The airfield was an original station for No. 12 Group Fighter Command during the Second World War.
Duxford hosted the first American fighter wing to be stationed in Britain during WWII, the 78th Fighter Group.
The site remains one of Europe's premier aviation museums, preserving a collection that spans from the First World War to the Cold War.
The Land Warfare Hall features one of the few surviving British-made 'Chieftain' tanks in a restored state alongside extensive armored vehicle displays.
The museum grounds include the American Air Museum, which features a distinctive roof structure designed by Foster + Partners.
The historic flight hangar houses aircraft that are still maintained in flying condition for air shows and demonstrations.
The site holds extensive archives of personal stories and oral histories from veterans and civilian personnel.
IWM Duxford was one of the filming locations for the movie 'Memphis Belle' (1990).
IWM Duxford is a major aviation museum located on a historic airfield site that served as a frontline fighter base during the Battle of Britain. The facility houses an extensive collection of historic aircraft, military vehicles, and naval exhibits across several large hangars. Visitors can explore the preserved operations room and interactive displays detailing the history of 20th-century conflict. The site also operates as an active airfield, frequently hosting historic flying displays throughout the year. Note that the location provided is the specific staff entrance, while the public visitor entrance is located separately via the main A505 site access. The museum grounds include significant outdoor display areas and memorial spaces.
The elevated viewing area inside the American Air Museum overlooking the B-52 Stratofortress.
Wear comfortable, sturdy walking shoes as the site covers a large geographic footprint with hangars spaced far apart.
Check the official air show calendar before visiting, as site access and traffic conditions change significantly on flight event days.
Plan to use the official visitor entrance on the A505 rather than the staff entrance for seamless ticketing and parking access.
Attempting to use the staff entrance for visitor access; failing to account for the physical size of the site.
Closed for a short period annually around the Christmas holiday season.
Respect all cordoned areas near active flight lines; maintain a quiet, respectful tone in memorial hangars.
