Best 5 Aeroplane Museums in London for Children

Mankind has always been fascinated with flight and it was something attempted and failed many times before the Wright brothers came up with a working design for a plane capable of sustained, powered flight in 1903. It is amazing to think of the advances that have been made in that time and we now have planes that can go faster than the speed of sound.

With all of these advances, it can be a fun day out to look back at all of the design iterations that literally propelled us to where we are today. London is one of the top locations in the UK for visiting aeroplane museums. The UK has around 50 of them spread over its landmass. Here are our top five in London with the best experiences for children.

London Science Museum

The London Science Museum is a great place to learn about aviation. The aviation exhibition at the museum is one of the most popular attractions, and features a variety of interactive displays and exhibits that teach visitors about the history and science of aviation. The exhibit is also home to a number of unique aircraft, including the world's first jet-powered aeroplane. Learning about the history and science of aviation in a fun environment makes for a wonderful day trip.

Royal Air Force Museum London

Located at the site of the former Hendon Aerodrome, the RAF Museum in London has six hangars which are chock-full of vintage era aircraft. The collection runs from the early days of the RAF in 1918, right through to more modern day jet fighters. There is an exhibition that showcases the evolution of the RAF and of flight from the first 100 years, 1918 - 2018.

In peace time between the wars, Hendon was home to the 601 Squadron, nicknamed the “Millionaire Squadron”. The 601 Squadron were the elite flyers as they were young and rich and owned their own aircraft so they were able to practice outside of war time and when the time came for fighting in the war they were aerial aces.

This is a great day out for all of the family and the children will be fascinated by the chance to see so many different kinds of planes up close and to hear the tales of the heroic people associated with them.

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Emirates Aviation Experience

The Emirates aviation experience is a must-see for anyone interested in aviation or aircraft. The experience offers a behind-the-scenes look at how Emirates operate their airline. From checking in and boarding the plane, to flying the plane and landing, you'll get to see everything that goes into making Emirates one of the world's leading airlines.

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de Havilland Aircraft Museum

The de Havilland aircraft museum is the perfect place to learn about the storied history of de Havilland aircraft. The museum has a range of interactive exhibits, and attentive and well-informed curators and staff, as well as a wide selection of both vintage and modern de Havilland aircraft on display. The museum also has a shop and a cafe, making it the perfect place to spend a day out with the family.

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Imperial War Museum

Boasting one of the last remaining Spitfires, the Imperial War Museum’s aeroplane collection is sure to inspire wonder in the minds of their younger visitors especially. There is also a German Messerschmitt from the same time period, so the two different styles of aircraft that opposed earth other in aerial dogfights for control of Britain’s skies during the war can be compared and contrasted up close.

Photo by Ray Harrington on Unsplash