By appointment only, but fascinating... Trenchard Museum

Bentwaters Cold War Museum in Suffolk:

BCWM | - The Bentwaters Cold War Museum

Open alternate Sundays from April onwards.

Very highly recommended.

Jet Age Museum has recently opened on the edge of Gloucestershire Airport Staverton. The displays are still developing, but it's well worth a visit. We are open weekends 10-4.

Jet Age Museum - Home.

Tempsford
 

There is a bit of a collection at Tempsford. We had a staff ride from Wyton some time back. Had to get special permission from the Lady of the Manor. The barn is quite a moving place. Noted on the local news a few weeks back Prince Charles paid a visit to unveil a memorial


Edit: pure coincidence. someone put a post on the Godmanchester living FB page this morning


Tempsford Special Duties Squadrons


Godmanchester also home of operation Epsilon - Old Farm Hall fame. apparently the wires are still in place! (sorry Old Farm Hall also got a mention on a PPRuNe thread a few weeks back re the Nazi preparedness for the atom bomb during WW2)

Four Scottish aviation museums that are well worth a visit, all with seasonal opening times:

Dumfries & Galloway Aviation Museum, a little north east of Dumfries:
Dumfries & Galloway Aviation Museum Feature Page on Undiscovered Scotland

Highland Aviation Museum, close to Inverness Airport:
Highland Aviation Museum Page on Undiscovered Scotland

Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre, just to the north of Montrose:
Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre Feature Page on Undiscovered Scotland

And by far the biggest, the National Museum of Flight at East Fortune, east of Edinburgh, just off the A1:
National Museum of Flight Feature Page on Undiscovered Scotland

Avro Heritage Centre, Woodford, Cheshire

What Clicker said at Post 6. See here:

Air Defence Radar Museum Neatishead

Edited to add that if you're in that part of the world, La Cupole is well worth a visit - not only because of what it was intended for, but because of what was done to put it out of action. The site was apparently the inspiration for at least one of the James Bond sets and it's easy to see why. UK friendly. See here:

La Cupole Museum


STH

I absolutely agree with Sir Topham - but I would, wouldn't I?:E

At Sleap airfield in Shropshire there's a wartime aircraft recovery group which has a small museum. Also, very good food in the restaurant under the tower.

Southampton Hall of Aviation

or use next link:-

Welcome

They say,

Geographically this area was the most important area in the country, if not the world, for aircraft experimental and development work between 1908 and the late 1960s, the most famous being the Spitfire. We have 18 aircraft of various types, including the Spitfire and S6b. Our Engine Bay also has a good selection of engines.
We welcome people aboard the Sandringham Flying Boat; and why not take a tour onto the flight deck. Or you can imagine that you are flying the Swift or Harrier Jump Jet while sitting in the cockpit.

Historic Airfield
 

I can recommend Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre.

Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre. Britain's first operational military airfield.

Home of 25(F) sqn who initially formed there, also has the Dickin medal of 'Bamse' the St Bernard with 2 citations for bravery (his statue is on the waterfront).

Does this bloke count as a museum? https://www.facebook.com/events/list...mcrpost.harrop

He started with an itinerant display of Post Office memorabilia and then became interested MiA/KiA telegrams. he then researched and began collecting artefacts connected with the subject, many of them aircrew; including a Line Book from 222 Sqn. He now has a permanent display at Southern Cemetry, Manchester displaying items and documents relating to some of the servicemen buried there.

Metheringham
 

Now if you wanted a day out at a small museum how about this;

WW2 bomber station in one of the most beautiful spots in Lincolnshire

Fully restored RAF gymnasium now home to worlds largest Lancaster (ex flying) model

Fully restored ration store now home to many bomber station artefacts, including parts of Guy Gibsons fated Mosquito

Many semi derelict areas to explore, blast shelters, Nissen huts etc.

Our favourite - Jet Provost Mk4 XS186 - Fully restored and taxied regularly, up close and personal with a seat available for those who still can

A free cup of tea and unlimited biscuits (a pack of biccies is the only admission fee for the XS186 crew room, weve got 1,000's!) for anyone who wants to talk old aeroplanes

Sounds awful doesn't it..........

Here's a shout for the Midland Air Museum at Coventry airport

Midland Air Museum | About the Museum

Incorporates the Sir Frank Whittle Jet Heritage Centre.

There is also a collection, and aviation paraphernalia at Wellesbourne, not to mention the static Vulcan there (I say static, but I believe it taxis every now and then, also v good café). Museum only open Sundays I think.

Ulster
 

Ulster aviation society - well worth a trip if you are in that part of the world.

Welcome - Ulster Aviation Society

RAF Scampton - RAF Scampton Museum

TOUR DETAILS 2014 - RAF HOLMPTON

Both well worth a visit.

Gents (and ladies, perhaps!) thank you very much for sharing your knowledge. That will fill quite a few summer's days!

... and can I put in a mention of the Manx Aviation Preservation Society (MAPS) at Ronaldsway Airport!

Manx Aviation Preservation Society | Preserving the Isle of Man's Military and Aviation Heritage

Cracking little museum, full of treasures! Whilst you are here, enjoy the other sights of the Isle of Man - including the steam railway, electric trams and the largest water wheel in the world - and it's still working!

The 'Mosquito' Museum, near South Mimms:


Visitor no

The Carpetbagger Aviation Museum at Harrington nr Kettering. It was the USAAF equivalent to Tempsford. There is also a Thor site but no public access.
Twenty minutes away, the pub in Sudborough has a fire place with a wooden lintel full of old pennies. These were placed in the cracks by Grafton Underwood crews before their mission with the intention of retrival on their safe return.
A very poignant memorial.