The Lashenden Air Warfare Museum is one of the longest established aviation museums in the country, having been formed in 1970.
The museum collection was started by members of the Maidstone branch of Royal Air Forces Association in the late 1960’s. The museum itself came into being when the airfield owner, Mr Freeman, offered the Maidstone branch of the Royal Air Forces Association a building for use as a museum in early 1970. The museum opened to the public Easter 1970 taking on the name of Lashenden Air Warfare Museum (Lashenden being the wartime name of the airfield). The museum’s first aircraft arrived just before Easter 1970, this being the very rare Fieseler Fi 103R-4 Reichenberg piloted V1 flying bomb.
The museum became a registered charity (279883) in 1977 & is operated through a Board of Trustees. It’s aim is to advance the education of the public by establishing and maintaining a museum for the exhibition to the public of aircraft and relics, mainly from the Second World War and to preserve the aviation and military heritage of this country for the public benefit & to raise money for RAF & associated charities.
The museum has continued to expand at a steady pace with the collections of a number of “preservation & recovery groups” being added to the museum on the demise of these groups. These include a rare Focke Achgelis Fa 330A-1 (100549) gyro kite from the Merseyside Aviation Society. The acquisition of this World War 2 German aircraft makes the museum the only non-national museum in the country to display 2 genuine World War 2 German aircraft.
The museum also holds the Andrew Cresswell collection of "Wreckology" items & the RAF POW Association collection of Prisoner of War artefacts. There is a display of uniforms each one displayed with the details of its owner. The museum holds items from 1911 to the present day & has items from both World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, The Falklands, & both Gulf wars.
The museum is a memorial to the men & women of all nations who took part in both World Wars whether civilian or military.
Open Wednesdays over school summer holidays 10am - 5pm
| Ticket Type | Ticket Tariff |
|---|---|
| Adult ticket | £2.00 per ticket |
| Children 5 to 16 | £1.00 per ticket |
| Over 60s | £1.00 per ticket |
| Under 5s | Free |
The museum is situated on the A274 1 mile from the village of Headcorn, 9 miles from Maidstone, Tenterden, Ashford & junction 8 of the M20.
From Maidstone take the A274 towards Tenterden after passing through Headcorn Village, the airfield will be on your left, follow the brown tourist signs.
From Ashford take the A28 to its junction with the A274 (signposted Biddenden & Headcorn) after leaving Biddenden the airfield will be on the right (approximately 3 miles), follow the brown tourist signs. From junction 8 of the M20 take the B2163 to its junction with the A274 at the Plough pub. Turn left on to the A274 towards Tenterden after passing through Headcorn Village, the airfield will be on your left, follow the brown tourist signs.
The FREE car park is situated approximately 300 metres down the road signposted to Smarden.
SAT NAV - TN27 9HX
Bus - Arriva service 12 to Shenley Crossroads followed by a 10 minute walk.
Train – Headcorn Station, Taxi available from the station (25 minute walk not recommended very busy road with no foot path)
Tourism South East Member - Bronze 2022| Summer Season (2 Mar 2023 - 26 Oct 2023) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Day | Times | |
| Saturday - Sunday | 10:00 | - 17:00 |
| Bank Holiday | 10:00 | - 17:00 |
* Open Wednesdays over school summer holidays 10am - 5pm
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