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Boscombe Down Aviation Collection

Boscombe Down Aviation Collection, Salisbury: Hours, Address, Boscombe Down Aviation Collection Reviews: 5/5

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Boscombe Down Aviation Collection

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Boscombe Down Aviation Collection
5
588
#1 of 47 things to do in Salisbury
Military Museums • Speciality Museums
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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About
Whether you're a serious aviation enthusiast or a kid who wants to sit in fast jet cockpits, this is for you! Please note - We are at Old Sarum Airfield - NOT at the Boscombe Down airfield.
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
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Popular mentions
5.0
588 reviews
Excellent
505
Very good
67
Average
13
Poor
1
Terrible
3
Mobile726595
1 contribution
Great experience and well worth the visit.
Jul 2021 • Family
Great Royal flying corp exhibit!! Brilliant wee day out with my 14yr old boy. Lots to see and great guides with lots of good information and personal stories. Not everyday you can claim into the cockpit of a Jaguar fighter jet so well worth the visit👍
Written 23 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Wanderer770894
Witney, UK34 contributions
Could do with a bit more space
Jul 2021
Located on a historic airfield itself (Old Sarum), the exhibits are, somewhat, squeezed into two hangars that makes photography of individual airframes somewhat problematic. That said, I'd recommend a visit to this museum, particularly if you have an interest in the area or aviation in general (particularly at Boscombe Down). Very welcoming staff.
Written 21 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
D F
Marlborough, UK128 contributions
Very Interesting, Its all about Aviation history
Jun 2021
Personally not really interested in history. Fascinated by this museum. Definitely worth visiting. Google it. Easy to find.
Written 17 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jim Slater
1 contribution
A ‘hands-on’ museum with a difference – well worth a visit.
Jul 2021
Boscombe Down Aviation Collection
An absolute treat for anyone with an interest in aviation history or for a family with young children who will be kept fascinated by being allowed to climb into numerous aircraft cockpits where they can play with the knobs and controls to their hearts’ content and really enjoy their pilot fantasies.

We visited on a summer afternoon, one of us an enthusiast whose ex-RAF father had worked as an aircraft fitter at A V Roe (Avros) in Manchester for many years, and as we looked around the many different types of aircraft that he had worked on we couldn’t help saying repeatedly ‘Jack would have loved this place’!

It was a pleasure to be greeted by a team of knowledgeable enthusiasts who managed just the right balance of telling us about the aircraft, with a fair number of personal anecdotes from people who had actually flown some of them, and leaving us alone to examine the many exhibits in detail. The Royal Flying Corps has a dedicated room packed full of artefacts which can be studied at leisure, and we were fortunate enough (thanks Syd!) to be given a really informative tour of the exhibits relating to the RAF’s predecessor.

Photography is welcomed, and the volunteers were always ready to answer our questions, including one who wasn’t ashamed to say that he didn’t know about a particular topic but rapidly rustled up someone else who did! That seemed to sum up the whole spirit of the place – loads of enthusiasm, plenty of in-depth knowledge which they were delighted to share, and, as we watched men working on refurbishing the next aircraft due to go on display soon, a great deal of hard work.

Our only regret was not to have allowed ourselves enough time – two to three hours would probably be perfect.

A ‘hands-on’ museum with a difference – well worth a visit.
Written 16 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Dawn G
Salisbury, UK9 contributions
Take your family, young or old, they will love it!
Jul 2021 • Couples
I took my Dad and family for a belated Father’s Day present, he absolutely loved it, in fact we all did. I have been before but it still blows my mind when I step inside. What an amazing collection, without stuffy rules, it’s allows you to get really hands on and with the knowledgeable volunteers, your brain and heart will be filled by the time you leave! If I’m doubt, go, take your family, young or old they will love it!
Written 13 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sarah D
Ipswich, UK3 contributions
Absolutely wonderful, an example for all in the museum profession
Jul 2021
Now this is what a visit to a museum should be! Friendly informative staff who are brimming with enthusiasm and knowledge about their collection and who draw you into their world, however much or little you know. Apart from the joy of being able to touch the exhibits and climb into them in many cases, the setting is perfect, in two hangars with roofs supported on Belfast trusses. A new area has been created dedicated to the RFC which is worth the visit alone. If you are lucky enough to coincide with the expert (who comes in one day a week apparently) he will happily talk you through the display of photographs, log books, documents and associated objects, but it is laid out in an admirably lucid manner for those who prefer to browse at their own speed. I wish our national museums would take lessons from the way smaller, less well-financed collections such as Boscombe Down treasure their exhibits and inspire their visitors. Not an 'agenda' in sight!
Written 11 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ian C
Shrewsbury, UK44 contributions
A rare treat
May 2021 • Couples
An excellent museum, certainly equal to any other aviation museum in the UK, as it provides a very rare opportunity to see, touch and actually sit in military aircraft. All in the company of knowledgable volunteers
Written 26 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Chris G
Winchester, UK11 contributions
A gem of a museum, great exhibition of British military aircraft and historic artifacts.
May 2021 • Solo
The knowledgeable and helpful staff were always available, but also gave space for visitors to wander around freely (socially distanced of course).
Written 27 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jason P
Hordle, UK4 contributions
An excellent experience for both adults and children
Dec 2020
We visited this afternoon and were the only ones there. Whilst this meant that we could spend as long as we wanted looking in each exhibit, it is a shame that it wasn't busier as it is a fantastic museum. Despite COVID, several aircraft cockpits were still open and our kids were able to sit in the pilots' seats. Unlike some similar museums, they were able to fiddle with all switches/controls and really enjoyed this.

The other displays were interesting and informative, particularly the Royal Flying Corps section, which has numerous poignant memorabilia from 1911-1919, before the formation of the RAF.

The volunteers were helpful and knowledgeable and it was great to see one of them working on a Lancaster airframe.

All in all - an EXCELLENT visit, thank you so much.
Written 20 December 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Red Baron
United Kingdom14 contributions
Amazing!
Dec 2020 • Friends
What a fantastic place, even with covid the exhibits are so interesting and staff are passionate and helpful.
The new prototype Hawk was an amazing site and I can’t wait to go back and see many of their projects in the works!
This would be great for anyone who loves aviation as well as children.
Written 14 December 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Boscombe Down Aviation Collection
Boscombe Down Aviation Collection is open:
  • Tue - Sun 10:00 - 17:00
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