International Bomber Command Centre

Over het museum

The International Bomber Command Centre grew out of a trust formed in 2009 by the then Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire, Tony Worth, to create a memorial to the people who served in and supported RAF Bomber Command and to recognise Lincolnshire's part in the Second World War. Its aim is recognition, remembrance and reconciliation, and it tells the stories of everyone affected, including civilians in the countries that were bombed. More than 500 volunteers helped to build it.

The site stands on Canwick Hill above Lincoln, facing the cathedral. The Memorial Spire, a 102-foot tower in weathering steel whose height matches the wingspan of an Avro Lancaster, was unveiled in October 2015. The main visitor centre, the Chadwick Centre, opened in January 2018. It is named after Roy Chadwick, designer of the Lancaster. Tony Worth died in November 2017, just weeks before the opening.

Today the centre holds three exhibition galleries (Operation Bomber Command, Home Fronts and Remembering Bomber Command) that use interviews with veterans, ground crew and civilians, interactive displays and immersive exhibits. Outside, the Walls of Names carry the names of almost 58,000 people who died serving with Bomber Command, and two Peace Gardens, a kitchen garden and a jubilee grove cover about 10 acres. With the University of Lincoln the centre has also built a free digital archive and a losses database. The centre is run by the Lincolnshire Bomber Command Memorial charity.

Hoogtepunten

• Memorial Spire, 102 feet high like the wingspan of a Lancaster
• Walls of Names with almost 58,000 names
• Three exhibition galleries with veteran testimony and interactive displays
• Lincolnshire and International Peace Gardens
• Free guided tours of the gardens, Spire and Walls
• Hub Café with Lincolnshire produce

Vaste collectie

• Operation Bomber Command – A gallery on what it was like to serve in Bomber Command and to take part in a bombing operation, with many audio exhibits and a large screen presentation.
• Home Fronts – A gallery on civilians who built the aircraft and on people affected by the raids and by the arrival of thousands of service personnel.
• Remembering Bomber Command – A gallery on the struggle for recognition of those who served and on the legacy of the Command.

Opgericht

2018

Beheerder

Lincolnshire Bomber Command Memorial (charity)

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

Entry to the Peace Gardens, Memorial Spire and Walls of Names is free; the charge is only for the exhibition. A day pass costs the same as an annual pass, which gives unlimited exhibition entry for a year. Advance tickets can be bought up to 24 hours before the visit. Parking costs £3 per car per day and is not included in tickets; it supports free access to the gardens and memorial. Prices shown are the advance online prices.

Toegankelijkheid

• Rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift
• Aangepast toilet
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

The centre is designed for visitors of all abilities. There are two lifts, accessible toilets on both floors and a Changing Places facility. Free loan wheelchairs can be booked by phone or email. There is a hearing loop throughout the building and at the reception counter and café; introductory films and many interactive displays have subtitles, and a large print guide is available. Disabled parking bays and a drop-off point are at the front door. The two pedestrian entrances from the Viking Way and Canwick Hill have low steps. Staff are trained in dementia and autism awareness. The Operation Bomber Command Gallery has many audio exhibits and a large screen with some low-level flashing images, so ear protection may help visitors sensitive to noise. Sensory planting is in the gardens, and a detailed AccessAble guide is available.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Speurtocht, doeboekje of kinderaudiotour
• Doe- en voelstations
• Verschoonruimte

Family fun sheets, gallery trails, a dressing-up station and book stations are available, and free family fun days run in school holidays and at events. Under 5s are free, and family tickets are sold. The café has a children's menu and high chairs, and baby changing facilities are provided. Learning staff can offer pre-booked handling sessions with original artefacts.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

The sat nav postcode is LN4 2HQ. The site is entered from Canwick Avenue (B1131), opposite a Premier Inn and a Beefeater restaurant. Walking from the city centre takes 20 to 30 minutes; the Viking Way gate is off a slope that can be slippery when wet and is closed from November to February. A taxi from the Transport Hub costs about £5. Cycle racks are at the front of the building.

Service & horeca

• Café
• Museumwinkel

The Hub Café serves breakfast, lunch, Sunday roasts and afternoon tea, with gluten free and vegan options, and is licensed. A shop sells souvenirs, books, models and gifts. Dogs are welcome on the site except in the exhibition.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

• Ruimtes te huur
• Privéfeesten
• Zakelijke evenementen
• Bruiloften / trouwceremonies

Meeting, dining and reception spaces with catering and audio-visual equipment; the centre is licensed for weddings.

Je bezoek plannen