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: 32 airframes.
The resident Harrier and a growing VC10/Tornado-era collection, most with steps and open canopies. Kids exit wearing thousand-yard grins.
- Harrier GR.3
- Folland Gnat trainers
- Sea King & Wessex pair
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
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, BAe Hawk, BAe Sea Harrier, British Aerospace 146, Beagle Terrier. 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.
| Type | Identity | |
|---|---|---|
| Avro Shackleton | — | |
| BAe Hawk | — | |
| BAe Sea Harrier | — | |
| Beagle Terrier | — | |
| Blackburn Buccaneer | — | |
| Boeing 707 Cockpit section | — | |
| Boeing 747 Upper cockpit section | — | |
| British Aerospace 146 | — | |
| de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk | — | |
| de Havilland Sea Devon | — | |
| de Havilland Vampire | — | |
| English Electric Canberra | — | |
| Fairey Gannet | — | |
| Folland Gnat | — | |
| Gloster Meteor | — | |
| Handley Page Victor | — | |
| Hawker Hunter | — | |
| Hawker Siddeley Harrier | — | |
| Hawker Siddeley Nimrod | — | |
| Hawker Tempest | — | |
| Hunting Jet Provost | — | |
| Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star | — | |
| McDonnell Douglas Phantom FG.1/FGR.2 | — | |
| Panavia Tornado | — | |
| Percival Pembroke | — | |
| Percival Sea Prince | — | |
| Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer | — | |
| SEPECAT Jaguar | — | |
| Vickers VC10 | — | |
| Westland Lynx | — | |
| Westland Sea King | — | |
| Westland Wessex | — |
Inventory verification pending — figures from the gazetteer survey; confirm against the museum’s own labels before travel.
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 on the situation map