Royal Air Force Museum London

Royal Air Force Museum London

Royal Air Force Museum London
4.5
Military MuseumsScience MuseumsChildren's Museums
10:00 - 17:00
Monday
10:00 - 17:00
Tuesday
10:00 - 17:00
Wednesday
10:00 - 17:00
Thursday
10:00 - 17:00
Friday
10:00 - 17:00
Saturday
10:00 - 17:00
Sunday
10:00 - 17:00
About
The Royal Air Force Museum London is a national museum that celebrates and commemorates the story of the Royal Air Force. We are open daily from 10:00am and admission is free. Get ready for take-off and pre-book your free timed entry now by visiting our website, rafmuseum.org. Explore the first 100 years of the RAF, its role today and imagine its future contribution and technology. Discover our multi award-winning First World War in the Air Galleries, Historic Hangars and our Bomber Command Hall – offering a great day out to all our visitors. Our calendar of events, lectures and temporary exhibitions throughout the year enable visitors to engage further with the RAF Story. Our staff and volunteers are here to help you have a great time. We look forward to welcoming you.
Duration: More than 3 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.

Top ways to experience Royal Air Force Museum London and nearby attractions

See what travellers are saying
  • The B
    1 contribution
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Used to be better and lacking in knowledge in the cafe.
    A very good museum, sadly it used to be excellent but a change of focus has seen many of the aircraft exhibits replaced with screens and some of the themed set pieces diluted. Cafe appeared ill equipped to cater for gluten free with cross contamination of serving implements and no idea as to what gluten actually was. A message to them via Messenger went unanswered.
    Visited March 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 12 April 2023
  • Charlottexx
    London, United Kingdom11 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wow the exhibits in this museum kept both the adults and children busy for hours!
    Great museum, a lot bigger than we expected especially as it was free to enter! We did pre book the children’s pilot training which was ok but not fantastic. We also booked the 4D cinema and the flight simulator which were fantastic, would recommend these both. The Hendon restaurant was averagely priced and the food was just what we had expected. The children’s play area was really cool, they spent along time playing and didn’t want to leave. overall a great museum to visit with or with young children 😁 They also have a quiet room with a few bean bags for if it gets too much for some children which I thought was absolutely brilliant! 🌈
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 15 April 2023
  • Pompey Lad
    Petersfield, United Kingdom6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A terrific museum to visit, wonderful tour guide and it’s free.
    Visited RAF Hendon museum today and had a terrific afternoon. I paid for a great value tour of the hanger dedicated to First World War aircraft and associated items. Sandra gave us a brilliant tour, which included a detailed history of how Claude Grahame-White enabled this venue to come about and the background to these incredible aircraft and the brave pilots who flew these machines with so little training. This tour, and Sandra’s knowledge and enthusiasm, added so much more value to my visit. Well done to all the volunteers and staff who make this a wonderful place to visit.
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 13 May 2023
  • Tanya I
    15 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fab day out!
    Great place, lots of sctivitiesand plenty to see & do. Interesting to listen snd read the true stories of the men & women that served in the RAF. Take a pack lunch though as food prices are extortionate!
    Visited May 2023
    Written 29 May 2023
  • dkeith
    322 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Very good museum
    Based on some of the reviews I wasn't sure if I would like the museum or not. However my concerns were unfounded, A nice spot with great selection of airplanes. Overall not up to the same level as IWM Duxford but very good nonetheless and, based on memory of Duxford, this museum has a better selection of German/Japanese planes. Good gift shop also. Basically an introduction hanger which was OK but the remaining hangars were much better. Well worth the visit as was the opportunity to sit in a Spitfire (you have to book and pay for that however).
    Visited May 2023
    Written 2 June 2023
  • Robin S
    Sheffield, United Kingdom266 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    A return visit
    Visited the museum again, this time to catch up in the changes the museum has made. I must say that the museum has improved, I like the new layout and the new exhibits make the day great fun. Food was available too though I did think this was on the expensive side but all goes to keeping the museum, also you do not pay to get in so there’s savings there. One thing I always looked forward to at Hendon was the great shop, full of all books and things for the enthusiast as well as the casual visitor, that’s no more the case, like a lot of these museums they miss the trick that people who love what they show and represent are not catered for like the casual visitor. All museums should take a leaf from Bovingtons shop and stock for the enthusiast it will pay dividends. I would still recommend that you visit though
    Visited June 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 2 June 2023
  • The Places Where We Go Podcast
    Simi Valley, California985 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Appealing for aircraft, history, and military fans
    It took us about an hour to travel to the museum from London’s Kensington area. A great place to soak up Air Force history spanning the decades from the earliest planes to modern technology. We were impressed with the volume of aircraft on display. We spent 2.5 hours for our visit.
    Visited June 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 24 June 2023
  • frankg_2011
    Chino Hills, California119 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great for military aviation buff
    Great place for military aviation buff, and I've always wanted to see my British favorites: De Havilland Mosquito and Avro Vulcan. And those at the museum didn't disappoint. The museum is split into 6 hangars ranging from birth of flight with lighter than air displays and WWI to present day. The Sopwith Camel was great to finally see and the Lancaster was impressive. Well worth the 3+ hours stay. Entry is free, but you have to book your arrival time online first to limit queuing. If you're taking public transport, the museum is about 30 minutes from London via the Northern tube line at Colindale stop. And another 10-15 minute walk. There's plenty of parking if you're driving.
    Visited May 2023
    Written 1 July 2023
  • golouis99
    Jerusalem, Israel598 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Terrifici learning xpereince
    An extensive museum with so much to see. We spent 2 and half hours here before the children couldn't absorb any more information. The exhibits are real-life full size planes and related objects. We really neeed more hands-on activities (there were some). Entry is free but we booked on-line in advance to guarntee speedy entrance. The museum is not loacted in central London but easily accessible by public transport. There was so much to see that we'll have to go back on our next visit to London.
    Visited June 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 4 July 2023
  • Bottrell
    London, United Kingdom132 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Brilliant and *free* - great for little kids & adults so swipe them a donation on the way through
    Lived in London a long time and never thought about coming here, however I saw the playground advertised as good for toddlers. What a mistake to not come before - as this is possibly one of the best museums in london. It’s like the museums in central london used to be before their decline and jettisoning of actual exhibits. Here you have an informative museum, with actual exhibits of aircraft, boats, bombs and helicopters in touching distance. Not only does it have the modern range of aircraft but it has a complete war section covering aircraft from Germany, Japan, Italy as well as the RAF. This museum is very atmospheric and the size of these aircraft is incredible. My children love this place seeing helicopters and planes, as well as lots of areas designed for them to play. Incredibly for a museum, this place has a cafe/restaurant where the food is good quality too. So in summary, lots of massive hangers full of real aircraft, boats and classic vehicle. Alongside lots of places for children to play, nice food and beer too. All for *free*. Swipe them a donation on your way through.
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 8 July 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles3,830 reviews
Excellent
2,719
Very good
838
Average
206
Poor
52
Terrible
18

Sarah J
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Family
An absolutely fantastic day out- for all the family!
Amazing aircraft, many opportunities to play and explore especially for the little ones-the outdoor play area will keep them entertained too. Great cafes serving hot drinks and snacks along with delicious ice cream to cool you all down. You can take your own picnic and enjoy at the picnic tables in hanger 1 and the main entrance. Clean,easy and accessible toilets for all too.
Written 18 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Curiosity25540178193
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Family
Amazing tour of WW1 and foundations for Royal Air Force with James. Was a mix of history and evolution of technology in very simple language. My primary school boy enjoyed the tour.
Written 17 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi thank you ever so much for sharing your wonderful experience with us! We're thrilled to hear that James provided an amazing tour, blending the rich history of WW1 with the fascinating evolution of the Royal Air Force and we have passed your comments onto him. in particular, we're glad to hear that your primary school-aged son enjoyed the tour. We strive to make history accessible and engaging for all ages, and we're delighted to have succeeded with your family. We look forward to welcoming you back for more adventures!
Written 18 March 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Tom Rowlands
Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates222 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Solo
Absolutely amazing place!!

I've been to quite a few aircraft museums, but this is my best yet! And it's free!!
Car park is fairly reasonable for London too.

Spent pretty much the whole day there, wondering around and could have taken longer if I really wanted to.
I'd suggest booking tickets ahead as it's way easier and won't have a chance of missing out. Also, plan ahead with the timings as they have some talks about some planes at certain times.

Huge selection of planes from all over the world and eras.
One of the best parts is that a number of them you can go in and have a look around and get a real feel of them.
I payed extra for the spitfire experience and was best thing I have done, £25 is expensive to some people but it's a real once in a life time opportunity to sit in a real ww2 fighter that not everyone gets to do.
Written 7 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your glowing review! We're delighted you had an amazing time exploring our aircraft museum. The Spitfire Experience is truly a highlight, offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sit in a real WWII fighter. While the fee may seem steep to some, the chance to immerse yourself in history and feel the cockpit of such an iconic aircraft is invaluable. We're thrilled you found it to be the best part of your visit. Your recommendation to others to consider this experience is greatly appreciated, as we're committed to providing exceptional opportunities like this to all our visitors. Thank you for also describing us as the best museum that you have been to. We can't wait to welcome you back for more unforgettable adventures in the near future!
Written 8 March 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Ken M
Wadhurst1,619 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Friends
We took our 9 year old godson to this museum because he loves anything to do with all types of vehicles and flying machines - and he loved every minute of it. It is free to get in and you can wander around at your own pace so it's entirely up to you how long it takes. They have a cafe there where you can get something to eat.
Written 5 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, thank you for your review. It sounds like you had a fantastic time at the Museum with your godson. It's wonderful to hear that he enjoyed exploring the vehicles and flying machines. The fact that it's free to enter and allows visitors to wander at their own pace is a definite plus. Thanks for sharing your positive experience!
Written 6 March 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

BHaarlem
Hengelo, The Netherlands9 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Family
A complete history of a things British that can fly and fight. Hangars containing examples from WW1 up to modern times. Some rare examples captured during the wars as well like a nazi jet fighter, a Japanese Zero, an Italian CR.42. But also the ost war stuff is wonderfull. I truly was delighted to see their collection
Written 2 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, thank you for the glowing review! We take great pride in showcasing the rich aviation history of Britain, spanning from the First World War to modern times. We believe that thanks to our rare specimens, including our Japanese Zero and Italian CR.42, visitors are treated to a comprehensive journey of flight. We're thrilled you enjoyed exploring our collection, and we look forward to welcoming you back.
Written 2 March 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Robert D.
Bucharest, Romania9 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Couples
We really enjoyed the tour about WW1. Learned a lot about how plane fighting evolved and what was the UK's situation during different phases of the war. Our guide was very passionate and very well prepared. Totally worth it.
Written 29 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your kind words! We're thrilled you enjoyed our WW1 tour and found it informative. Our guides are indeed passionate about history and strive to provide a comprehensive experience. We're glad you found it worth your time. We look forward to welcoming you back for more historical adventures!
Written 2 March 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Kate G
Reading21 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Family
This museum is set out over 6 hangers! There is plenty of room to look around each and every plane. My grandson (and husband) loved it. Informative and well set up. They have however missed out on an opportunity. The 'cafe' sells machine made tea and coffee, prewrapped sandwiches and wraps crisps and cakes. Nothing is of a 'healthy' nature. No hot food available at all, would have loved a bowl of soup as it was wet and cold! Recommend they pick up on this or you take your own.
Written 29 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts on your recent visit to our Museum. We're delighted to hear that both your grandson and husband thoroughly enjoyed exploring our exhibits spread across the six hangars. Creating an informative and engaging experience for our visitors is always our top priority. We appreciate your feedback regarding the offerings at our café. It's important to us that all aspects of your visit, including dining options, meet your expectations. We'd like to inform you that in addition to the Sunderland Cafe, we also have another dining option on-site: the Airfield Kitchen. The Airfield Kitchen offers a variety of healthy salads, delicious soups, hot food, and snacks. We apologise for any inconvenience you experienced in not being aware of this alternative dining spot during your visit. Once again, thank you for your valuable feedback. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back to the museum in the future.
Written 2 March 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Louise R
6 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Family
Absolutely fabulous. Wonderful display, lovely staff, easy to get to by train. Comfortably heated hangars make it a great day out in any weather.
Written 26 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, thank you for your glowing review! We're delighted to hear that you had a fabulous day out visiting us. Our dedicated team strives to ensure every visitor feels welcome and enjoys their time with us. We appreciate your feedback and look forward to welcoming you back soon for another enjoyable day out.
Written 27 February 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Chris I
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Family
This is a free museum delving into the past of RAF brilliance! What more to say but it's free and really well put together! We had a Coastal Command Tour (paid for and really knowledgable guide Yakov thank you!) which was worth the money then free museum entry . The exhibits are amazing, great for seeing how things have developed over the years. We will be back soon.
Written 25 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, we're delighted you enjoyed your visit to the RAF Museum London and the Coastal Command Tour. It's fantastic to hear that Yakov provided such knowledgeable guidance, we've passed your comments onto him. We look forward to welcoming you back soon for another enriching experience.
Written 26 February 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Guide20898546518
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Couples
Terrific, informative, and fascinating tour covering a complex topic in a period of very rapid technological change. James provided excellent commentary and is clearly extremely knowledgeable and brings infectious enthusiasm to his tour. Recommend to all!
Written 24 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, thank you for you wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the RAF Museum WW1 Aircraft Tour so much. James takes great pride in delivering engaging and informative commentary, and we're delighted that his enthusiasm resonated with you. We've also been delighted to pass your comments onto him. It's our goal to provide a memorable experience that showcases the fascinating history of this pivotal period in aviation. We appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back for another enlightening tour in the future!
Written 25 February 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Showing results 1-10 of 3,116
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM LONDON: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Royal Air Force Museum London