De Havilland Aircraft Museum
De Havilland Aircraft Museum
De Havilland Aircraft Museum
4.5
10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Britain’s oldest aviation museum and much more besides. Our fine collection of iconic de Havilland aircraft, including Mosquito, Sea Vixen and Comet, is just the start. The museum also includes • displays and exhibits of aviation technology: radar, piston and jet engines and missiles • films, exhibits and displays of wartime operations, weapons trials and military jet aircraft • interior access to the Comet, Trident and DH 146 demonstrating the evolution of modern jet air travel • the ongoing restoration of a de Havilland Rapide • Free access to the Shop with an extensive range of die cast models, model kits, branded merchandise & clothing and new and out of print books • Free access to the café serving hot/cold drinks, sandwiches, pastries and snacks. Normally open Tuesday to Sunday each week and bank holiday Mondays. Winter opening (November to mid-February) Wednesday to Sunday
Duration: 2-3 hours
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4.5
502 reviews
Excellent
339
Very good
139
Average
16
Poor
6
Terrible
2
Al H
Northampton, UK58 contributions
Nov 2023 • Solo
Spent a fantastic couple of hours here on a random Wednesday in November. There's so much to see that I could have been longer. The volunteers are all really friendly and knowledgeable and it was a pleasure to spend time talking to them (even if it did nearly make me late home for tea!).
The little cafe is also great for a snack to keep you fortified during your visit 😁
Will be coming back!
The little cafe is also great for a snack to keep you fortified during your visit 😁
Will be coming back!
Written 15 November 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.
Izzie hill
4 contributions
Nov 2023 • Family
We loved it here. Visited as a family with older kids. Age 11 and 15, all with varied interest in military aircraft and history . All 4 of us loved it, especially our 15 yr old plane obsessed daughter.
Museum is clean and welcoming, information boards are very easy to digest but give tonnes of info. Kids adored the question sheet which is deffinatly made to make sure you understood the information you read/discuss with the staff. There are lots of hands on things to do and experience and you can climb to look at cockpits and inside of planes.
Really good day out. We spent a good 4 hours just enjoying ourselves and the talks were brilliant.
Cafe was lovely and very reasonably priced with brilliant kind and funny staff.
2 members of staff stood out above all (despite everyone been fantastic) The general manager who was on the entry desk was amazing. Very kind and listened with great interest to the stories our eldest told about her time at cadets and scouts and when she Was lucky enough to fly . Talked to her for ages about different planes and history and just encouraged the conversation. It was lovely to see someone just chatting away and enjoying the conversation with our daughter.
2nd staff member ... Needs a flipping medal.
What a guy
Jay S
I have never EVER met someone so enthusiastic, knowledgeable and passionate about the subject he is talking about. I could very happily spend hours talking to him about mosquitos and Merlin engines and I know nothing about either. His absolute love of his specialist subject is contagious and he absolutely made our entire visit better just because of his infectious personality, stories and information. Not only was he happy to discuss all things mosquito he happily chatted to us all about our interests (many of which were his own too) and really made us feel special and that he was interested in us too as well as we about the museum and his awesome stories. Jay is an absolute legend and a credit to you all.
All in all we had a brilliant visit and I can't wait to return next time we travel down.
Thanks so much for an amazing day .
Museum is clean and welcoming, information boards are very easy to digest but give tonnes of info. Kids adored the question sheet which is deffinatly made to make sure you understood the information you read/discuss with the staff. There are lots of hands on things to do and experience and you can climb to look at cockpits and inside of planes.
Really good day out. We spent a good 4 hours just enjoying ourselves and the talks were brilliant.
Cafe was lovely and very reasonably priced with brilliant kind and funny staff.
2 members of staff stood out above all (despite everyone been fantastic) The general manager who was on the entry desk was amazing. Very kind and listened with great interest to the stories our eldest told about her time at cadets and scouts and when she Was lucky enough to fly . Talked to her for ages about different planes and history and just encouraged the conversation. It was lovely to see someone just chatting away and enjoying the conversation with our daughter.
2nd staff member ... Needs a flipping medal.
What a guy
Jay S
I have never EVER met someone so enthusiastic, knowledgeable and passionate about the subject he is talking about. I could very happily spend hours talking to him about mosquitos and Merlin engines and I know nothing about either. His absolute love of his specialist subject is contagious and he absolutely made our entire visit better just because of his infectious personality, stories and information. Not only was he happy to discuss all things mosquito he happily chatted to us all about our interests (many of which were his own too) and really made us feel special and that he was interested in us too as well as we about the museum and his awesome stories. Jay is an absolute legend and a credit to you all.
All in all we had a brilliant visit and I can't wait to return next time we travel down.
Thanks so much for an amazing day .
Written 4 November 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.
Larisa O
1 contribution
Oct 2023 • Family
A little gem of a place. You'd never know that all of this was there. There are so many places to look in (and many that you can go into).
The volunteers are really friendly and will answer any questions that you have.
I would recommend and will return.
The volunteers are really friendly and will answer any questions that you have.
I would recommend and will return.
Written 24 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.
kazz_zigal
Stevenage, UK27 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
A wonderful museum. It is a little specialised but has been there for over 60 years. It the home of the Mosquito and has three on show. Interesting facts and information not just about the Mosquito but plenty of other planes as well.
A good number of planes to look in and go in ... including a BAe146 Fuselage.
Perhaps not for very young children but anyone interested in planes and turbo jet engines it's a must.
Nice little caffe too.
A good number of planes to look in and go in ... including a BAe146 Fuselage.
Perhaps not for very young children but anyone interested in planes and turbo jet engines it's a must.
Nice little caffe too.
Written 9 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.
Curiosity749519
3 contributions
Sep 2023 • Family
This is a great (though somewhat out of the way) museum. If you are interested in the Mosquito, this is the place. The tour is self-guided, however, the staff is very knowledgeable and very friendly. They are willing to take their time to discuss the aircraft and the restorations and show you the ins and outs of what they are doing. It is my second visit and probably not my last.
Written 7 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.
lincolnhatter
Lincoln, UK753 contributions
Sep 2023 • Solo
So what do I do?? Mrs C is meeting her friend today and I'm surplus to requirements, so a bit of Googling (other search engines are available) came up with the DH museum, now I can be bit of a geeky nerd (history, canals, LTFC etc) but I'm not an aviation geek but off I went to the DH museum.......
And it was brilliant!!! Absolutely fascinating, I never knew there were so many types of Mosquito, I read so many information boards, looked at so many planes (Comet, Vixen, Vampire and rockets etc) read so many articles and looked at so many photos, read many stories of heroic flyers. What a clever ingenious chap Geoff DH was, the two big "hangars" are stuffed full of his planes, ideas and exhibits, the volunteers are enthusiastic and very very knowledgeable, and I enjoyed the old film footage in the Foremans Office, I am a sucker for old social history films.
Great day out and this "non aviation" geek spent over 4 hours here
And it was brilliant!!! Absolutely fascinating, I never knew there were so many types of Mosquito, I read so many information boards, looked at so many planes (Comet, Vixen, Vampire and rockets etc) read so many articles and looked at so many photos, read many stories of heroic flyers. What a clever ingenious chap Geoff DH was, the two big "hangars" are stuffed full of his planes, ideas and exhibits, the volunteers are enthusiastic and very very knowledgeable, and I enjoyed the old film footage in the Foremans Office, I am a sucker for old social history films.
Great day out and this "non aviation" geek spent over 4 hours here
Written 2 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.
Andrew D
1 contribution
Sep 2023 • Family
I was looking for something to do for a day out and remembered visiting this museum some years ago. Thought I’d go again and see if anything had changed. I’m really glad I did. The museum has updated its information displays and restored mosquito aircraft. As well as static displays the volunteers are only too happy to tell you all the stories and details about the amazing’wooden wonder’ mosquito aircraft and other de Havilland aircraft on display from the early days to the jet age. They really made the day special so many thanks to them. The cafe serves up a selection of sandwiches, cakes and teas and there’s a well stocked gift shop. You can also watch some of the aircraft being restored which is also a plus. If you’re an aviation fan it’s a unique and fascinating day out. I’m looking forward to going again and won’t leave it so long next time.
Written 12 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.
MissyLynnz
Nottinghamshire, UK122 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
Really enjoyed our visit here.
Great exhibits and friendly volunteers.
Loved the Comet aircraft and being able to go inside.
Air travel was definitely more luxurious then!
Definitely worth a visit!
Great exhibits and friendly volunteers.
Loved the Comet aircraft and being able to go inside.
Air travel was definitely more luxurious then!
Definitely worth a visit!
Written 3 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.
Sunnyholidays
London, UK10 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
We have visited many Aircraft museums, but the De Havilland Aircraft Museum was one of the best. All the volunteers were very approachable and friendly, and you could sense that they had a personal interest in aviation, and the museum.
There was a young guy, I think his name was Zack (not to sure) but he gave a brilliant talk on the Horsa glider, and the history behind the one in the museum. A very talented guy.
All the aircraft were within touching distance, and you could walk through and sit in the seats of most of them.
Reasonably priced, and we'll worth a visit.
There was a young guy, I think his name was Zack (not to sure) but he gave a brilliant talk on the Horsa glider, and the history behind the one in the museum. A very talented guy.
All the aircraft were within touching distance, and you could walk through and sit in the seats of most of them.
Reasonably priced, and we'll worth a visit.
Written 26 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.
Bryce
1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Friends
A truly amazing museum. So many aviation firsts from Geoffrey de Havilland and his world leading technology.
Written 10 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.
Wanderer05824365431
London, UK1 contribution
Hi,is this museum entry free?
Michael N
St. Albans, UK
Hi Michael
Thanks for uour interest in our museum.The museum is the oldest independent aviation museum in the UK and not funded by the Government.Our mission is to presrve the de Havilland heritage and we are supported by the thousands of visitors who pay an admission fee.Please check out our web site for admission prices.We hope to welcome you soon
MichaelJohnMichael
Harpenden179 contributions
Was told the café facilities are very limited. Is this still the case?
derekmcl2015
St. Albans, UK247 contributions
Yes, I am afraid so,
Hoffy880
Luton30 contributions
Are you aloud to sit in the planes if so how many
Richarddays
London84 contributions
Yes you can sit in most of the air crafts. But I did not record the number.
Sorry for late response just opened my Trip Advisor account.
Hoffy880
Luton30 contributions
Are you aloud to set in the planes if so how many
jedplan
Hertford, United Kingdom80 contributions
Yes - it is possible to sit in the cockpit of some of the aircraft and go into the cabins of some of the commercial jets. The whole site is very user- and child-friendly. There is a good café.
Jill J
Surrey, UK13 contributions
price of entry
Smithythefish
Watford, UK541 contributions
Closed for Winter Opens 5th March
Opening times
Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays 10.30-17.00hrs (last entry to Museum at 16.00hrs).
2016 Admission Charges
Adult – £10*
Seniors – £8*
Child (5-16) – £6*
Family – £25*
Adult – £9.00
Seniors – £7.25
Child – £5.45
Family – £22.70
Season Ticket
Adult – £25*
Senior – £18*
Child – £15*
Family – £50*
Adult – £22.70
Senior – £16.30
Child – £13.60
Family – £45.45
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Claim your listingDE HAVILLAND AIRCRAFT MUSEUM: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about De Havilland Aircraft Museum
- De Havilland Aircraft Museum is open:
- Tue - Sun 10:30 - 17:00
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- (0.56 mi) Holiday Inn Express St. Albans - M25, JCT.22, an IHG Hotel
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- (3.53 mi) Paolo's Italian Kitchen
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