Europe
United Kingdom (UK)
England
East Anglia
Norfolk
Neatishead
Things to do in Neatishead
RAF Air Defence Radar Museum
See all things to do

RAF Air Defence Radar Museum

See all things to do
See all things to do
RAF Air Defence Radar Museum
5
#1 of 2 things to do in Neatishead
Military 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
Write a review
About
An interactive museum telling the fascinating history of UK air defence from 1936 to the present day.
Suggested duration
More than 3 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Full view
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
59 within 3 miles
Bure River Cottage Restaurant
574
0.6 mi££ - £££ • Seafood • British • Healthy
The New Inn
1,417
0.5 mi££ - £££ • Bar • British • Pub
The Galley
322
0.7 mi££ - £££ • Cafe • British • Deli
Staithe n Willow
229
0.7 mi££ - £££ • British • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
JHD Interiors
24
0.6 mi££ - £££ • Cafe
The Swan Inn
1,950
0.7 mi££ - £££ • Bar • British • Pub
Yim Siam
7
0.5 mi££ - £££ • Thai
Country Treats
107
0.6 mi£ • Cafe • British
Golden City Chinese
57
0.7 mi££ - £££ • Chinese • Asian • Hong Kong
The Ferry Inn Horning
1,602
1.2 mi££ - £££ • Quick Bites • Bar • British
See all
Attractions
33 within 6 miles
BeWILDerwood Norfolk
2,494
0.8 miAmusement & Theme Parks
Salhouse Broad
322
2.7 miNature & Wildlife Areas
The Broads National Park
1,259
2.5 miNational Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas
Wroxham Barns
2,060
2.8 miAmusement & Theme Parks
How Hill Ludham
188
1.7 miSpeciality Museums
The Museum of the Broads
219
Speciality Museums
Ranworth Broad
195
2.4 miBodies of Water
Hoveton Hall Gardens
186
2.3 miGardens
St Benet's Abbey
127
2.7 miHistoric Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
Hickling Broad
191
Historic Sites • Bodies of Water
See all
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
5.0
565 reviews
Excellent
466
Very good
79
Average
15
Poor
3
Terrible
2
Lizb1967
Reedham, UK25 contributions
Great Tardis of a Museum
Nov 2023 • Family
I visited the museum with my partner for the first time yesterday. Such an interesting place! Wonderful talks on radar in the Second World War to the the present day. Being inside the Cold War Room which is as it was when last used some decades ago, was amazing. I was also able to sit in a Jaguar cockpit. I learnt such a lot and we will definitely return as there is so much to see that we could not fit in on this visit. Well worth the very small entrance fee which allows return visits anytime in the next year too! Volunteers were lovely and so knowledgeable. Would highly recommend.
Written 11 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.
Hattie H
Many thanks for your lovely review and yes do visit again when we reopen next Easter.
Written 15 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
John M
Norwich, UK462 contributions
Really interesting radar and RAF museum
Nov 2023 • Couples
Having lived in Norfolk for many, many years, we had always promised ourselves a visit to the RAF Air Defence Radar Museum at Neatishead. Well, yesterday, we finally managed to do this and what a great place to visit it is! We didn't really expect to be as wowed as we were... The exhibits are beautifully laid out, with really helpful explanations and the staff were approachable and knowledgeable of their subject. We sat in on two talks; one in the Cold War Room and the other in the WW2 Room. Both were excellent and full of really interesting information. The history of RAF Neatishead is well documented, as is the history of RAF Coltishall, its parent station. The exhibits go even further than just the stations and include the Royal Observer Corps and also a couple of ex-fighter cockpits, the SEPECAT Jaguar and the Tornado F3. Both are accessible to the visitors. Outside, there are more exhibits, with a Bloodhound missile, a couple of mobile radar units and a Rapier missile system to have a look at.

There is also a lovely little cafe on site serving light meals and snacks, which was really appreciated, as we spent well over four hours perusing the displays and listening to the talks!

All in all, this is a very interesting museum to visit, one that we should have visited earlier! BTW, your tickets last one full calendar year, so repeat visits don't cost you any more entry fees.
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.
Hattie H
Many thanks for your wonderful review, and pleased you finally got to experience the museum!
Written 15 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
cphlor
133 contributions
Radar History brought to Life
Oct 2023 • Family
An amazing place to find in the Norfolk countryside, tracing the history of Radar and its use in the RAF.
Fascinating displays, and above all friendly and knowledgable volunteers, make this place a great place to spend a few hours.
Thanks to all involved and keep up the good work.
Written 31 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.
Hattie H
Many thanks for your kind review and will pass along your praise to all the volunteers!
Written 4 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Chris H
1 contribution
Brilliant museum
Oct 2023 • Family
Amazing insight into how the UK Air defence system worked during ww2 and the cold war. Brilliant volunteers who worked there give first hand knowledge. Minimum 5hrs required to do it justice. 10/10 day out
Written 31 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.
Hattie H
Many thanks for your wonderful review, we've had lots of 5/5 reviews but I think you're the first to give us 10/10! We're very pleased that people like yourselves can devote a whole day to their visit and often come back for more, and we'll be adding even more exhibitions to the museum for next season.
Written 4 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Cazoli13
Bedfordshire, UK94 contributions
Really interesting museum
Oct 2023 • Family
We had a great time at this museum. So many interesting exhibits to see and lots of interactive exhibits which my kids (age 5 and 15) and my husband loved! Lovely cafe and gift shop. Friendly, knowledgeable staff. Would highly recommend. We spent 3 hours here.
Written 26 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.
Hattie H
Many thanks for your kind review and really pleased the children got so much out of their visit!
Written 4 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rita H
Welling, UK28 contributions
Incredible little find
Sep 2023 • Couples
What an incredible little find! Absolutely loved this place which is virtually entirely run by volunteers. The people there are so welcoming and knowledgeable they made it a thoroughly enjoyable and informative day. We would particular like to thank Tony who spent so much energy and time telling us about the Jaguar cockpit that we had the privilege of sitting in.
You do have to have an interest in what the museum has to offer, if you do you won't be disappointed.
There is a cafe serving drinks and snacks and a small gift shop area. There is plenty of parking space.
Thank you all at The Radar Museum - hope to return.
Written 26 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.
Hattie H
Many thanks for your great review, and will be sure to pass on to Tony your praise!
Written 4 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
CPME
Southend-on-Sea, UK7 contributions
Superb experience
Oct 2023 • Couples
This wonderful museum portrays the development of radar defence systems, from their beginning in WW2, through the cold war and right up to the present day. Not only is this depicted through a range of well-organised exhibits but it is supplemented by interesting talks on the eras covered, often by retired expert personnel. All included. Superb!
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.
Hattie H
Many thanks for your wonderful review!
Written 4 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Geoff H
Thatcham, UK30 contributions
Brilliant museum
Oct 2023 • Couples
Like many others, we were pleasantly surprised at how much there was to see. We also really enjoyed the presentations by ex-RAF staff who brought the place to life. Highly recommended.
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.
Hattie H
Thank you for your lovely review, the presentations by our volunteers are our best feature and we're very lucky to have such knowledgeable people!
Written 4 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Relax656908
1 contribution
Don’t miss this wonderful radar museum!
Oct 2023 • Couples
Fantastic museum with knowledgable volunteers well worth a visit. We were entertained for at least 3.5 hours. Marvellous insight into Cold War and WW2 radar and great the old equipment is still around to be seen and the uses described.
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.
Hattie H
Many thanks for your kind review!
Written 4 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Louise
Stafford, UK20 contributions
Would be 5 for interactive elements but a few too many information boards
Oct 2023 • Couples
Well worth a visit for the price. Opportunity to sit in the cockpit of a Tornado and a Jaguar, talk to volunteers who are largely ex-RAF and try flight simulators. A lot of information boards to read probably makes it less suitable for children but a good mix for adults.
Written 13 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.
Hattie H
Many thanks for your constructive review, we're very proud of our talented volunteers who are able to apply their own stories to those of WW2 and the Cold War. We will shortly be closing for winter and will be developing and rejuvenating our displays, so will take your comments into account on adding in more interactive elements for all ages.
Written 19 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
2
…
Showing results 1-10 of 563
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

RAF Air Defence Radar Museum, Neatishead

Frequently Asked Questions about RAF Air Defence Radar Museum
RAF Air Defence Radar Museum is open:
  • Tue - Sat 10:00 - 17:00
Restaurants near RAF Air Defence Radar Museum: View all restaurants near RAF Air Defence Radar Museum on Tripadvisor