Over het museum
The Royal Air Force Museum London stands on the site of Hendon Aerodrome, which Claude Grahame-White bought in 1911 and developed into one of the first civilian airfields in Britain. The Royal Air Force used the airfield in both world wars, and the last fixed-wing aircraft landed there in 1968. RAF Hendon closed in 1987, and the runways were later removed and the land used for housing.
The museum was opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 15 November 1972, with 36 aircraft on display in the historic hangars. The Battle of Britain Hall followed in 1978. The Grahame-White Factory, now Hangar 2, was preserved and today tells the story of early flight and the First World War in the air. In 2018, for the centenary of the Royal Air Force, Hangar 1 was fitted out with new displays on the history of the service and its present and future.
The collection now contains well over 100 aircraft, including the Avro Lancaster S-Sugar, the only complete Hawker Typhoon, helicopters, seaplanes and Cold War jets, together with engines, weapons, uniforms, documents and art. The museum is a national museum and a charity, entry is free, and it also offers a soft play centre and a playground for children.
Hoogtepunten
- Avro Lancaster S-Sugar and other bombers in the historic hangars
- The only complete Hawker Typhoon
- RAF Stories: The First 100 Years in Hangar 1
- The First World War in the Air in the Grahame-White Factory
- Free outdoor playground and AeroPlay! indoor soft play
Vaste collectie
- RAF Stories: The First 100 Years – Hangar 1 covers the first century of the Royal Air Force through objects, film and games, and visitors can look inside a Sunderland flying boat.
- The First World War in the Air – The Grahame-White Factory in Hangar 2 follows early flight at Hendon through the First World War to the formation of the RAF in 1918.
- War in the Air 1918-1980 – The historic hangars show bombers, seaplanes, trainers and helicopters, with the Battle of Britain story and exhibitions on Bomber Command and the RAF between the wars.
- Opgericht
- 1972
- Beheerder
- Royal Air Force Museum
- Bezoekers per jaar
- ca. 431.037 (2025)
Toegangsprijzen & kortingen
De toegang is gratis.
| Battle of Britain Cockpit Experience | £ 32 |
|---|---|
| Battle of Britain Fighter Four Tour | £ 12 |
| AeroPlay! indoor soft play | £ 1,75Lowest advertised price; the price depends on the child's age and on peak or off-peak times. |
Admission to all areas of the museum is free and donations are welcome. Free tickets should be booked in advance on the museum's website. The 4D Theatre Experience is temporarily closed for refurbishment.
Toegankelijkheid
- Rolstoeltoegankelijk
- Lift
- Aangepast toilet
- Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats
- Hulphonden welkom
- Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten
- Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
- Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
- Audiodescriptie: geen informatie
The site is step-free, with wide aisles in the hangars and lifts to the upper levels. Every hangar has an accessible toilet, and a Changing Places toilet with a hoist and height-adjustable bench is in Hangar 2. Manual wheelchairs, mobility scooters and a rollator can be borrowed free of charge, and scooters are welcome on site. Audio handsets have a built-in hearing loop and all films have subtitles. Large-print guides, tactile models, a sensory map and quiet rooms in Hangars 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are available. The museum holds Autism Friendly and Dementia Friendly status and lends SEND family backpacks. Assistance dogs are welcome. Disabled parking is near the entrance.
Kinderen & gezin
Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen
- Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
- Speurtocht, doeboekje of kinderaudiotour
- Doe- en voelstations
- Kinderwagenvriendelijk
- Speeltuin / speelhoek
- Kinderfeestjes
Paper trails are available at the entrance to each hangar and a digital trail can be used on a phone. Every hangar has hands-on and family-friendly displays. There is a free outdoor playground with small models of aircraft, and a paid indoor soft play centre called AeroPlay! for children from 6 months to about 8 years, which also hosts birthday parties. Hangar aisles are wide enough for pushchairs.
Bereikbaarheid & parkeren
Met het openbaar vervoer
Colindale station · 10 min. lopen
Colindale station (Northern line, Edgware branch) is about a 10 minute walk; the museum asks visitors not to get off at Hendon Central. Bus 303 to Edgware stops outside the main entrance. Mill Hill Broadway station (Thameslink) is about a 20 minute walk.
Met de auto
Betaald parkeren
The on-site car park is open daily from 09:30 to 17:30. Charges are £8.50 for up to 3 hours and £11.00 for 3 to 6 hours; motorcycles pay £8.50 for the day, and drop-offs get 30 minutes free. Blue Badge holders also pay. Pre-booked coaches park free. There are 4 electric vehicle charging points.
- Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats
The satnav postcode is NW9 5QW, at the bottom of Aerodrome Road. The car park fills up quickly in school holidays. The museum is inside the expanded ULEZ zone.
Route plannenService & horeca
- Café
- Restaurant: niet aanwezig
- Museumwinkel
Hendon Kitchen is a family-friendly counter-service café, and the AeroPlay! Café in Hangar 4 serves coffee and light snacks. There is an indoor picnic area near the AeroPlay! soft play centre.
Evenementen & zaalverhuur
- Ruimtes te huur
- Zakelijke evenementen
Spaces include Sunderland Hall, the historic hangars, Hangar 6, the Lecture Theatre and several meeting rooms. They are offered for conferences, evening receptions and dinners, and filming. Soft play birthday parties are also available.
Aanvragen & detailsJe bezoek plannen
| Rondleidingen | ja |
|---|---|
| Audiotour | ja |
| Aanbod voor scholen | ja |
| Goed om te weten | A digital museum guide and a sound trail can be used on a phone or tablet. Themed guided tours, such as the Bomber Command Tour and the Cold War Tour, are offered on selected dates. Learning visits for schools can be booked. Photography is not allowed inside the soft play area. |
