Visitor to London wants to see planes
Discussion
Duxford and The Shuttleworth Collection both seconded. Love Shuttleworth because it is so small and informal, but Duxford is excellent too, especially the smaller, non-display, hangars in which all sorts of unusual stuff is being restored, maintained or repaired at any time.
Not that much in London itself if they've already done Hendon, but the Science Museum in Kensington has some nice stuff, including the surviving Schnieder Trophy winning Supermarine S6B - which is not exactly WW2, but widely held to be the Spitfire's direct ancestor, of course. Still a lovely thing, however you see it.
They've also got a Vickers Vimy (replica, I think - can't remember), which is not WW2, but is very cool indeed.
Not that much in London itself if they've already done Hendon, but the Science Museum in Kensington has some nice stuff, including the surviving Schnieder Trophy winning Supermarine S6B - which is not exactly WW2, but widely held to be the Spitfire's direct ancestor, of course. Still a lovely thing, however you see it.
They've also got a Vickers Vimy (replica, I think - can't remember), which is not WW2, but is very cool indeed.
Seconded for brooklands. You can almost hear the ghosts...
If in central London, the science museum in South Kensington has a large spitfire cutaway amongst others, and is free
There is also the little known De Havilland museum http://www.dehavillandmuseum.co.uk/
which is inside the M25 (just) to the north of London.
The closest BoB airfields are Biggin Hill and North Weald, but not that much from WW2 survives which you can easily access. Sadly, very few BoB ers airfields still exist in anything like their 1940 state. Most in kent are housing estataes now.
If in central London, the science museum in South Kensington has a large spitfire cutaway amongst others, and is free
There is also the little known De Havilland museum http://www.dehavillandmuseum.co.uk/
which is inside the M25 (just) to the north of London.
The closest BoB airfields are Biggin Hill and North Weald, but not that much from WW2 survives which you can easily access. Sadly, very few BoB ers airfields still exist in anything like their 1940 state. Most in kent are housing estataes now.
williamp said:
There is also the little known De Havilland museum http://www.dehavillandmuseum.co.uk/ which is inside the M25 (just) to the north of London.
Thanks for the reminder about the De Havilland museum, Williamp, it is about 10 mins drive from me, and I keep meaning, and forgetting, to go... Just re-opened for the season, too, I see from the website.
nsa said:
Per title, a friend of mine is in London this weekend and wants to see planes, especially WWII. He's done Hendon and the Imperial War Museum, and has Duxford and the Fleet Air Arm on his list. Are there any other must-dos in London?
Although it's not in or near London (nor is the FAA museum though) there is a scale model show at Cosford this Sunday - I'm going, the models are displayed around the main exhibits so it's a bit of a bonus:http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/cosford/whatson/this_m...
dr_gn said:
nsa said:
Per title, a friend of mine is in London this weekend and wants to see planes, especially WWII. He's done Hendon and the Imperial War Museum, and has Duxford and the Fleet Air Arm on his list. Are there any other must-dos in London?
Although it's not in or near London (nor is the FAA museum though) there is a scale model show at Cosford this Sunday - I'm going, the models are displayed around the main exhibits so it's a bit of a bonus:http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/cosford/whatson/this_m...
Any idea of a start-finish time G?
I might be able to get an afternoon pass for this
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