Airshows In England
Antique Airplanes For Colorful History

COVID slowed us down for a couple of years, and now a few health issues challenge us.  We're still traveling if not writing about it quite so much. Our goal in 2022 was get to all seven continents in one year... and we did it.

Going forward health issues may not allow us to travel.  No one can take away those memories though.  We hope all of you are well and staying safe... and that you find some inspiration here for YOUR future travels. 

Airshows in England? Maybe you're ready for a break from castles and museums...


We love all kinds of history, and we love antique airplanes.

In the UK it's amazing how much history you can learn by visiting aviation museums and airshows....

So, we often go looking for airshows to mix things up.

You can find one... or two... every weekend from March to October.



Where To Find Airshows In England

There are military airshows at Royal Air Force Bases and displays featuring antique airplanes... or antique aeroplanes as they like to say... at museums from north to south.

If you want to spare yourself having too look all over the British Isles for times and dates, there are two big venues for airshows in England.

  • The Imperial War Museum Duxford and
  • The Shuttleworth Collection     

Those two will show you planes from early aviation pioneers to World War II almost up to the present.

The Duxford Museum and Airshow

The Imperial War Museum Duxford is a great place to see vintage aircraft. The museum is open all year.

Four times a year Duxford hosts major airshows in England, with smaller shows almost monthly.

Spitfires and Hurricanes at Duxford airshow

You can expect to see rare and historic aircraft on the ground and in the air....

World War II aviation legends like Hurricanes and Spitfires.

There are less well known legends like the Gloster Gladiator... or how about a Hawker Hind?


You may have heard of a Westland Lysander or a Bristol Blenheim Bomber… 

Maybe you can see them flying together.

If you're into Mustangs and other American "warbirds", there's a great American Air Museum on the grounds.


Duxford was first in use in World War I. It was a Royal Air Force Fighter Station in World War II. When it was closed, it was turned into the great museum it is today. Duxford is about 50 miles (80 km) from London just off the M11 Motorway. It is just about 10 miles (16 km) south of Cambridge.

The Shuttleworth Collection Air Display

If you're interested in seeing even older aircraft, visit the Shuttleworth Collection, in Old Warden, near Biggleswade. They specialize in "Edwardian Flying Machines."

The emphasis of their museum is on planes that are from the early years of flying, World War I and the 1920s and '30s between the wars. There are some World War II aircraft and some that visit on flying display days.

The Shuttleworth collection is dedicated to keeping even the oldest of their planes flying, and they schedule flying displays throughout the airshow season.... the airshows take place subject to "weather, serviceability and availability" according to their website.

Conditions have to be just right for some of these fragile old aircraft, and the planes themselves have to be ready to fly... if that sounds like they almost take on a life of their own, they do. The pilots learn to listen to the old planes, and if something doesn't sound quite right, they don't fly.... but you can still see them on the ground.

These old planes take off and land on grass, and that's fun to see all by itself.  This is actually a great place to take kids.

The Shuttleworth Collection is just a couple of miles off the A1 Motorway about 30 miles (48 km) north of London.... you can drive it in about an hour.

If you want to visit both, you'll probably have to settle for a flying day at one and a visit to the museum at the other... but that's not bad. They are about an hour or two apart over country roads. On rare occasions they have flying displays the same weekend... you could see one on Saturday and one on Sunday... How's that for seeing the best airshows in England.

If you want to learn more about where to see and fly old planes see our new site at Antique-Airplanes.com.

Happy travels... even if you don't travel the world... just remember that life is a journey... embrace and enjoy it! Judy and Mark

Curious about what else we've written about?  Search our site for a destination or travel tip.

But... We'd love to have you share this page or comment on it…
Thanks, Judy and Mark

New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Did it help with your travel planning and preparation? Eager to leave on that next vacation? Please leave your tips or comments in the box below.

Timely Tips

Summer Vacation
Travel is fun in the Northern summer... but don't neglect the Southern Hemisphere at this time of year.
Yes, it's winter in South Africa, but that's their dry season. It's a good time to travel there.

Lions stop traffic in Kruger NP South Africa

Sometimes you need to watch rain patterns instead of just seasons to figure the best time to travel...

Whether you're taking a road trip close to home or traveling abroad...

Whether it's summer or winter in your part of the world...
the way you pack can make it all more pleasurable.

Check out all our Packing Lists and Tips.

Need travel ideas?
Things to See in Europe
Africa Calls!
Travel In America

Don't just dream about it...
Start making plans!

Custom Tour Planning List
International Travel Planning Tips
Foreign Is Fun - Not Scary!
Get Your Passports and Visas

And Expect Good Things
There Are Tourist Angels

Search

Search MouseToursTravels
Travel questions or destination info?
Find our answers faster..
.

Translate

We want you to feel comfortable out in the world and on our pages - so surf away in your own language...

Updated Tips & New Travel Stories

  1. 2022 Travels To All Seven Continents

    After COVID, all seven continents in one year was a worthy goal for our 2022 travels..

    Read More

  2. 2021 Travels - Another COVID Year?

    Our 2021 travels were only domestic. COVID kept us close home. Road trips and a cautious flights but still fun.

    Read More

  3. 2020 Travels - What Travels?

    Our 2020 travels were slim. COVID kept us home too. One trip to the Three Guyanas, but dreaming of travel next year.

    Read More

Two Ways To Like Us!

Like Our Site Top Left
Like Our Fanpage Below
Thank You!

More On
The UK and Ireland

Airshows In England
Ancient Irish Monuments
Avebury
Bru-na-Boinne
Castle MacEwen
Cornwall and Devon
Dingle Peninsula
Driving In Ireland
Driving On The Left
Ireland
Irish Pubs
Isle of Skye Scotland
Keys To The Castle
London
London For Free
Ring Of Kerry
Scotland Castle
Stonehenge
Top Sights In Ireland
Travel England
and
2015 Travels  for More Ireland

 For Really Old Stuff
Ancient Megaliths
Henge Monuments
Carnac (OK, This is in France)

Ready For A New Adventure?

We escape by traveling…
But there are more ways to escape. 
Work on something you LOVE…
With A Website
SBI Teaches You Everything

First Day Of The Rest Of Your Life