Science Museum Swindon

Key Facts

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The Wroughton ‘out station’ near Swindon houses the large object store for the Science Museum in London, and holds all the large exhibits that are not on display there. In particular, visitors can see a number of airliners from the Air Transport Collection, plus other large exhibits such as agricultural machinery, cars and lorries. Among the aircraft on display are some very rare items, including the Boeing 247, Handley Page Gugnunc and the only Lockheed Constellation in the UK. A number of public open days and special events are held during the summer season.

Wroughton Airfield, on the A4361 south of Swindon, Wiltshire. Follow the signs for Wroughton from the A4365 (M4 Junction 16) or the A345 (M4 Junction 15) and then the brown ‘Science Museum’ signs.

Visiting

For opening times and special events, please refer to the official website.

Usually free, but there can be a charge for special events.

Amenities:

Toilets, parking, access for the disabled.

Hangar D4 holds the Constellation and many other aircraft	Hangar D3 mainly holds motor vehicles and some aircraft
Constellation N7777G	Constellation nose

Science Museum Swindon, Hackpen Lane, Wroughton, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN4 9LT. Tel: 01793 846200, Official website.

Pathfinder II G-MMCB	Skytrike G-MBVT
Devon C.2 VP975	Bensen B.7 Gyro-glider
Bede BD-5B G-BGLB	P.166 G-APWY
P.166 nose	Z-37 Cmelak G-AVZB
Gnat T.1 XP505	Comet 1A nose G-ANAV
Comet 4B G-APYD	Gugnunc G-AACN
DH.89A Dragon Rapide G-ALXT	DC-3 EI-AYO
DH.84 Dragon G-ACIT	Boeing 247D N18E
Trident 3B G-AWZM	Comet 4B G-APYD

5 Comments

• 

  By Marnix Van der Eecken, 14 June 2010 @ 3:40 pm

  I recently delivered a Turbine DC3 to Kansas from Kabul/Afghanistan.In Ottawa ,kansas i met up with the previous owner of the Boeing 247 (only know him as chuck).
  He asked me on the whereabouts of N18E,so found it in your museum.This gentleman was also the owner of the last Fokker Trimotors of which some are still flying.He now manages the small municipal airfield in Ottawa and flies his vintage Cessna 140 (in mint condition) from time to time.
  Maybe i ll pass your museum one of these days.
  Regards.
  Marnix

• 

  By John Wakefield, 24 September 2011 @ 7:22 pm

  Free admission you must be joking. I recently asked about a visit for my local bus club to the Science Museum’s Wroughton reserve collection. Some interesting vehicles buses, lorries, cars, motor bikes, aircraft & even a steam boat. I was quoted £360 (including VAT) for a weekday visit, (twenty people at £18 each) The museum stated they would have to take staff off other duties to show us around. This would be for only one hanger, there are I believe three. Quite frankly this is an outrageous charge when the Science Museum is government financed & we are already paying for this as tax payers.
  It begs the question. What purpose does Wroughton serve? none of the vehicles (to my knowledge) ever appear in public as they never have public open days.

• 

  By John Gardner, 24 November 2011 @ 6:28 pm

  I drive past Swindon quite regularly and have an interest in aviation and can actually remember taking the family not the year)to an open day and Air Show at Wroughton. I dont think they ever had another and even then one of the hangars was closed. So not a lot of hope for the future with the ‘jobs worths’ hiding our heritage. As previous comments suggest Wroughton has become a no visit zone which we pay for no matter which government is in power. Next will be no visits at all because ‘Health and Safety’ have decided the Hangars are unsafe? Welcome to England!!!!

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  By Gary Adams, 16 February 2012 @ 9:58 pm

  I have a monochrome photograph of NC16071 as a United mainliner which also indicates US mail air express on the tail. I would be happy to email a scan of this. It was taken by my father but the date is not known. Little else is known about the picture. Since you have the actual aircraft, you might be interested. Regards, Gary

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  By c knutson, 1 March 2012 @ 10:25 am

  I’ve been advised by the Science Museum that you can book a visit to the facility if there is something specific you wish to research but there are no planned public open days at Wroughton for immediate future, certainly not before summer 2013. Best way to track this is to subscribe to the Science Museum events mailing list.

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