RAF Upper Heyford Heritage Centre
Free heritage centre on a former RAF and USAF airbase in Oxfordshire, with Cold War displays and guided tours of shelters and bunkers.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
RAF Upper Heyford opened as a flying station in 1918, closed soon after the First World War and was brought back into use in the late 1920s. During the Second World War it trained bomber crews, and in 1950 the US Air Force took over the site. For more than forty years it was a front-line base of the Cold War, first for rotating strategic bomber deployments and later for tactical fighter and reconnaissance units, including F-111 aircraft from 1970.
The airbase was handed back to the Ministry of Defence in 1994 and much of it is now being redeveloped as the Heyford Park community. The heritage centre was set up by a not-for-profit company to keep the story of the base alive. Its exhibitions follow the site from the first airman to land there through to the Cold War years and the role it played in the nuclear deterrent of NATO.
The centre also serves as the starting point for guided airbase tours run by volunteers, some of them former personnel. Visitors are taken by minibus and on foot to places such as a hardened aircraft shelter, the Battle Command Centre and the weapons storage area, which are otherwise closed to the public.
Highlights
- Exhibitions on the history of the airbase from its first landing to the Cold War
- Guided airbase tours with volunteer guides, some of them former personnel
- Hardened aircraft shelter, Battle Command Centre and weapons storage area on the tour
- Free entry and free on-site parking
- Quiz trails and colouring sheets for children
Permanent exhibition
- The story of RAF Upper Heyford – Displays tracing the airbase from the first airman to land there through the Second World War to its Cold War role in the nuclear deterrent of NATO.
- Founded
- 2019
- Operated by
- Upper Heyford Heritage (not-for-profit company)
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
| Children & teens | –Under-16s must be accompanied by an adult. |
|---|---|
| Groups | –Private visits can be arranged for schools, colleges, veterans' groups and special interest groups. |
| Guided airbase tour (about 3 hours) | £25Booking required; price per person. |
The exhibitions in the heritage centre are free. Only the guided airbase tours are charged.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The exhibitions and the toilets are wheelchair accessible, and Blue Badge parking is close to the entrance. The airbase tour involves moderate walking, mostly step-free but outdoors on uneven ground. Visitors with specific access needs or a support animal should contact the centre before visiting.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Playground / play area
Free history quiz trails, colouring sheets and a toy area are available. The airbase tour has no age limit, but involves a lot of standing and listening, so its suitability for young children should be considered.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Heyford station · 20-min walk
Heyford railway station, local bus services between Bicester, Banbury and Upper Heyford (check current timetables).
By car
Free parking
Free on-site parking for visitors and coaches, next to the heritage centre.
- Accessible parking
By car, leave the M40 at junction 9 or 10 and follow the signs to Upper Heyford / Heyford Park. Heyford station is about 5 minutes by taxi; Bicester North and Bicester Village stations are about 15 minutes by car.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
Toilets are available in the heritage centre. No toilets or catering are available during the airbase tour, so visitors should bring their own refreshments.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 3 hrs |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Allowed in most areas under the centre's photography permit guidelines; some vehicle storage areas are restricted. |
| Good to know | Airbase tours are guided by volunteers and must be booked in advance; the vehicle registration is needed when booking. The tour starts with admin sign-in from 9:30 and a short introductory film, then a minibus takes the group around the site. Sturdy footwear and weather-appropriate clothing are recommended. |
