RAF Museum

Royal Air Force Aircraft Museum UK. Free Admission.

Are you or your kids interested in planes or just general history buffs? If you are in England and near London or Birmingham and want to plan a day out which will be entertaining and informative, try the RAF Museum at Colindale (North London – formerly RAF Hendon) or the RAF Museum at Cosford (near Birmingham).

Colindale has over 100 aircraft, Cosford over 70, ranging from some of the earliest aircraft to recent military jets. British, American, French, German and Japanese aircraft are on show. There are special exhibitions covering WW1, WW2 and the Cold War. More recent conflicts also get a fair coverage.

There are plenty of other resources – equipment displays, uniforms, badges, medals, maps, films, recordings, photographs (250,000 pictures), fine art and research libraries for the real aircraft buffs. The really keen can become 'Friends of the RAF Museum' and even volunteer to help restore and maintain some of the aircraft.

My uncle, an ex WW2 Lancaster bomber pilot went, and he had a great time. The museum attracts more boys than girls, but there is a fair bit of stuff on women at war in the RAF.

Parking is easy, and there are all the usual museum facilities together with a pretty decent shop, in case your young nephew or niece or whoever needs a souvenir of their visit.

Interesting. Details, opening hours, directions, etc. on the website:

http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/