• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

A Moment With Franca

A Family, Lifestyle & Travel Blog

  • Home
  • About
    • About Me
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
  • Family
    • Family Events
    • Family Life
    • Family Days Out
    • Birthdays
  • Lifestyle
    • Home & Interiors
    • Bathrooms
    • Bedrooms
    • Garden
    • Kitchen
    • Health
  • Travel
    • Days Out
    • Things To Do In London
    • Holidays
    • Press Trips
  • Reviews
    • Toys & Games
    • Days Out
    • Fashion
    • Beauty
  • Seasonal
    • Christmas
    • Halloween
    • Mother’s Day
    • Father’s Day
    • Easter
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Giveaways
  • Show Search
Hide Search

9 Things To Do At IWM Duxford

amomentwithfranca · 7 September 2019 · 15 Comments

l always run out of ideas for places to take my girls on a family day out, are you the same? We like to go out and explore new places together and we are constantly looking for exciting places to visit where the girls can explore as well as learn. We were approached by IWM Duxford through Mumsnet to go and visit their museum and we immediately agreed. I knew it would be fascinating to learn more about the history of not only the aircraft in the museum but also learn about the part they played in days gone by.

AD: We were invited to visit IWM Duxford by Imperial War Museums and Mumsnet. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We were compensated for our time.

ABOUT IWM

Imperial War Museums (IWM) is a family of five museums across the country with three of these being historic sites. As well as IWM Duxford, you can find other IWM museums in London and Manchester too.

You can also head to the Churchill War Rooms in Whitehall and the Royal Navy ship HMS Belfast which is moored on the Thames for two more different and unique historical experiences.

ABOUT IWM DUXFORD

IWM Duxford opens every day from 10 am to 6 pm. We visited on the Sunday of the August bank holiday weekend which happened to be a super hot day. I was worried this would affect our visit, but it was actually okay as you can find shelter inside the hangars.

The girls were very excited to explore the hangars and go inside the planes, where we could. There was a lot to see and do at the museum which was carefully thought out to entertain families with young kids. I was happy to see interactive activities for the girls to do which kept them entertained.

We spent about half of the day exploring around. They have six enormous hangars and more to explore.

9 THINGS TO DO AT IWM DUXFORD

I have put together a list of things you can do at IWM Duxford so if you are planning to visit it could be handy to make a note before you go:

1. Go inside the Lancaster Bomber in Air Space

We were kindly booked to discover all about the Avro Lancaster Mk.X. We were given a talk by an expert IWM guide in a behind-the-ropes exploration of the Lancaster as well as an exciting chance to take a look inside.

It is located inside the 1st Hangar where they have the British and Commonwealth aircraft display in AirSpace.

The session included a 45-minute talk outside the aircraft followed by a 10-minute personal tour and talk inside the aircraft. The initial talk was very interesting, but reaching the end the girls got a little bit tired. Thankfully, there was a display of items that the RAF used at that time such as old boots, goggles, hat, vest, bullets, etc. The girls really liked that.

Immediately after the talk, we were taken inside The Lancaster and this was very exciting for the girls. They really enjoyed this moment and they were amazed by it. It’s not every day you get to visit something with so much historical importance. It was really something else to be inside The Lancaster, which we should all know was of huge importance for its role in the Dambusters raid.

If you would like to try this talk too you can find information on the Lancaster page of the IWM Duxford website. The price is £10 per adults and £5 per child and needs to be booked in advance.

2. Family Activity

Depending on when you visit IWM Duxford there are different family activities running. You can take on a family mission where you will complete team challenges, paratrooper assignments and learn about Duxford’s role on D-Day. 

Head to reception on arrival to find out more about the activities IWM Duxford has to offer including Family Mission: D-Day Edition, Aeroplane Investigators, Flight Academy and We Were There: Meet the Eye Witnesses and Veterans.

We didn’t do these activities due to a lack of time, but it is certainly something we will do on another visit. But we definitely enjoyed exploring AirSpace in Hangar 1.

3. Hop on the Concorde, an aeroplane faster than the speed of sound

Exploring the Concorde was very interesting. We have never been inside one before as Concorde hasn’t flown commercially since 2003, so we were all very excited. It was bigger than I thought it would be inside. I didn’t know it was designed to fly twice as fast as the speed of sound, I was shocked to hear that! Can you imagine what it would have been like flying on something that goes so fast?

You can find Concorde in AirSpace, Hangar 1 and it is open daily from 10:30 am until 3 pm, hosted by a member of the Duxford Aviation Society.

4. Visit Historic Duxford

Inside Hangar 3

Outside Hangar 3, you can visit Historic Duxford. It is a small building with interactive displays and the chance to dress up in costume.

This building was so much fun for the girls. Sienna got into character and dressed up like a pilot. She tried on a real flying jacket and became an RAF pilot officer. She looked so cute. I took a photo of her wearing it in front of the Watch Office.

My girls also enjoyed completing a puzzle where you had to put together a pilot’s brain with flying knowledge. They also got up close with some of the personal items of the people who lived and worked at Duxford. They were able to listen to the Duxford people’s own words, via original film and audio.

5. Explore American Air Museum

Entry to the American Air Museum is included in general admission to IWM Duxford and you can find it in Hangar 7 which contains their biggest aircraft.

The American Air Museum shows you how Americans were involved in the war and the impact it had on both the soldiers and people affected by the war.

The girls were impressed with the big planes that were on display. As soon as you get in you can see them as they are all hanging from the roof of the building. You can walk around and see them from high up or walk down the ramp to see them from below. It was very cool.

You can also find a small café inside this hangar where you can have some refreshments which were so handy for us as it was very hot, so we were very thirsty.

6. Get a Selfie with a Spitfire

You can find their Spitfire display located in Hangar 4 as part of the Battle of Britain exhibition.

Unfortunately, when we went to Hangar 4, the Spitfire was not on display because it was actually flying. We were sad to have missed this. But guess what happened… when we were outside walking around the airfield, we managed to see them parked so we took some photos there. There were actually two out so we were lucky to see them that close.

7. Hitch a Ride on an Electric Bus

The IWM is over a mile long so it is a lot of walking during your visit. So why not catch a ride on the bus to get around. There aren’t any bus stops, you can hop on and off as it passes you. This is such a great idea, especially if you have kids with you as they get tired walking around a lot!

8. Watch Aircraft take to the Skies on the Historic Airfield

There are lots of aircraft outside within their historic Airfield so you are able to see them taking to the skies throughout the day. It is very cool and noisy, of course.

The girls liked watching them and to be able to be that close to them.

9. Have fun in their playground & grab lunch at their cafe

If you fancy a little bit of a rest while your kids have some fun, then the playground is a good option. You can either bring a picnic and take a seat at the tables by the playground or the cafe nearby offers food and drink if you want to grab something on site. 

OUR THOUGHTS

I was worried that perhaps my girls could get a little bit bored during this visit but I was surprised to see so many activities tailored for kids and they were able to take part in the interactive areas as well as being able to dress up. This is always fun for kids.

They really loved being that close to some of the most famous aircraft in the world, they thought it was “awesome” to be able to go underneath them as well as inside them. For us, it was really important that they were able to learn more about how aircraft fly, how they’re made and discover the impact they’ve made on our world.

It is a fun family day out and even more exciting if you love planes. If you book your tickets in advance you will get a 10% discount. So, for a family of 2 adults up to 6 children will cost you £45 online. I thought that was really great value, considering all the activities you are able to do. Or you could consider an annual membership too. 

Have you been to IWM Duxford? Do your kids love planes too? 

*Disclosure: We were invited to visit IWM Duxford by Imperial War Museums and Mumsnet. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own. We were compensated for our time.

Thanks for stopping by,

Love you all ❤️

Franca  💋

Related

Filed Under: Days Out, Collaborative Posts, Family, Family Days Out

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Samantha O'D says

    9 September 2019 at

    Great photos, looks like a fun day out

    Reply
  2. kelly wheelhouse says

    9 September 2019 at

    I’d love to visit there with my little boy! It looks amazing 🙂

    Reply
  3. Lyndsey Aspinall says

    9 September 2019 at

    This looks really good fun! My little one would love this!

    Reply
  4. Jade says

    10 September 2019 at

    I went to Duxford on a school trip when I was at primary school. I remember really enjoying it so thanks for bringing back some memories. I will have to take my kids sometime #KCACOLS

    Reply
  5. Donna Loxton says

    10 September 2019 at

    Looks like you all had a great day out!

    Reply
  6. Natalie Burgess says

    10 September 2019 at

    Looks like a brilliant family day out.o went years ago before having kids so will be lovely to take them xx

    Reply
  7. Victoria Davison says

    10 September 2019 at

    My little boy would love it here. We have recently visited the RAF museum in London which was fab.
    We live locally to Duxford, and have driven past this but never been… so I will be checking it out. Thankyou!

    Reply
  8. Susan B says

    11 September 2019 at

    What a fantastic day out. I had no idea that Duxford was set up so well for younger children. The bus is a big help for tired legs! I would particularly like to see Concord. .

    Reply
  9. Troy Easton says

    11 September 2019 at

    Cool post I like the plane theme and looks like a nice day out.

    Reply
  10. Jeanette Leighton says

    11 September 2019 at

    Looks like a great day out my boy loves aeroplanes

    Reply
  11. Twicemicrowaved tea says

    11 September 2019 at

    Looks like you had a great day. This is definitely one for us to try when our children are a bit older. #kcacols

    Reply
  12. Rachel - Kids, Cuddles and Muddy Puddles says

    12 September 2019 at

    What a fun, educational day out. I love a museum with hands on experiences for the children. #KCACOLS

    Reply
  13. Rachael Sexey says

    16 September 2019 at

    This looks like a fab day out

    Reply
  14. Michelle Corbett says

    20 September 2019 at

    Looks like a brilliant time

    Reply
    • amomentwithfranca says

      20 September 2019 at

      It was fun 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

HI THERE, I’M FRANCA!

Hi, I'm Franca, a lawyer mum of 2 gorgeous girls married to my best friend, living in London. Award nominated parenting & lifestyle blogger. Read More…

Newsletter

    Built with ConvertKit

    Family Days Out

    • The Best Light Trails In London 2022
    • The London Transport Museum At Christmas
    • Monopoly Lifesized Review

    Collaborative Videos

    Popular Videos





    AWARDS

    BritMums



    BritMums

    Tots100

    Tutora Best Parent Insight Blog Award Shortlist

    RANKING

    Tots100
    Top 20 UK Parent Blog 2020

    Flea Network Top 20 UK Parent Blog 2018

    MEMBER

    LINKY

    Keep Calm and Carry On Linking Sunday
    ✨Happy Monday✨.Starting my week off on the r ✨Happy Monday✨.Starting my week off on the right foot with a delicious cappuccino and a few delightful treats. ☕️ .I’m feeling positive and ready to take on whatever this week throws at me 💪🏻. There's just something about these little moments of joy that make the start of a new week feel so promising. 💫🌟.How was your Monday? Are you looking forward to this new week? 🌸💖.Wishing you all a fantastic week ahead! 🌟💫.#butfirstcoffee #coffeedaily #coffeeshots #cappuccinotime #caffeinefix #coffeelove #coffeeloversunite #treatyourself #mondaymotivation💪🏻 #positivevibesalways #NewWeek
    ✨Discover the Magic of Charente-Maritime✨.Th ✨Discover the Magic of Charente-Maritime✨.Throwback to an unforgettable adventure! 📸✨ This amazing journey took place during a previous Press Trip with Charente-Maritime Tourist Board, where I had the pleasure of exploring the hidden gems of this beautiful French region alongside fellow travel bloggers 🌍💫 .Swipe left to explore the 8 Great Things you can do in this captivating region. 🌟😍🌊 .1️⃣Explore La Rochelle 🏰2️⃣ Embark on an adventure to Ile d'Aix ⛵️3️⃣ Witness a breathtaking sunset on a boat trip 🌅4️⃣ Visit the Baleines Lighthouse on Ile de Re 🗼5️⃣ Discover oyster farming at Ré Oyster Farm 🦪6️⃣ Delight in seafood at La Cabane du Fier 🍽️7️⃣ Try paddle boarding in Les Dauphins 🏄‍♂️8️⃣ Kayak through Marais Poitevin 🛶.For more incredible things to do in this area, check out the link in my bio for the full blog post. ✨✍️.✨Like, Save & Share if you are planning to visit or if someone you know would like to visit✨😍.Which activity would you love to try first? 🗺️.#CharenteMaritime #macharentemaritime #larochelle #larochelletourisme #francetourisme #france4dreams #europetravel #bucketlistadventures #PressTripMemories #placestovisit #beautifuldestinantionsaroundworld #TravelInspiration #travelguide #traveltips #beautifulviews
    ✨Family Birthday Brunch✨.We had a yummy Sund ✨Family Birthday Brunch✨.We had a yummy Sunday brunch at @balanslondon in Westfield last weekend celebrating my birthday! 🎉☕️🍳 It was a sunny and warm morning so it was nice to spend some time out with Nick and the girls.☀️😊. It was a perfect start to the day with delicious dishes and lovely company. ☀️😋 SWIPE LEFT to see what we ordered (each photo explained below ⬇️):.1️⃣ Sienna's delightful treat: A stack of fluffy American pancakes drizzled with syrup, crowned with bananas and a scoop of Banoffee ice cream. She couldn't resist! 🥞🍌🍨2️⃣ Nick's flavourful choice: Spicy scrambled Woodland Farm eggs, halloumi, crispy Balans potatoes, and spiced tomato wrapped in a breakfast burrito. Accompanied by an energising Americano. ☕️3️⃣ My scrumptious pick: Egg Florentine with poached Woodland Farm eggs, spinach on an English muffin, topped with homemade hollandaise. Paired with a heavenly cappuccino and refreshing apple juice. 😍4️⃣ Bella's current favourite: Two slices of sourdough toast topped with creamy avocado, perfectly paired with apple juice. Simple and satisfying. 🥑🍎.We had an incredible time together, and the food was fab. If you're in the area, I highly recommend paying them a visit! 😋 They also have four other locations across London, so more choices to visit📍🍽️.✨Like, save, and share if you're tempted to visit or know someone who'd enjoy this experience too! .What is your favourite go-to brunch dish? 😋🍳.#BalansLondon #pancakes #pancakeslover #brunchtime #brunchgoals #LondonEats #morningfood #londonfood #londonfoodie
    ✨ Turning 46✨.Grateful for a wonderful day s ✨ Turning 46✨.Grateful for a wonderful day spent with my family celebrating this milestone and feeling excited to embark on another year of my journey. 💫 .I’m ready to tackle new adventures, create lasting memories, and embrace new opportunities! 🎉🎂🥳🌟.What exciting plans or goals are you looking forward to in your next chapter? 🌟✨ .#happybirthdaytome🎉#46yearsold #NewChapterBegins #newchapterinlife #curlyhairdontcare #CoffeeTime #costacoffee#TreatYourself #over40 #over40blogger #overforty #over40andfabulous#over40mom
    ✨ Exploring the Wonders of Madeira✨.Swipe le ✨ Exploring the Wonders of Madeira✨.Swipe left to uncover the 8 Great Things you can't miss in this breathtaking destination🌴🌺.1️⃣ Immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of Funchal's Mercado dos Lavradores.2️⃣ Soar above the island with breathtaking views on the Monte Cable Car.3️⃣ Embark on a thrilling ride down the famous Carros De Cesto Do Monte (Monte Toboggan).4️⃣ Marvel at the jaw-dropping landscapes from the Cabo Girão Skywalk.5️⃣ Witness the majesty of marine life with an unforgettable Whale Watching excursion.6️⃣ Embark on a thrilling Jeep Safari Tour into the heart of Madeira's untamed landscapes.7️⃣ Delight your taste buds with the exquisite flavors of Madeiran Cuisine.8️⃣ Step back in time with a visit to a Traditional Madeira House..BONUS (last photo) 👉🏻 Don't forget to try the iconic Poncha—a traditional Madeiran drink that will transport you to Madeira's vibrant culture! 🍹.For more details and insider tips, check out the full blog post linked in my bio. 📖✨.✨Like, Save & Share if you are planning to visit or if someone you know would like to visit✨😍..Throwback experience from an unforgettable 5-days Press Trip that Nick and I were invited by Visit Madeira..Which of these 8 Great Things To Do in Madeira would be at the top of your list? 🌺🏞️.#madeira #MadeiraIsland #VisitMadeira #ILoveMadeira #placestovisit #beautifuldestinantionsaroundworld #TravelInspiration #travelguide #traveltips #beautifulviews #oceanviews
    ✨Life Is What You Make It✨.Loving this quote ✨Life Is What You Make It✨.Loving this quote from Charles R Swindoll👇🏻.“Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it” 😍.Life is a beautiful chaos, filled with unexpected twists and turns. It is so important to remember that it is not just about what happens to you, but how you choose to react to it! It’s the 90% of your response that shapes your journey! 💪.So, let’s try to face every challenge with resilience, every setback with determination, and every joy with gratitude! 💫✨ .How do you choose to react to life’s ups and downs? .#LifeIsWhatYouMakeIt #motivationalreels #springvibes🌸 #cherryblossoms #cherryblossomtree #blossoms #beautifulscenes
    Load More… Follow on Instagram
    Copyright © 2023 · A Moment With Franca · Privacy Policy