Langham Dome
Langham Dome
5
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Built in 1942/43, this intriguing building utilised innovative technology to train anti-aircraft gunners. Long before digital virtual reality was invented, moving images projected onto the inside of the Dome taught trainees how to shoot down enemy aircraft successfully. Nearly 80 years after the end of WW2, a visit to the Dome offers a unique opportunity to journey back in time and experience what life was like for those who served at RAF Langham. Try your hand at shooting down enemy aircraft onscreen. Picnic under our Spitfire in the memorial gardens. Langham Dome, a Scheduled Ancient Monument, is one of only 6 domes left in the UK. In 2013, the N. Norfolk Historic Buildings Trust, which owns Langham Dome, was awarded £446,400 by the Heritage Lottery Fund, £199,000 by English Heritage plus other generous grants, to open the Langham Dome as a visitor attraction. Our mission is to reveal the significance of the Dome and RAF Langham in the defence of Britain during and after WW2.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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- Rory EnrightHarrogate, United Kingdom81 contributionsBest Small Museum I’ve Ever VisitedI can’t recommend this little gem of a museum highly enough. Yes, it’s small, and yes, it’s related to WW2 so it may not be to everyone’s interest. But, for anyone who is interested in those things, or with an open mind and a willingness to be educated and entertained, it’s faultless. Such an interesting building and fascinating history. There’s an enormous amount packed into such a relatively small space, with loads of interactive things to keep kids entertained. Highlights were the jigsaw, the airfield model, dressing up, and of course the machine gun. The staff are incredibly knowledgeable and seemed to have all the time in the world to tell us everything we wanted to know about the history of the place, and the airfield. However, they weren’t overbearing and let us get on with our visit in peace, too, which was lovely. My little boy was thrilled to be there, and loved having a go at being a gunner. I’m going to visit this museum every time we come on holiday to North Norfolk as a matter of principle. Absolute gems like this need to be preserved, and paying visitors is the best way to do it. Great little shop too! My only note would be that a little kick stool for shorter visitors to admire the airfield model would be an advantage (however, I guess there’s a H&S aspect as well, which is completely understandable). 10/10, well done.A 10/10 for your informative review, thank you very much. I think you have pretty much informed any prospective visitors with young family what they can expect when they arrive. We also have our Garden picnic tables and displays which are available to use every day when the museum is open or closed. We are so glad you enjoyed your visit and look forward to seeing you again in the future. Thanks for the idea of the stool, I will look out for an extra safe one.Written 9 October 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited July 2023Travelled with familyWritten 6 October 2023
- Carl287 contributionsOne to put on the visit listVery interesting and different museum in terms of subject matter. Volunteers gave a very good overview then detail about the airfield and use of the dome for gunnery training. Some of the best graphics have seen in a museum.Thank-you very much for your review. We take great pride from our displays. We aim to be family friendly and make the facts we share interesting to read and memorable.Written 14 July 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited June 2024Travelled soloWritten 28 June 2024
- AddilynLondon, United Kingdom4 contributionsWonderful experience!All volunteers were lovely and very helpful! The small gift shop was a lovely touch, we brought a small plane as a souvenir… The spitfire outfit is gorgeous! Feels like the real thing, and the museum inside has a lovely feeling to it! Definitely stands out compared to other museums. There were a lot of story’s about ww1 and ww2 what was just lovely to read. The graphics are also fantastic! Definitely recommend goingHi, Thanks for your informative and helpful review. We are so glad you enjoyed your visit.Written 14 July 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited June 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 29 June 2024
- Ritchie RDerby, United Kingdom98 contributionsLittle hidden gemSaw this place on Google maps when planning to visit Norfolk, thought we would just pop in. £7 adults to enter but worth it, small place but we spent a couple of hours there, the guys running the place had some good stories and know their history If you are in the area, worth a little visitVisited August 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 21 August 2024
- linskitoursHarpenden, United Kingdom594 contributionsVery Interesting SiteA really excellent visit to a fascinating training dome. Knowing how small it looked we thought we might be there for an hour maximum but it was nearer to two. The staff were just brilliant. Full of interesting information and stories. One thinks there is nothing new one will learn about WW2 and its aftermath; but we left with many new insights. The two films they screened voiced by Stephen Fry were very informative. Do go! There is good parking.Visited August 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 25 August 2024
- chaswell6542 contributionsKeep The Memories & History AliveThis is the smallest biggest museum we have been to. Right from the welcome to the goodbye it was great. There is so much information and artefacts to look at. There is a gun with the original film to try and shoot down enemy planes. The volunteers are absolutely great, full of information and stories (facts) they have gathered from visitors over the time.Visited August 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 1 September 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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5.0
166 reviews
Excellent
139
Very good
22
Average
3
Poor
0
Terrible
2
pleriche
Harpenden6 contributions
Aug 2021
A nice little museum but unfortunately the sound accompanying the projected film was largely unintelligible due to the amount of noise and echo from visitors and volunteers. Headphones are thoughtfully provided but were in fact of little use as they hardly reduced the ambiant noise and didn't couple to my behind-the-ear hearing aids. A hearing loop would be a worthwhile investment at a fairly modest cost.
Written 16 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Our apologies for your disappointing visit. Unfortunately, due to the shape of the building, the acoustics are VERY strange! I will put your comment of a hearing loop to the Trustees at our next meeting. Kind Regards. Manager. Langham Dome.
Written 13 April 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rory Enright
Harrogate, UK81 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
I can’t recommend this little gem of a museum highly enough. Yes, it’s small, and yes, it’s related to WW2 so it may not be to everyone’s interest. But, for anyone who is interested in those things, or with an open mind and a willingness to be educated and entertained, it’s faultless. Such an interesting building and fascinating history. There’s an enormous amount packed into such a relatively small space, with loads of interactive things to keep kids entertained. Highlights were the jigsaw, the airfield model, dressing up, and of course the machine gun. The staff are incredibly knowledgeable and seemed to have all the time in the world to tell us everything we wanted to know about the history of the place, and the airfield. However, they weren’t overbearing and let us get on with our visit in peace, too, which was lovely. My little boy was thrilled to be there, and loved having a go at being a gunner. I’m going to visit this museum every time we come on holiday to North Norfolk as a matter of principle. Absolute gems like this need to be preserved, and paying visitors is the best way to do it. Great little shop too! My only note would be that a little kick stool for shorter visitors to admire the airfield model would be an advantage (however, I guess there’s a H&S aspect as well, which is completely understandable). 10/10, well done.
Written 6 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A 10/10 for your informative review, thank you very much. I think you have pretty much informed any prospective visitors with young family what they can expect when they arrive. We also have our Garden picnic tables and displays which are available to use every day when the museum is open or closed.
We are so glad you enjoyed your visit and look forward to seeing you again in the future.
Thanks for the idea of the stool, I will look out for an extra safe one.
Written 9 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ian_Kerr2014
Derbyshire, UK78 contributions
Sept 2021
we had seen this place on a map before getting to Blakeney and made a stop here after visiting nearby Hindringham Hall gardens. This museum is a gem and the ONLY such training dome in the entire world! We were warmly greeted by a knowledgeable member of staff who told us all about the history of the dome and the wider airfield, and then we explored the 1-room museum itself which is full of detail that other museums don't capture despite their size. We also got to try out the real anti-anticraft gun simulator - excellent fun for all ages. We were here for an hour, could have stayed longer and would have had our picnic here too in the nice garden had it not been drizzling.
Written 3 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jane F
7 contributions
Sept 2021 • Couples
Definitely a hidden gem! Not easy to find as there is no brown tourist sign on the main A148. We saw the yellow sign put up by the site while passing on an earlier day, wondered what it was and then found ourselves driving down the road on which the Dome is located while driving towards the coast on a different day. There are then a couple of very subdued brown signs to confirm you are going in the right direction!
So on a country lane in the depths of rural Norfolk the Dome suddenly appears by the side of the road - a surreal sight.
There is ample parking alongside.
First of all we entered the fenced off grassed area around the Dome to look at the information boards which explained to Dome is located on an old WW2 airfield. The grassed area is beautifully maintained and has picnic benches with more info on the table tops. It’s amazing to think that this now tranquil place back in the 1940’s would have been a hive of activity with planes taking off and landing and a temporary population of 2500.
It cost £6.50 each to enter which I initially thought was a little expensive - before we went inside. However I can happily say after our visit that it was well worth the money!
The gentleman on the till and guide for the day was lovely and knew people who had been stationed at the site which gave a personal touch. There is a lot of info in the Dome and 2 short films are projected onto the inside of the Dome explaining its purpose and place in history. You can even try firing an anti-aircraft gun at planes using old film sequences.
All in all a great place to stop and learn. And a good cup of coffee, snacks, and souvenirs and a toilet available well.
But it’s still hard to find unless you are looking for it! Let them have a proper brown sign on the main road!
So on a country lane in the depths of rural Norfolk the Dome suddenly appears by the side of the road - a surreal sight.
There is ample parking alongside.
First of all we entered the fenced off grassed area around the Dome to look at the information boards which explained to Dome is located on an old WW2 airfield. The grassed area is beautifully maintained and has picnic benches with more info on the table tops. It’s amazing to think that this now tranquil place back in the 1940’s would have been a hive of activity with planes taking off and landing and a temporary population of 2500.
It cost £6.50 each to enter which I initially thought was a little expensive - before we went inside. However I can happily say after our visit that it was well worth the money!
The gentleman on the till and guide for the day was lovely and knew people who had been stationed at the site which gave a personal touch. There is a lot of info in the Dome and 2 short films are projected onto the inside of the Dome explaining its purpose and place in history. You can even try firing an anti-aircraft gun at planes using old film sequences.
All in all a great place to stop and learn. And a good cup of coffee, snacks, and souvenirs and a toilet available well.
But it’s still hard to find unless you are looking for it! Let them have a proper brown sign on the main road!
Written 10 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mike W
London173 contributions
Aug 2019
There are few of these gunnery training domes left and this is perhaps the only one open to the public. Beautifully restored and packed with history, you too can have a go at shooting down enemy attackers while learning about the times in which these facilities were built. Well worth a trip if you are in the area (or if you are not!)
Written 11 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
maxb1968
Burton upon Trent, UK274 contributions
Jun 2022 • Couples
I had seen the Langham Dome advertised and was keen to visit. I didn’t fully understand what the Dome was prior to my visit but I like military history. The Dome is located on the apron of the former Langham airfield. The Dome itself is small and so I didn’t expect my visit to take long. What a fantastic surprise. The Dome tells the story of the airfield and the history of the Dome itself. At the beginning of WWII it was recognised machine gunners needed to be more accurate in order to shoot down enemy planes. The solution was a collaboration with Kodak that effectively created the forerunner of todays video games and AI. About 40 domes were built. The one at Langham is unique as it’s the only one the public can go in. The Dome was a 360deg cinema enabling Gunners to practice on a mock-up of a machine gun by firing ‘rounds’ at planes projected onto the ceiling of the Dome. This was a real find and I learned such a lot. My visit was much longer than I anticipated. Fantastic. Fully recommended.
Written 2 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your kind review and we’re so glad that you enjoyed your visit. As our logo says, “Small Building, Big Story”! The Manager. Langham Dome Museum.
Written 9 July 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
wendy h
1 contribution
Sept 2020
Thanks to a lucky find we visited this wonderful little museum on ,30September. The volunteers were friendly and knowledgeable. At a reasonable cost there were a plethora of information boards and films. Using the replica gun it was very difficult to hit the enemy aircraft. Do visit of you are in the area.
Written 1 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Max D
5 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
The Langham Dome is a former "training dome," which was used to train anti-aircraft gunners in the 2nd World War. The museum there tells not only the history of the dome but also the story of Langham airfield and, to an extent, Langham Village.
Although visitors to the North Norfolk coast these days are holiday makers looking to relax and enjoy the sun, during the 2nd World War, North Norfolk was a prime invasion site and so was on high alert for visitors of an entirely different kind. The Langham Dome charts the efforts of the War Office, the RAF, army, and local civilians to fight back.
It's really interesting, the guides are extremely well-informed and they give the area a huge amount of historical context.
Although visitors to the North Norfolk coast these days are holiday makers looking to relax and enjoy the sun, during the 2nd World War, North Norfolk was a prime invasion site and so was on high alert for visitors of an entirely different kind. The Langham Dome charts the efforts of the War Office, the RAF, army, and local civilians to fight back.
It's really interesting, the guides are extremely well-informed and they give the area a huge amount of historical context.
Written 11 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful and detailed review. It certainly is our mission to keep the history alive and especially the memories of that very special generation that lived and died through it.
Written 14 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
billymcdafthead2
Canvey Island, UK98 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
We found this little gem as we passed by on our way to Wells. We decided to head back and have a look. We were not disappointed. We had two 7 year olds and a 5 year old in our group and as we entered I didn’t think we’d end up spending over 2 hours in this small dome. The two members of staff gave our kids a lot of time and were very knowledgeable. The shooting position had to be the highlight. My only suggestion to improve this however would be to give feedback on whether we would pass or fail had it been during the War. There was so much information and interactive things for the kids, this place actually came away as one of our highlights from the holiday. Definitely worth a visit and kid friendly!
There are lots of videos we’ve uploaded to our YouTube channel (Norfolk Camping 2023): @oscarsmegadventures
There are lots of videos we’ve uploaded to our YouTube channel (Norfolk Camping 2023): @oscarsmegadventures
Written 6 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your detailed review and feedback. We try very hard to be family friendly and it was great to read the children had a fun time. We try to give feedback on how good a shot you are with the gunnery training. During the war the trainees would have gone through an exhaustive 6-10 week course of classroom and Dome simulation. We are always open to new ideas, and this week one of our volunteers has come in with some " Crack shot" stickers for children (Or 18+ Big Kids) that do well on the gun. Hope to see you all again another time.
Written 11 September 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Michael H
Martock, UK598 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
A unique experience and a should visit if in the area. The only surviving dome open to the public in the country. Brilliantly demonstrates the use of such domes in training anti aircraft gunners in WW2. The accompanying museum displays, and films, informs you about the history of air defences in the area, Langham and of course the dome. All this is backed up by knowledgeable volunteers. The Spitfire outside cannot be missed and is a memorable weather vane!
Written 8 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you Michael for your great review. We do our best to tell the fascinating history of our site in an interactive and easy to absorb way. Our volunteers are our life-blood and their enthusiasm keeps us going. :)
Written 10 May 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Can you take dogs in.and price of entry
Written 3 August 2019
Manager.
Holt, United Kingdom
Hello. Sorry, but dogs are not allowed into the Dome itself, (apart from Assist Dogs). Due to the unusual acoustics of the building, dogs generally find it very uncomfortable. Their barking then interrupts the films for other visitors. However, we are more than happy for you to take your dog into our Memorial Gardens!
Adult Entry is £7.00. Family (2 x adults & up to 3 children) £17.00. Grandparents Deal £29.90. Blue Light and Forces Discount Card Holder £6.00. All details on our website.
Written 17 April 2023
Do you know price of entry and if Dogs allowed.
Written 2 August 2019
Manager.
Holt, United Kingdom
Hello. Sorry, but dogs are no longer allowed into the Dome itself, (apart from Assist Dogs). Due to the unusual acoustics of the building, dogs generally find it very uncomfortable. Their barking then interrupts the films for other visitors. However, we are more than happy for you to take your dog into our Memorial Gardens!
Written 17 April 2023
Dogs are allowed in the Dome, but many find it rather unsettling due to its strange acoustics. Most visitors choose to leave their dogs tied to one of our picnic tables while they are in the Dome. We have a water bowl near the entrance.
Written 17 August 2018
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