3/ BOOK ONLINE)
  • Use an opportunity to sit in a Spit (charges apply): Climb inside a Spitfire Mk XVI and take the pilot’s seat to discover what it was like to fly this iconic aircraft. 11.00am – 4.00pm daily. BOOK TICKET

THINGS YOU SHOULD NOT MISS.

  • HANGAR 1 – RAF STORIES; THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS 1918-2018

(Image credit-Nick-D, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
SHORT SUNDERLAND

It is an is an ideal place to start your visit. You can find the stories of RAF formation in 1918 and explore the first 100 years of its journey. RAF is the world’s first independent air force. A lot of objects on display from log books, hidden maps, survival rations and mascots alongside aircraft, vehicles and boats from the RAF’s first century. There are lots of model planes that the kids can explore and climb into, with a lot of photo opportunities.

  • HANGAR 2 – THE FIRST WORLD WAR

(Image credit-Irid Escent, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

In Hangar 2 you can explores the vital work of the service men and women during the time of First world war (1914-1918). 11 years after the first powered flight, aviation emerged as a vital part of winning the First World War. There are personal artefacts including medals, letters and uniforms. Also, the finest collection of First World War aircrafts. It is amazing to see how far the modern aircrafts have advanced.  You can only appreciate it after seeing the planes 100 years ago which were basically just wood and fabric. The didn’t even have proper flight suits.

  • HANGARS 3, 4 & 5; WAR IN THE AIR

(Image credit-Roland Turner from Birmingham, Great Britain, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
Fiat CR42 Falco

These three Hangers are interconnected and you can explore the period from 1918-1980 of RAF’s journey. It is a wonderful opportunity for everyone to get really close to the aeroplanes and helicopters as most of them are displayed on the ground unlike in Hangar 2. There is an opportunity to see inside of the cockpits of some of them.

The Battle of Britain: During the Battle of Britain in 1940, ‘Their Finest Hour’, the world realized the important role of fighter pilots.  Britain successfully demonstrated to the world that with fine Airforce you can get supremacy in the battle by repelling the German Luftwaffe. Even though in   that two-week period, Britian lost its 295 Hurricane and Spitfire planes and 231 pilots were killed, Hitler lost his 2,600 Luftwaffe aircrew and ended up postponing his invasion plans to Britain.

Explore the ‘Fighter Four’ in Hangar 3– Discover Britain’s Supermarine Spitfire Mk 1A, Hawker Hurricane Mk 1, Messerschmitt Bf109E-4/B ‘Emil’, Fiat CR42 Falco (Falcon) that all took part in the Battle of Britain.

(Image credit-Alan Wilson from Peterborough, Cambs, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
Supermarine Spitfire

In Hanger 4 you can see the early auto-giros to the modern helicopters. The collection includes the Westland Belvedere HC Mk 1 H4 which was the RAF’s first twin-engine, twin-rotor helicopter.

(Image credit- :Hugh Llewelyn from Keynsham, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Common)
Westland Belvedere HC Mk 1 H4

In Hangar 5, don’t miss the versatile plane ‘Mossie’ (de Havilland Mosquito). It is nicknamed as ‘The Wooden Wonder’ as its airframe was constructed mostly of wood. This was used by the Pathfinder Force to mark targets in Germany and Europe to carried out the bombing campaign.

(Image credit-Daniel Perez Sutil, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
de Havilland Mosquito (The wooden wonder)

The Lancaster was the most famous and successful heavy bomber used by Bomber Command. It also displayed in Hangar 5. Here you can explore the story of the Dam Buster’s raid. On the night of 16/17 May 1943 an attack on German dams carried out by the RAF Bomber Command to destroy their hydroelectric power and water supply. A special kind of bomb, called bouncing bombs, was developed by Barnes Wallis to achieve this mission. Avro Lancaster planes were used for this mission. 133 young men who set out on that mission in which 53 died in the attack and three became prisoners of war.

(Image credit:Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons)
Avro Lancaster Bomber

  • HANGAR 6 – THE RAF IN AN AGE OF UNCERTAINTY (1980 – PRESENT DAY)

(Image credit- Nick-D, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Here you can see the latest and very exciting aeroplanes. Though it is the smallest hangar, it has got some pretty cool kit in it with lots of interactive displays. You can climb up to see the cockpits of some of the planes.

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