Bournemouth Aviation Museum

About the museum

The museum opened in May 1998 as the Jet Heritage Museum in the Heritage Hangar at Bournemouth Airport. Visitors could watch work on the company's collection of fighter jets, which had been built up since 1980, and use an outdoor viewing area over the airfield. In August 1999 it was renamed Bournemouth Aviation Museum, but the operating company went into liquidation a few months later. The charitable trust survived and carried on as a volunteer-run museum.

In December 2007 the airport owners said they could not renew the hangar lease or offer another site because of a planned airport expansion. In autumn 2008 the museum moved to its present site on Merritown Lane, next to the Adventure Wonderland leisure park and just across the main road from the airport's taxiway, which can be seen from viewing platforms. The new site was smaller, so some larger exhibits, including the BAC One-Eleven and the Herald, did not make the move.

The museum is a self-funding charity with no state support. It depends on admission fees, shop sales and donations, and all its staff are volunteers. The collection covers both civil and military aircraft, together with other items such as an airport control tower, a fire engine and a double-decker bus. New exhibits have been added since the move, for example a Jet Provost trainer and a small Cri-Cri aircraft.

Highlights

• Avro Vulcan and Handley Page Victor V-bombers
• English Electric Lightning, Hawker Hunter and Gloster Meteor jets
• Boeing 737, Vickers Viscount and BAe 125 airliners
• Cockpits that visitors can sit in on most aircraft
• Viewing platforms over the airport taxiway

Permanent exhibitions

• Civil and military aircraft – Jets, bombers, airliners and light aircraft, including the Avro Vulcan, Handley Page Victor, English Electric Lightning and Boeing 737, with cockpits open to visitors.
• Airport ground equipment – A mobile control tower, an airport rapid-intervention fire vehicle and a double-decker bus complete the collection.

Founded

1998

Operated by

Bournemouth Aviation Charitable Foundation

Admission & discounts

Schools pay £5 per child and teachers and teaching assistants enter free. For a party of 10 or more the birthday rate is £8 per adult and £3 per child, and the birthday child is free. Payment is made at the shop.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

A designated accessible toilet is in the main public area. Only guide dogs are allowed inside. For detailed access information, visitors are asked to contact the museum by email.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Hands-on stations
• Kids’ birthday parties

The museum is aimed at all ages, and visitors can sit in the cockpits of most aircraft. Birthday parties are hosted without set packages: families can bring their own food, drink and decorations, use picnic tables and have access to hot and cold water. Normal admission applies, with a group rate for parties of 10 or more.

Getting there & parking

The museum stands on Merritown Lane at the B3073 near Hurn, on the same site as Adventure Wonderland and across the road from the airport's taxiway.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

The shop sells aviation gifts and memorabilia, and a limited choice of ice cream, snacks and drinks. Picnic tables are available, some under cover.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit