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

📄 Log your visit: take our printable Museum Aircraft Log Sheet — columns for type, manufacturer, registration/serial, variant, country, era, hall/location, seen, photographed and notes. Not every aircraft has every detail, so leave blanks rather than guessing.

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.

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.

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