Imperial War Museum IWM Duxford – Tips For Your Visit

Over the weekend we visited the Imperial War Museum IWM Duxford and had a lovely day trip to the museum. Duxford air museum makes a great idea for an intergenerational day out as it has something that appeals to each generation. We visited with the boy’s grandparents which meant that they could share their insights into their experiences of World War II.  Bringing them closer and helping the boys understand. As we looked around the exhibits and read all the stories about how it affected individuals and those that fought for a country and active service. 

Duxford Imperial War Museum also has a large focus on aviation in general and not just military aircraft. Making it an excellent place for enthusiasts. Harry loves planes and is a little obsessed. While the husband has a thing for Spitfires. Coupled with Charlie’s interest in history and the World Wars in particular. I did wonder why it has taken us so long to visit. If you are thinking of visiting then these tips will help you make the most of your time.

Imperial War Museum Duxford is one of five museums that make up the branches of the Imperial War Museum. The other locations include HMS Belfast, IWM London (Lambeth), IWM North (Greater Manchester) and The Churchill War Rooms. It was also a Royal air force base during the first world war and played a prominent role in the cold war supporting the British Army. As well as a central role, in the second world war Duxford. 

Where is IWM Duxford located?

Duxford air museum is easy to reach located on the outskirts of Cambridge. Making it a great day trip if you are visiting the city centre being only nine miles away.  It is also very close to Audley End if you are looking to combine it with an alternative day trip. Although there is so much to do you will need a full day to explore fully. We didn’t make it to hanger eight and the military vehicles. But do plan to go back and see these at a later date.

How to get to IWM Duxford

It is possible to reach Duxford Imperial War Museum by public transport. The nearest train stations is Whittlesford Parkway which you can reach directly from Cambridge or London Liverpool Street. Then you will need to catch the 7A bus which will take you to IWM Duxford. Please note there is no train on a Sunday to Whittlesford Parkway. On a Sunday you will need to use bus 132 from Cambridge Station.

When we visited we drove as we have been staying in the city the night before. There is plenty of free car parking, albeit on event days I would suggest that to arrive early to ensure that you get a space. As these events are extremely popular. It is easy to find you can use postcode CB22 4QR. 

How long do you need IWM Duxford?

I would suggest that you leave a whole day arriving when Duxford air museum opens and leaving when it closes! There is that much to see. We spent six hours at the museum and still didn’t manage to see it all.  However, if you are visiting with grandparents or extended family then you may want to consider the things that you want to see ahead of your visit. As there is a lot of walking involved if you plan to see it all.

Top tips for a visit to IWM Duxford

If you are planning on visiting Duxford air museum then these tips will help you make the most of your visit. 

Allow a whole day

There is so much to see and do (I may have already mentioned this) you need a whole day or maybe even two. After all, it is Europe’s largest air museum. Each of the eight hangers has something of interest and there is a huge amount of information for many of the aircraft. As well as individual people’s moving stories. Which will make you want to stay and read. The American air museum is included in your entrance ticket. 

Make a plan

If you like us, when you visit you know that you’re not going to be able to fit it all in. Then the best thing to do is to make a plan around what exactly you want to see. For us, this involved Concord,  Spitfires, Blackbird and some other iconic aircraft. Make a plan in advance by looking at the information on the website. If this is not possible before you arrive then you can either pick up a guidebook from the entrance or by speaking to one of the many volunteers that are more than happy to help.

Speak to the volunteers

This brings me nicely to my next top tip for visiting IWM Duxford. Make sure you speak to one of the very very very helpful volunteers when you first arrive. We found several located in hanger one where they kindly ran through the different hangers and which historic aircraft we would see in each part of the museum. Not only are they very knowledgeable and really friendly and they were great with the boys. This helped us formulate a rough plan of what we had to say and what we wanted to see.

Keep the kids entertained

There are lots of interactive elements to the museum which really helped to keep Harry who is almost seven and therefore the youngest in our party amused. To help we bought a kids explorer guide at the entrance. Which contains things to spot and activities to answer to help keep them engaged. 

We found that certain areas of the museum are more interactive than others. The most interactive we found were the parts about Duxford Aerodrome itself and the important part it played in the war effort. Here there were lots of things for him to do, and  stories for him to listen to. Hanger one is probably the least interactive area that we found. We picked up a Duxford D-Day family pack at the entrance which takes you on a journey about D-Day and training to be a paratrooper. This definitely helped Harry.

Catch the bus

We are visiting with older people you’ll be pleased to know the bus runs from one end of the museum to the other. Going from hanger one to hanger eight and back again. It didn’t look like you could stop it as it went up and down. But as the distance between the two hangers is approximately a mile so it really does help legs. Especially when you take into account all the looking around and associated walking you do as well. 

Food options & picnic in the sun

There are several different places where you can pick up food, hot and cold drinks and snacks. at Duxford air museum. These are well spread out between the hangers. However, if you’re visiting in the Summer and you may want to take a picnic blanket with you as you can sit and watch the planes take off on the grass airstrip. This could be more practical when visiting the children.

Think about some of the extras

We found that here are a number of things that you can do at Duxford Imperial War Museum which have a additional cost associated with them. We didn’t do any of these.  As we found that there’s plenty for us to look at the Museum. However, if you are a real fanatic and you may want to consider going inside the Lancaster Bomber with a talk for 45 minutes which costs an extra £10 each.

There is also a simulator of which costs £5 for adults and £4 for children. Where you experience a cockpit of a WW2 fighter place during a dogfight between RAF Supermarine Spitfires & German Messerschmitt Bf 109’s. The experience lasts for four minutes

Or if you really want to make a day of it then you can go up in a De-Havilland Dragon Rapide with Classic Wings.  It costs £49 for adults and £36 for children. I think if we were to return we would definitely consider doing this or one of the other flight experiences. Harry, in particular, was fascinated by watching the planes take off.

Scheduling some downtime

I find that when I am visiting museums with children is important to schedule a little bit of downtime. With so much information to consume and things to look at I have noticed that they sometimes get a bit ratty. You’ll be pleased to know to help with this there is a small playground located between hangar one and Hanger two. It proved particularly popular with Harry.

Save your pennies for the souvenir shop

As you enter IWM Duxford, you go through the gift shop. This is also the way you exit. They have a number of tempting treats, especially for children including various Lego planes which start at £40. You can guess what Harry wanted. There are also some Airfix models and various books about the war and aircraft. I did spot a few pocket money toys. But once he had seen the Lego that was it. So it may pay to set expectations early on.

Keep an eye out for event days

There are a number of events and air shows that run throughout the summer months, where you can see many of the aircraft on show in the hangers action. After seeing them close up to see them in the sky is an aviation enthusiast’s dream. And since they have so many of these days, you should be able to find one that fits your schedule. One to keep an eye out for is the Flying Legends Air Show which features planes from the restoration hangar. Mind you these special days are extremely popular and so booking your tickets in advance is recommended. Please note event days are not included with an annual membership.

Spitfires everywhere… 

If you’ve been following Mudpie Fridays for a while, then you will know that my husband has a thing about spitfires. Having been lucky enough to go up in one for a recent big birthday. Charlie has also now developed a real love spitfires. Duxford air museum is a place to go if you want to see spitfires as they house 12! Some of which are being worked on some of which are privately owned. You can even go up in a Spitfire at Duxford. We found spitfires in a number of different hangers and would highly recommend visiting if you are an enthusiast.

Some of the highlights of our trip

There is so much to see and do it’s difficult to narrow down the best parts. However, a few things that we really enjoyed doing on our trip to Duxford air museum included.

• Pick up a D-Day Family activity satchel and learn what it was like to train for service in the parachute regiment
• Walk through the fastest commercial aircraft ever – Concorde
• Learn all about and enter a Lancaster Bomber (extra coast)
• Pick up a kids explorer guide with lots of things to spot and activities to keep little ones engaged
• Marvel at the privately owned aircraft and those being repaired in Hanger 2, including the only airworthy Flying Fortress in Europe
• Enjoy the interactive exhibits in Historic Duxford which tell the story of those that lived and worked at the aerodrome
• Read the inspirational stories about The Tigers a crew of a Sea King and the lives they saved in the Battle of Britain hanger
• Get up close to a Eurofighter Typhoon which is still in active service
• Watch vintage planes take off on the airstrip – and if you are really lucky someone may be taking a spitfire up!
• If (like my husband) you have a ‘thing’ for Spitfires then this is the place to see them. I have not seen so many under one roof before. Plus the kids can sit in a mockup.
• Marvel at a sr-71 Blackbird which for years never actually existed
• Read so many different personal stories about how conflicts impacted people’s lives, families, heroes and survivors.

 

How much does it cost to go to IWM Duxford?

You can either buy tickets in advance online or at the door. Unless it is an event day when tickets do need to be booked in advance. Ticket prices are £29 for an adult, children £14.50 with under 5s gaining free entry. 

Another top tip would be to consider getting annual membership which not only allows access to IWM Duxford, but also HMS Belfast and the Churchill War Rooms. As well as giving you 10% off event days and in the shops. The cost for a family is £120 a year or £10 a month. Which is for two adults and up to six children. There are other options available. But when the day entry is £87 then it is not much more for a whole year. 

Opening hours are 10 am to 6 pm with the last entry at 5 pm. 

What age is IWM Duxford suitable for?

The boys were aged 10 and almost 7 when we visited. I was it depends on the child but I would suggest that seven or eight upwards is probably the perfect age. They do cater for toddlers and babies. The museum is buggy friendly and there are baby change facilities throughout the museum. However, outside of seeing the big planes, there is not a huge amount for this age group.

We had a brilliant time at IWM Duxford and would highly recommend a visit. Have you been to the historic airfield? Let me know about your experiences in the comments below. I think we will definitely be returning for a Duxford air show. 

 

 

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