About this museum
Hiding in Charlwood on Gatwick's perimeter, this charity keeps an all-British collection of piston and early-jet heavies in running order — the point is engine runs, not taxidermy. On run days the Lightning's twin Avons and the Shackleton's four Griffons perform a duet that reviewers describe in seismological terms.
Listed inventory: 14 airframes.
Avro Shackleton WR982 (the £5 guided tour is unanimously endorsed) and a live-engined English Electric Lightning. There's also runway-viewing access for Gatwick traffic as a palate cleanser.
- Shackleton MR.3 WR982 — four Griffons, run regularly
- EE Lightning with live twin Avons
- Hawker Hunter & Gloster Meteor
Open Fridays–Sundays typically; engine-run event days are the ones to target. Small, personal, and staffed by people with logbooks.
- “So pleased we found this place. Perfect for a few hours exploring and learning about different aircraft as well as the history of Gatwick airport. Also has a great viewing area! Run by friendly and very knowledgeable volunteers - we’ll be back!”— Victoria C
- “A great place to spend a couple of hours. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff. And a short 5 min walk to a viewing area near the end of the runway to watch the planes taking off too!!”— Jeremy Clitheroe
- “We are just back from a private visit to the Museum. What a wonderful experience. The volunteers are not only extremely knowledgeable but very entertaining with their stories. Well worth a visit. Thank you everyone”— Anne Ruby
Public map reports · excerpted for reference · not reviews collected by this gazetteer
Frequently asked
What are the opening times for Gatwick Aviation Museum?
Fri–Sun 10am–5pm. Verify current opening times with the museum before travelling.
How much does Gatwick Aviation Museum cost?
Adult admission is listed as £12.50. Check the museum's current prices before travelling.
Which aircraft can you see at Gatwick Aviation Museum?
The listed collection includes Avro Shackleton Mk.3 MR3 (WR982 coded "J"), Blackburn Buccaneer S1 (XN923), Hawker Hunter F51, Percival Sea Prince T1 (Former Royal Navy WP308), English Electric Lightning F.53 (ZF579 / 53-671). Aircraft move between displays, so confirm current holdings before travelling.
Does Gatwick Aviation Museum have parking or a cafe?
Parking is recorded on site; a cafe or restaurant is recorded. Check current facilities with the museum before travelling.
Airframe checklist
Tick them off as you go. Identities are as held in the gazetteer survey — verify against the museum’s own labels if something has moved.
| Type | Identity | |
|---|---|---|
| Avro Shackleton Mk.3 MR3 (WR982 coded "J") | — | |
| Blackburn Buccaneer S1 (XN923) | — | |
| Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander | — | |
| de Havilland Sea Vixen FAW(TT).2 | XS587 | |
| de Havilland Venom FB50 (J1605) | — | |
| English Electric Canberra B.2 (nose section) | WK146 | |
| English Electric Lightning F.53 | ZF579 / 53-671 | |
| English Electric Lightning F.53 (cockpit) | ZF589 | |
| Gloster Meteor T7 (VZ638) | — | |
| Hawker Hunter F51 | — | |
| Hawker Hunter T7 (XL591) | — | |
| Hawker Sea Hawk FB5 (XE364) | — | |
| Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR3 (XV751) | — | |
| Percival Sea Prince T1 (Former Royal Navy WP308) | — |
Inventory last verified 2026-07-18: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4. Aircraft move between sites; report corrections to the compiler.
Location & contact
- Address
- Lowfield Heath Rd, Charlwood, Gatwick RH6 0BT
- Phone
- 01293 862294
- Website
- www.gamc.org.uk/
- Hours
- Fri–Sun 10am–5pm
(from your local clock — verify before travel) - Gazetteer
- SE-02 on the situation map