Aircraft at IWM Duxford
One of Europe's largest aviation collections, on a historic wartime airfield near Cambridge. Several hangars of British, American and Cold War aircraft — many still airworthy — plus regular flying displays in season.
Inside Duxford: the halls
Duxford is spread across a historic wartime airfield, so it's really several museums in one — give yourself a full day and work through it hangar by hangar:
- AirSpace — the huge main hall of British and Commonwealth aircraft, with a conservation area you can see into.
- American Air Museum — an award-winning Norman Foster building devoted to US aircraft, with heavy bombers suspended overhead.
- Battle of Britain (Hangar 4) — Duxford's own wartime story, from the First World War through the Cold War.
- Air & Sea (Hangar 3) and Conservation in Action (Hangar 5) — maritime aviation and live restoration you can watch.
- Flying-aircraft hangars — airworthy machines under maintenance; on flying days you may see them take to the air.
The Land Warfare hall closed permanently in 2025 — one reason to check the current site map before you travel.
Aircraft highlights to look for
Duxford's collection is world-class. Aircraft rotate and some are airworthy, but signature machines to try to log include:
- the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird — the only example on display outside the United States
- a pre-production Concorde (G-AXDN) alongside a de Havilland Comet
- American heavy bombers — B-17 Flying Fortress, B-29 Superfortress and B-52 Stratofortress
- British Cold War prototypes including the BAC TSR-2
- WWII fighters — Spitfires, a Hawker Hurricane and a Battle-of-Britain Messerschmitt Bf 109E
- rare early types such as an Airco DH.9
Making the most of your visit
It's a large, partly outdoor site, so wear comfortable shoes and allow plenty of time. For photography, the American Air Museum's suspended bombers and AirSpace's massed hangar rows are the standouts — capture serials and nose art so you can log each aircraft accurately. Flying days are the busiest and best for action shots. Great for families: set the kids the challenge of finding the Blackbird, a four-engined bomber and an aircraft from another country.
Printables for your museum visit
Log every aircraft you see and keep younger visitors busy — instant PDF downloads to print at home.
Ready-made columns, a dedicated rare-catch page and kid-friendly challenges — more useful than a blank notebook, and you can reprint them forever.
Museum Aircraft Log Sheet
Columns for type, manufacturer, registration or serial, variant, country, era and hall.
£2.99 · instant PDF download → For familiesKids' Spotting Fun Pack
Printable challenge cards, spotting bingo and a scoreboard to keep young spotters busy.
£3.99 · instant PDF download → Best valueComplete Spotter's Bundle
Every sheet, checklist and planner in one money-saving download.
£9.99 · instant PDF download →Secure checkout via Payhip · instant download · no account needed · prints on any home printer (A4 & US Letter included).
Plan your visit
Opening times, admission prices, events and accessibility change through the year — and which aircraft are on display can change too. Always check the museum's official website before you travel.
Visit the official IWM Duxford site →Highlights compiled from the museum and published references (Wikipedia: Imperial War Museum Duxford). Exhibits rotate and airworthy aircraft may be away flying — confirm on the official IWM Duxford site. Last verified: 14 August 2026.
Keep exploring
All UK aircraft museums · UK airport spotting guide · Beginner's guide · Logging sheets & downloads