Worth a detour: The RAF Museum London

Recall the RAF’s Finest Hour and see aircraft from the earliest days of aviation to the jet age at this fascinating north London museum

Situated on the historic site of Hendon’s aerodrome, 30 minutes from central London, the RAF Museum houses more than 100 aircraft spanning 100 years.

The museum’s newest exhibition, First World War in the Air, tells the story of how aviation emerged as a force capable of changing battle. Personal artefacts are displayed alongside the finest wartime aircraft in a factory hangar built by aviation pioneer Claude Grahame-White in 1917. 

Not to be missed is the Sopwith F.1 Camel, which became the most successful British fighter of the war. The aircraft, which took its name from the hump over the breeches of the machine guns, was ideal for night flying and ground attack. Also displayed in this section of the museum is the Caudron GIII, which first appeared in France in May 1914, but was later adopted by Britain’s Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service. 

The Milestones of Flight gallery tells the stories behind some of the most important developments in aviation history. A timeline gives visitors an overview of the developments from 1903 to 2003, the year the gallery opened. 

The star of this section is the Eurofighter Typhoon – one of the RAF’s most capable and agile aircraft. The Typhoon, which can fly at more than twice the speed of sound, was developed in partnership with Germany, Italy and Spain. Its neighbour in the museum, the Bleriot XI, is almost identical to the aircraft Louis Bleriot flew across the English Channel in 1909.

In Bomber Hall, visitors can follow the development of the bomber aircraft from its first appearance in the First World War through to the highly sophisticated machines of the jet age. There are displays about the achievements of RAF Bomber Command and the US Air Force in the Second World War. The stars of the hall are the Avro Lancaster, Avro Vulcan and Boeing B17.

The Battle of Britain Hall tells the story of the world’s first decisive air battle – when the RAF stood alone against the Luftwaffe in June 1940. 

The Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane are synonymous with the battle. Each was a 300mph single-seat fighter aircraft armed with eight machine guns – but the respective designers Reginald Mitchell and Sydney Camm chose to take completely different approaches. Also on show are some of the aircraft and missiles used in the Battle of the Atlantic in 1944 and 1945, including the Short’s Sunderland flying boat.

Visitors to the museum are also able to go into the listed buildings that were once part of the old Hendon aerodrome. Today they contain five exhibitions, each telling a different story about the RAF and its aircraft: Whirling Rotors, Wings over Water, Fighters, the RAF Overseas, and Jets.

With free admission, plus interactive activities including a 3D cinema and the sound and light show Our Finest Hour, the museum offers an entertaining and educational day out for all the family.

The museum is used to host various events throughout the year, which can result in some of the halls and exhibitions being closed temporarily, so it is always best to check what will be open before you plan your visit.

For those based outside London, there are two other RAF Museum sites in Cosford and Stafford in the Midlands.  

Look and learn: Five things to see

1.  Big bomber: The Avro Lancaster became one of the most successful four-engined bombers of the Second World War. It could carry a phenomenal load – up to 22,000 lb.

2. Up and away: The Hawker Siddeley Harrier Jump Jet earned an IMechE Heritage Award as the first vertical take-off aircraft to go into volume production. 

3. Action stations: The museum houses a full-sized model built by Lockheed Martin of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jet – the only place in the world where it is on display.

4. Have a go: The site boasts two simulators which can recreate the flights of: the Red Arrows, Eurofighter Typhoon, Tornado Jet, and a First World War dogfight.

5. Sky views: The museum features an exhibition of aerial photographs taken by Aerofilms, which used to operate from Hendon. It showcases images from 1919 to 1953.