Best air museum in the UK?

[andymadmak]

This has probably been asked before, but is there a view on the best air museum in the UK? I particularly like WW2 - Cold war - jet flight development onwards eras. A friend says RAF Cosford... is that a good shout?

[55palfers]

Cosford is very good indeed.

[Boatbuoy]

Surely IWM Duxford needs to be near (if not at) the top of the list?

[generationx]

Hendon is very good too, but I love Duxford. Cosford is on the To Do list.

[stuartmmcfc]

Cosfordis very good. I fact, this prompts me to go again soon. Thanks

[Tony1963]

There is no "best" as we all have different tastes and requirements. However, if you go to Cosford, you'll definitely want to go to Duxford too. There's no rush as they'll both be around for a few years yet. Duxford has one advantage in that some of the aircraft are active flyers and even mid-week you might see something do a practice display.

OP, where are you based?

[CrutyRammers]

Not done Duxford, but Cosford is indeed very good.

[lufbramatt]

Duxford or Cosford depending if WW2 or the cold war is your thing. Hendon has a distinct lack of actual aircraft since they refurbished the BoB hall and moved everything round.

Got to mention Yeovilton too, not quite as big as Cosford or Duxford but not far off (3 large halls plus the carrier experience bit), some interesting stuff in there too that you won't see anywhere else.

[clarkey]

Don't rule out Bruntingthorpe, and Farnborough is worth a visit (and free), although Duxford and Cosford are hard to beat.

[tog]

If you have small kids and like clambering in planes and the hands-on approach, check out the Boscombe Down Aviation Collection.

[Amused2death]

Not in the same league as those already mentioned, but if you're ever in our part of the world then the Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation museum is a good place to spend an hour or two.

http://www.aviationmuseum.net/

[andymadmak]

Tony1963 said:

There is no "best" as we all have different tastes and requirements. However, if you go to Cosford, you'll definitely want to go to Duxford too. There's no rush as they'll both be around for a few years yet. Duxford has one advantage in that some of the aircraft are active flyers and even mid-week you might see something do a practice display.

OP, where are you based?

Derbyshire

[Narcisus]

Newark and Doncaster are great. Actually prefer Doncaster to Newark.

[Equus]

I've been to both, recently, and I'd rate Duxford well above Cosford... although Cosford has some unsual stuff (prototype jets, for example) that Duxford hasn't.

Cosford is admittedly good if you like cold war and early jets, though (they have entire hangers dedicated to each).

[andy97]

Equus said:

I've been to both, recently, and I'd rate Duxford well above Cosford... although Cosford has some unsual stuff (prototype jets, for example) that Duxford hasn't.

Cosford is admittedly good if you like cold war and early jets, though (they have entire hangers dedicated to each).

I think where Cosford wins for me, is that there are aircraft there that you are unlikely to be able to see anywhere else in the world - the Prone position experimental Meteor, Saunders Roe SR53, EAP, the RAE modified Jaguar ACT, Bristol Type 188, English Electric P1A, Shorts SB5, Kestral, Avro 707 etc

[Z06George]

I'd say Duxford, whilst the other do have some great aircraft the collection at Duxford is vast. Plenty of jets on top of all the props there too. The American hanger alone has some fantastic examples and randomly has a chunk of the Berlin wall in there. Then as a bonus there is the land warfare museum too!

[Ginetta G15 Girl]

Cosford is free (aside from the parking) whereas Duxford is stupidly expensive.

[Sixpackpert]

Amused2death said:

Not in the same league as those already mentioned, but if you're ever in our part of the world then the Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation museum is a good place to spend an hour or two.

http://www.aviationmuseum.net/

Spent 2 days there earlier this year. Fantastic place!

[LeighW]

East Kirkby is worth a visit for the sight and sound of a Lancaster firing up alone. It is a lovely museum though, albeit not on the scale of others. It's their airshow this Saturday, I'll be there.

[CrutyRammers]

tog said:

If you have small kids and like clambering in planes and the hands-on approach, check out the Boscombe Down Aviation Collection.

a great little museum.