Entry to the museum is free of charge.

Meet at East Croydon Train Station from 9.35am for the 10.03am Thameslink train to Farringdon, change to another Thameslink train to Mill Hill Broadway. We will take a bus, the 303, which stops right outside the RAF museum.

Fifteen timed entry slots have been booked from NOON which means there will be time to have a coffee somewhere. The museum is open from 11am to 5pm.

Background + history
The RAF Hendon Museum (at Grahame Park, Colindale, NW9 5LL) was once part of RAF Hendon station but prior
to that, it was one of the country’s first civilian airfields opening in 1911.

During WW1 it was requistioned by the home defence. During WW2, it become an operational RAF station and then home to no. 24 transport/communications squadron and also served briefly as a fighter station during the battle of britain during the summer of 1940.

RAF Hendon Museum was officially opened by the late queen in november 1972 where the hangars housed only a mere 36 aircraft which has increased to what it is today.

“The Battle of Britain” museum was opened by the late queen mother in november 1978 which was been substantially refurbished.

RAF Hendon Museum is world famous for showing both the history of aviation + the history of the RAF displayed in six hangars as follows

1) admittance + main entry point
2) “early days of flight” until 1918
3 + 4) “the historic hangars” featuring aircraft from WW2
+ the cold war
5) “the bomber hall” featuring aircraft from the battle of britain which includes “a wellington”, “a lancaster”
+ “a spitfite” !!
6) “the RAF in an age of uncertainty” featuring aircraft from 1980 to the 21st century.

The museum has a public restaurant built within “a mess 1930s store building”.

keith