Kent Battle of Britain Museum

Key Facts

Sited on what remains of the historic fighter airfield at Hawkinge, the museum seeks to keep the memory of the Battle of Britain alive. The museum opened in 1981, initially using the old control tower, but has now expanded to occupy five buildings. A large collection of full-scale replica aircraft are on display, several being constructed for the ‘Battle of Britain’ film. Components from up to 600 crashed aircraft are also on show.

Signposted off the A260, north of Folkestone, Kent. See this location on Microsoft Live Search Maps

Open Tuesday to Sunday 10.00 am to 4.00 pm, Easter Good Friday to September 30th; closed on Mondays, except for Bank Holidays. Last admission 3.00 pm. Closed 1 October to the following Easter.

See official website for details.

Amenities:

Toilets, Parking, Cafe, Souvenir shop, Access for the disabled.

The Dowding Memorial Hangar (photo, Kent Battle of Britain Museum)	V-1 Display (photo, Kent Battle of Britain Museum)

FSM = Full Scale Model.

Kent Battle of Britain Museum Trust Ltd, Aerodrome Road, Hawkinge, nr Folkestone, Kent, CT18 7AG. Tel: 01303 893140. Official Website

The Armoury (photo, Kent Battle of Britain Museum)	The Stuart-Buttle Hangar (photo, Kent Battle of Britain Museum)
Outside display (photo, Kent Battle of Britain Museum)	The Operations Block (photo, Kent Battle of Britain Museum)

12 Comments

• 

  By lewis., 22 July 2010 @ 4:09 pm

  nice do they actually have the supermarine spitfire prototype? if they do, wicked! also,do they have 3 BF / ME 109′s? and where they all real ones?

• 

  By Mark, 25 July 2010 @ 10:20 pm

  Forget having your mobile phone with you aswell!.
  Aircraft replicas are not worth seeing!, better off going to a real museum where you can at least take pictures!.

• 

  By Kev Hendry, 29 August 2010 @ 6:56 pm

  What an excellent display of artifacts from the BoB
  But what a pity the neurosis that prevades the staff there. They apparently had a break in 8 years ago and now you cannot take any recording devices onto the site. Not even a notebook. I thought that museums were supposed to be places that you can go to research info on the subject matter. Apparently all you can take away from this place is what you can remember. They do not even produce an info sheet detailing the exhibits. The visit was totally spoilt by their ridiculous attitude to their customers and the draconian measures they have taken. Perhaps the Germans won after all…. Kev

• 

  By Jackie, 11 September 2010 @ 10:23 pm

  As Kev, the previous poster, says the museum is spoilt by the staff – 5 of us travelled quite a way to visit, but the staff really made you feel that they didn’t want you there! It’s a very good display, and of interest to all of us (all air cadets/staff) but would never suggest a visit to other squadrons. There are other, much better museums around

• 

  By Sophie, 12 October 2010 @ 10:46 pm

  What a strange policy. With so many wonderful and welcoming museums covering this important era around the county of Kent and the rest of the south east there really is no reason to waste your time and money at places with such an unfriendly and suspicious attitude towards their visitors.

• 

  By Ron, 18 October 2010 @ 7:07 pm

  Nice enough little museum but appalling attitude towards visitors– ignorant,rude and aggressive ticket seller “greeted” us after a very long journey. Visitors tolerated but definitely not welcomed. Could do with some updating of tags and a general clean up wouldn’t go amiss.The local taxi drivers weren’t even sure where it was and actually advised against a visit based on what they had heard. Said it all–they were right.

• 

  By Gerry, 14 December 2010 @ 11:00 pm

  I have visited the Museum on a number of ocassions and it is by far the best Battle of Britain Museum in the country. The staff have always been very polite and helpful, and I believe are all volunteers. Yes they don’t allow photos but so what and I have visited several other museums in Kent that have recently introduced similar restrictions. They commemorate our finest hour, tell the storys of hundreds of airmen and should be congratulated on an absolutely amazing collection…. Gerry

• 

  By Jill, 2 February 2011 @ 5:48 pm

  Having just had my attention drawn to this from a website I really had to comment.

  The staff are rude, offensive and unhelpful and confiscated a notebook from my eleven year old son, tearing out pages he had made notes and drawings on.

  It was a shame because on the way out I was going to introduce myself and explain that Grandad was involved in guarding wrecks in 1940 and I have his photos (dozens of them!) and souvenirs he collected. They wont be getting them now – or ever.

  Jill

• 

  By Jan Lucas, 20 February 2011 @ 9:47 am

  unbelievable gripes on here about staff! what did you all go there for the staff? the photos?..we have been many times, live locally have taken many visitors over the years ..All love it!..very emotional for the older ones who remember the war days..the reason the taxi drivers do not know about it is that it is never advertised locally as it is such a gem, and security reasons etc..most visitors come from outside the area..personally I think the local volunteers are doing a marvellous job, maybe act a bit suspicious as they really value these items..given a chance there are actually visitors that would pinch them!..would reccommend to all!!

• 

  By Bill Armstrong, 24 July 2011 @ 10:14 pm

  I entirely agree with the negative comments re staff at this establishment; I have never been to any other museum where the staff were as offensive as here. I visited about four years ago – never again. One of the two staff on duty lauched in to a tirade about the aircraft enthusiasts who had been arrested in Greece not long before; he was of the opinion that they should have been burnt at the stake! No punishment was too bad for them: I could have been a relative of one! There then followed an outburst on the general stupidity of entusiasts in general Because I politely disagreed, this “gentleman” told me to f**k off and the f-word was used most liberally thereafter. A thoroughly unpleasant experience. I went on to visit the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway where the attitude of the staff was completely the opposite. I am frankly astounded that this museum is still in existence and can only think that it is run for the benefit of the staff themselves. Don’t bother to go there!

• 

  By Arthur Negus, 13 August 2011 @ 2:42 pm

  http://www.localrags.co.uk/index.php/News/2009/4/18/theft-risk-forces-battle-of-britain-museum-to-keep–photography-ban-in-place/

• 

  By Mark Ingham, 24 September 2011 @ 8:37 pm

  I totally disagree with the comments abount the staff!They were really helpful,and they were plenty of notices up in the car park warning you that you could not take your mobile phones our cameras in the museum.A really a good museum I will be going back soon I hope!PS If battle of britain is your thing then this is the best musuem in the UK to go to!

Other Links to this Post

RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI

Leave a comment