Langham Dome
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Closed until 29 Mar 2024
Military MuseumsHistoric SitesHistory Museums
Temporarily closedClosed until Mar 29, 2024
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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  • Michael H
    Martock, United Kingdom588 contributions
    Fascinating!
    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!
    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.
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 8 May 2023
  • Mumsyross
    Norwich, United Kingdom25 contributions
    We enjoyed our visit to Langham Dome. The gentlemen who showed us around were extremely informative and full of interesting fact
    We had a very interesting visit and learnt a lot! Our 9 year old grandson enjoyed shooting at the planes, dressing up in RAF clothing and sending Morse code messages. I especially enjoyed the hands on quiz about "slang" in the war and my husband enjoyed shooting the anti aircraft gun!
    Thank you so much for your informative review. We try very hard to make the museum fun for the whole family. I am so glad you enjoyed the visit.
    Written 10 May 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 9 May 2023
  • debcox
    1,313 contributions
    A fascinating nugget of history.
    This will not take too long but will open up your eyes to another corner of ww2 and the unsung heroes of the war. The briefing was very informative and encapsulated the history of the dome’s evolution simply and quickly. The information around the walls was superb with many local stories. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience thank you.
    Hi Debbie, Thank you so much for your review. We love to keep telling the stories of those unsung heroes. We feel we need to keep there memories alive. We thoroughly enjoyed having you visit us. Scott
    Written 24 July 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited June 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 28 June 2023
  • Russel
    Tenterden, United Kingdom3 contributions
    What a great place
    If you’re in the Second World War especially the Local angles then this is definitely a place to visit. The story of a local lad who let his mother know when he left and returned is remarkable. As is the history of the dome and the the effect it had on training AA operators is magnificent as for the gentleman who shew me around he was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Than to have a go. Wonderful. Well worth the effort will definitely visit again.
    Thank you for you great review. Unlike now, North Norfolk certainly was not sleepy in the 1940's. So many service people came from all over the world to fight the Nazi's from here. It's an honour for us to keep their memories alive. We look forward to welcoming you back again. Scott
    Written 24 July 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 12 July 2023
  • Widget12
    Oxfordshire, United Kingdom255 contributions
    Wonderful history museum! Well worth a visit.
    Excellent history museum inside the Langham Dome. We stumbled across this place whilst holidaying in the local area. The dome is one of only six UK remaining war time gunnery centres. The volunteers running the museum were friendly, helpful and knew their stuff! Interactive displays and three short films to watch. A lovely piece of history and well worth a visit. There is a garden with tables overlooking a replica Spitfire. Coffee can be purchased from a machine run by the volunteers and there are sweets in their shop. A great place to visit!
    Thank you very much for your detailed review. We are glad you enjoyed the inside and outside of the museum. The garden and picnic tables are open at all times for visitors to use free of charge.
    Written 14 August 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 30 July 2023
  • Max D
    5 contributions
    A Lot of Interesting Stuff in Such a Small Space
    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.
    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.
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 11 August 2023
  • Emma
    Warwick, United Kingdom3 contributions
    A hidden gem - well worth a visit!
    A hidden gem! We are a family of four (children aged 10 and 12). We spent a good two hours here listening to the wonderful volunteers, reading the exhibits and having a go with the anti aircraft simulator. Would highly recommend!
    Hi Emma. Thank you for your lovely review. Our aim is to make our museum very family friendly and I'm glad you got great value from your visit.
    Written 14 August 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 12 August 2023
  • Neezysargent
    St. Albans, United Kingdom86 contributions
    Fabulous visit
    My mum and I visited Langham Dome. There was so much information especially about the local area were we had been staying for a week which we found very interesting. We only had an hour before it closed and wished we had more time. So much information to read and look at. The two people at Langham Dome were so friendly and knowledgable - they answered all the questions we had. Such a great visit can highly recommend it.
    Thank you so much for your review. We hope to see you again one day.
    Written 21 August 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 20 August 2023
  • denisebondgirl
    Lowestoft, United Kingdom89 contributions
    EXPENSIVE!!!
    I thought on the whole this was a very expensive day out for what was there! £14 for two of us and to be honest you had seen all there was to see in ten minutes! Yes it’s an unusual building but when there are other aviation museums in the area that are free to get into and far more to see! My other half who is aeroplane mad was disappointed too. And said he didn’t feel the price was worth it for what was there. He had been looking forward to a visit too.
    Thank you for your review. Thank you for your entrance fee. We are a local charitable trust and all profits go into preserving this amazing historical building. It allows us to keep sharing the history of those that served here 80 years ago. Some of course gave their lives in the ultimate sacrifice. Most of our visitors spend at least an hour experiencing all we have to offer.
    Written 11 September 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 1 September 2023
  • billymcdafthead2
    Canvey Island, United Kingdom80 contributions
    Hidden Gem / Kid friendly
    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
    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.
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 5 September 2023
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5.0
156 reviews
Excellent
130
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21
Average
3
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Terrible
2

Rory Enright
Harrogate, UK52 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.

Kezia P
11 contributions
Oct 2023 • Family
Such a great little place, very interesting and lots of interactive stuff for kids(and adults!) to do. Staff are very friendly and knowledgeable, we spent a lot longer here than expected and were very impressed!
Written 1 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.
Thank you for your review. We pride ourselves on giving visitors of all ages a surprise or two when they arrive. A lot of our history here is not covered by much larger museums. Most people leave realizing that they have learnt something new to them. It's important to us that children learn about history in a fun and interactive way.
Written 9 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

billymcdafthead2
Canvey Island, UK80 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
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.

denisebondgirl
Lowestoft, UK89 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
I thought on the whole this was a very expensive day out for what was there! £14 for two of us and to be honest you had seen all there was to see in ten minutes! Yes it’s an unusual building but when there are other aviation museums in the area that are free to get into and far more to see! My other half who is aeroplane mad was disappointed too. And said he didn’t feel the price was worth it for what was there. He had been looking forward to a visit too.
Written 1 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 for your review. Thank you for your entrance fee. We are a local charitable trust and all profits go into preserving this amazing historical building. It allows us to keep sharing the history of those that served here 80 years ago. Some of course gave their lives in the ultimate sacrifice. Most of our visitors spend at least an hour experiencing all we have to offer.
Written 11 September 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Neezysargent
St. Albans, UK86 contributions
Aug 2023 • Friends
My mum and I visited Langham Dome. There was so much information especially about the local area were we had been staying for a week which we found very interesting. We only had an hour before it closed and wished we had more time. So much information to read and look at. The two people at Langham Dome were so friendly and knowledgable - they answered all the questions we had. Such a great visit can highly recommend it.
Written 20 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 review. We hope to see you again one day.
Written 21 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Emma
Warwick, UK3 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
A hidden gem! We are a family of four (children aged 10 and 12). We spent a good two hours here listening to the wonderful volunteers, reading the exhibits and having a go with the anti aircraft simulator. Would highly recommend!
Written 12 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.
Hi Emma. Thank you for your lovely review. Our aim is to make our museum very family friendly and I'm glad you got great value from your visit.
Written 14 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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.
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.

Widget12
Oxfordshire, UK255 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
Excellent history museum inside the Langham Dome. We stumbled across this place whilst holidaying in the local area. The dome is one of only six UK remaining war time gunnery centres. The volunteers running the museum were friendly, helpful and knew their stuff!
Interactive displays and three short films to watch. A lovely piece of history and well worth a visit. There is a garden with tables overlooking a replica Spitfire. Coffee can be purchased from a machine run by the volunteers and there are sweets in their shop. A great place to visit!
Written 30 July 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 very much for your detailed review. We are glad you enjoyed the inside and outside of the museum. The garden and picnic tables are open at all times for visitors to use free of charge.
Written 14 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

BillyFarmer1
Aylsham, UK136 contributions
Jul 2023
I first visited (with a friend) Langham Dome, in October 2020, when there were restrictions, in the UK, I recently visited (with the same friend) Langham Dome, again, on the afternoon of Thursday July 6th, was a very enjoyable afternoon, to start with, we watched three short films (very interesting), and then we both had a go at firing the interactive training gun, we enjoyed reading a lot of the interesting information, including information about Langham Pilot Jeff Rounce, we also enjoyed seeing the model Planes, and the interactive model of Langham Airfield, we had a good chat, with 2 very friendly and helpful staff members - Scott and Beryl, I bought a lot of nice items, in the Shop, we will hopefully visit Langham Dome, again this year, which would enable me to read the rest of the information, inside the Dome, recommended for anyone interested in History, especially World War II.
Written 21 July 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. We are so glad you enjoyed your visit. Our volunteers are very hands on and like to be as informative as possible. I'm glad you found some goods in our well stocked shop to buy. The profits all go to preserving our fascinating historic building. We look forward to welcoming you to the Dome again.
Written 24 July 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Russel
Tenterden, UK3 contributions
Jul 2023 • Solo
If you’re in the Second World War especially the Local angles then this is definitely a place to visit. The story of a local lad who let his mother know when he left and returned is remarkable. As is the history of the dome and the the effect it had on training AA operators is magnificent as for the gentleman who shew me around he was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Than to have a go. Wonderful. Well worth the effort will definitely visit again.
Written 12 July 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 for you great review. Unlike now, North Norfolk certainly was not sleepy in the 1940's. So many service people came from all over the world to fight the Nazi's from here. It's an honour for us to keep their memories alive. We look forward to welcoming you back again. Scott
Written 24 July 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Langham Dome