RAF Museum Midlands
Free aviation museum at Cosford with hangars of RAF aircraft, the National Cold War Exhibition and family experiences.
Få kun enkelte afsnit læst op
Om museet
The museum opened at RAF Cosford on 1 May 1979 and first displayed airframes that had been used for technical training at the station. It was known as the Aerospace Museum, became the RAF Museum Cosford in 1998 and was renamed RAF Museum Midlands in March 2022. It is the Midlands site of the Royal Air Force Museum, whose main site is in London.
The collection includes the Battle of Britain display, the world's oldest Spitfire, the only surviving Boulton Paul Defiant, a Wellington bomber and the V bombers Valiant, Vulcan and Victor. The National Cold War Exhibition opened in 2007 in a purpose-built hall and includes a piece of the Berlin Wall. The Michael Beetham Conservation Centre, which opened in 2002, restores aircraft for both museum sites.
Admission is free. Hangar 1 is currently closed as part of a development programme, which the museum says will reopen in summer 2027 with a new exhibition funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Højdepunkter
- Test Flight hangar with the Battle of Britain display, the oldest Spitfire and the only Defiant
- War in the Air hangar with the Bomber Command exhibition, a V-1, a V-2 and a restored Wellington
- National Cold War Exhibition with the V bombers and a piece of the Berlin Wall
- Flight Zone with simulators, VR experiences and a 4D Theatre
- Free entry and a free aviation-themed outdoor playground
Permanente udstillinger
- Test Flight – Aircraft from 1914 to 1986, including the Battle of Britain display, the world's oldest Spitfire, the only surviving Defiant and virtual experiences.
- War in the Air – British and German aircraft of 1939 to 1945, with the Bomber Command exhibition, a V-1, a V-2 and a restored Wellington bomber.
- National Cold War Exhibition – The threat to world peace from 1946 to 1991, with the V bombers Valiant, Vulcan and Victor and a piece of the Berlin Wall.
- Grundlagt
- 1979
- Ejer
- Royal Air Force Museum
Entrépriser & rabatter
Der er gratis entré.
Admission to all areas is free and donations are welcome; free tickets can be booked in advance and booking is recommended. Parking is charged (see Arrival). Some experiences such as simulators and the 4D Theatre are listed on the What's On page.
Tilgængelighed
- Kørestolsvenlig
- Elevator
- Handicaptoilet
- Handicapparkering
- Servicehunde tilladt
- Taktile tilbud
- Rundvisninger på tegnsprog: ingen oplysninger
- Letlæste tilbud: ingen oplysninger
- Synstolkning: ingen oplysninger
The site has step-free access, and the hangars have wide aisles for wheelchairs and pushchairs, lifts to upper levels and seating. A limited number of manual wheelchairs and motor scooters can be borrowed free of charge on a first-come basis, and mobility scooters are welcome. Large-print guides are available for Hangar 6 and the Battle of Britain exhibition (the Hangar 1 guide will apply again once that hangar reopens), all films have subtitles, audio handsets have an integrated hearing loop, and many exhibitions include tactile models. Quiet rooms are available throughout the museum, there is a Changing Places toilet in the visitor centre, and the museum is an accredited Dementia Friendly venue. Only assistance dogs are allowed inside buildings. There is designated disabled parking near the entrance. Cosford railway station has steps from both platforms.
Børn og familie
Velegnet til børn og familier
- Familieomvisninger & workshops
- Interaktive stationer
- Barnevognsvenlig
- Puslerum
- Legeplads / legehjørne
There is a free aviation-themed outdoor playground with a mock control tower, mini hangar and aircraft to climb on, a life-size Spitfire cockpit replica for photos, and a Flight Zone with VR experiences, simulators and a 4D Theatre. Baby changing is in the visitor centre and in all hangars, and picnics are welcome in the outdoor areas.
Transport & parkering
Med offentlig transport
Cosford railway station
Cosford railway station is on the Birmingham to Shrewsbury line (via Wolverhampton) and is a ½ mile walk from the museum, but there is no footpath alongside the road. The nearest bus stop is Cosford Garage, about 1 mile from the museum gates.
I bil
Betalingsparkering
Parking costs £7.50 per car for up to 7 hours and £7.50 for motorcycles all day, and applies to Blue Badge holders too; the first 30 minutes are free (drop-off), then a minimum 3-hour charge applies. Coaches park free if booked in advance.
- Handicapparkering
From the south leave the M6 at junction 10a, from the north at junction 12 and follow the A5 west; the museum is 30 minutes from central Birmingham and 10 minutes from Telford. Use sat nav postcode WV7 3EU. Visitors can also fly into Cosford Airfield by prior arrangement with RAF Air Traffic Control.
Planlæg ruteService & spisesteder
- Café
- Museumsbutik
- Wi-fi
Free Wi-Fi is available. The Airfield Kitchen in the visitor centre serves breakfast, lunch and children's meals, and The Checkpoint in the National Cold War Exhibition serves sandwiches, cakes and soft drinks. There is a museum shop.
Arrangementer & udlejning
- Lokaler til leje
- Private fester
- Firmaarrangementer
Spaces in the museum are offered for conferences, banqueting, celebrations, corporate events, filming and photography; enquiries on 01902 376207 or eventsmidlands@rafmuseum.com.
Forespørgsel & detaljerPlanlæg dit besøg
| Rundvisninger | ja |
|---|---|
| Audioguide | ja |
| Tilbud til skoler | ja |
| Godt at vide | Tours such as the Battle of Britain, Bomber Command and National Cold War Exhibition tours and experiences such as a Spitfire cockpit and VR paragliding are listed on the What's On page. The RAF Museum Guide gives information on exhibits through a web address shown on signs. Group visits and school visits can be booked. |
