About this museum
Also known as / searched as: SWAM · South Wales Aviation Museum tickets · Aviation Museum Barry · Barry Aviation · Barry Aviation Museum
The South Wales Aviation Museum at St Athan is the new-school volunteer museum done right: a working restoration outfit (GJD Services) opened its hangar doors, filled the apron with fast jets, and adopted an everything-is-touchable policy. Gnats, Harriers, helicopters, a spiral staircase to a cafe with a flight-line view — and the sit-in-the-cockpit count is unmatched in Wales.
Listed inventory: 73 airframes.
- Harrier GR.3
- Folland Gnat trainers
- Sea King & Wessex pair
The resident Harrier and a growing VC10/Tornado-era collection, most with steps and open canopies. Kids exit wearing thousand-yard grins.
Roughly a tenner, kids free with adults, dogs welcome. The cafe is up a spiral staircase — staff will ferry food down for anyone who can't climb, but reviewers suggest asking.
- “Really nice air museum with some great aircraft on display and staff there are always ready to help and are very knowledgeable about the aircraft on display. Well worth a visit.”— Nigel Lazenby
- “Had the most amazing time at the museum, such an incredible collection! One of the volunteers, Gerard, was so passionate and knowledgeable about the planes and their history, was truly a pleasure to talk to him. Will absolutely be visiting again!”— Sarah Warren
- “We spent a good 3 hours here, £20 entry for 2 adults and a child is amazing value for money. Passionate volunteers that work there ,you can get up close to the planes etc and the cafe is also worth a visit.You won't be disappointed visiting here”— Claire Lewis
Public map reports · excerpted for reference · not reviews collected by this gazetteer
The collection in profile
31 types held here that we have drawn and built in 3D. Choose one to turn it over, or see all 127 in The Hangar.
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Auster AOP.6
Auster AOP.6
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Hawker Tempest
Tempest II
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Meteor
Meteor F.8
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Vampire
Vampire FB.5
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Swift
Swift FR.5
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Hunter
Hunter F.6
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Gnat T.1
Gnat T.1
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Canberra
Canberra B.2
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Victor
Victor K.2
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Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star
T-33A Shooting Star
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de Havilland Dove
DH.104 Dove 6
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Chipmunk
DHC-1 Chipmunk T.10
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Provost
Percival Provost T.1
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Varsity
Varsity T.1
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Twin Pioneer
Twin Pioneer CC.2
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Sea Prince
Sea Prince T.1
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Avro Shackleton
Shackleton MR.3
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Buccaneer
Buccaneer S.2
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Hawker Siddeley Harrier
Harrier GR.3
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Jaguar
Jaguar GR.1A
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Scottish Aviation Bulldog T.1
Bulldog T.1
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BAe Hawk T.1A
Hawk T.1A
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Hawker Siddeley Nimrod
Nimrod MR.2
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Lockheed C-130 Hercules
C.3
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Vickers VC10
Standard VC10
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Hawker Siddeley Trident
Trident 2E
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British Aerospace 146
BAe 146 CC.2
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Westland Sea King
Sea King HAR.3
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Westland Lynx
Lynx HAS.3 (GMS)
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Westland/Aérospatiale Puma HC.1
Puma HC.1
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British Aerospace Sea Harrier
Sea Harrier FA.2
Frequently asked
What are the opening times for South Wales Aviation Museum?
Sat–Sun 10am–4pm. Verify current opening times with the museum before travelling.
How much does South Wales Aviation Museum cost?
Adult admission is listed as £10. Check the museum's current prices before travelling.
Which aircraft can you see at South Wales Aviation Museum?
The listed collection includes Avro Shackleton MR.3/3 (WR974), BAe Hawk T.1A (XX263), BAe Sea Harrier FA.2 (ZA195), British Aerospace 146 CC.2 (ZE700), Beagle A.61 Terrier 1 (G-ARNO). Aircraft move between displays, so confirm current holdings before travelling.
Does South Wales Aviation Museum have parking or a cafe?
Parking is recorded on site; no 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.
Show all 73 airframes
Inventory last verified 2026-10-08: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4 · source 5 · source 6 · source 7. Aircraft move between sites; report corrections to the compiler.
Location & contact
- Address
- Picketston Business Park, St Athan, Barry CF62 4QR
- Phone
- 01446 788476
- Website
- www.southwalesaviationmuseum.com/
- Hours
- Sat–Sun 10am–4pm
(from your local clock — verify before travel) - Gazetteer
- WA-01 · Wales · the situation map