The UK has a remarkable aviation heritage, and some of the best places to see it are the independent museums and heritage centres run by enthusiasts and volunteers. This guide brings together the aviation museums and heritage centres listed on AviatorFinds, from Lancaster bombers in Lincolnshire to Cold War jets in Northern Ireland.
UK aviation museums at a glance
- England: Yorkshire Air Museum (Elvington), Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre (East Kirkby), East Midlands Aeropark and Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar
- Wales: Airworld Aviation Museum at Caernarfon Airport
- Northern Ireland: Ulster Aviation Society near Lisburn
- Listed on AviatorFinds: 6 museums and heritage centres
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The Yorkshire Air Museum and Allied Air Forces Memorial at Elvington, near York, describes itself as the UK’s largest independent aviation museum. At East Kirkby in Lincolnshire, the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre is home to the Avro Lancaster ‘Just Jane’ and the Mosquito HJ711. Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar restores Spitfires and offers hangar tours and Spitfire flights, and East Midlands Aeropark combines preserved aircraft with viewing mounds beside East Midlands Airport’s runway.
In North Wales, Airworld Aviation Museum at Caernarfon Airport tells the story of RAF Llandwrog and the origins of the RAF Mountain Rescue Service, with aircraft including a Hawker Hunter and a Harrier T2. The Ulster Aviation Society, a volunteer-run charity, looks after a large collection at the Maze Long Kesh site near Lisburn, including a Phantom, a Tornado and a Buccaneer.
Aviation museums and heritage centres in the UK
These are the aviation museums and heritage centres in the UK listed on AviatorFinds, in alphabetical order. Tap a card to see the location, contact details and website for each one.
See all UK museum & heritage listings All aviation museums & heritage
Planning a visit
- Check the opening days. Many of these museums are run by volunteers and are not open every day. Airworld, for example, opens from Friday to Sunday, and the Ulster Aviation Society is open by prior arrangement only.
- Book special experiences early. Lancaster taxi rides at East Kirkby and Spitfire flights at Biggin Hill sell out, so book well ahead.
- Look out for event days. Engine runs, open cockpits and themed weekends are often the best time to visit.
- Fly in if you can. Some sites are at or near working airfields, so check our Airfields by Area guides and always get permission before you fly in.
Want more ideas? Read our guide to the top aviation museums in the UK. Fancy flying a Lancaster yourself? Lancaster Flight UK near Shaftesbury has a full-size Lancaster cockpit simulator. See our guide to flight simulators and aviation training in the UK.
Run an aviation museum or heritage collection that isn’t listed yet? You can add your listing here.
Aviation events in and near the UK
Upcoming events in the UK:
- 5 Nov 2026IWM Duxford Fireworks Night 2026 – Imperial War Museum Duxford, Cambridgeshire, UK
- 7 Nov 2026Pilot Careers Live London 2026 – Sofitel London Heathrow, London, UK
- 7 Nov 2026Shuttleworth Fireworks Night 2026 – Old Warden Aerodrome, Bedfordshire, UK
- 4–6 Dec 2026Shuttleworth in Lights 2026 (4–6 Dec) – Old Warden Aerodrome, Bedfordshire, UK
- 11–13 Dec 2026Shuttleworth in Lights 2026 (11–13 Dec) – Old Warden Aerodrome, Bedfordshire, UK
Aviation history: guides from our blog
Frequently asked questions
Where can I see a Lancaster bomber in the UK?
The Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre at East Kirkby is home to Avro Lancaster NX611 ‘Just Jane’, and it offers taxi rides in the aircraft.
Can I fly in a Spitfire?
Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar offers Spitfire flights from Biggin Hill and other UK airfields, as well as hangar tours of its restoration work.
Which UK aviation museums are good for watching modern aircraft too?
East Midlands Aeropark has viewing mounds close to the runway at East Midlands Airport, so you can see preserved aircraft and modern passenger and cargo flights on the same visit.
Official sources
More area guides
- Airfields by Area: airports and airfields by area.
- Flight Simulators and Aviation Training in the UK: simulator experiences and ground schools across the UK.
See every area on our Area Guides page, or browse all aviation museums and heritage centres in the directory.
Photo credits: Header photo: Alan Wilson / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped).