About this museum
Also known as / searched as: Biggleswade Air Museum · Old Warden · Old Warden Aerodrome · Shuttleworth
The Shuttleworth Collection at Old Warden is the only place on the planet where you can watch a 1909 Blériot XI — the world's oldest airworthy aeroplane — actually fly, on those still summer evenings when the windsock hangs dead. Richard Shuttleworth's collection is kept in flying condition as policy, from Edwardian originals through WWI fighters to the de Havilland Comet racer, and the grass aerodrome, Swiss Garden and hangar smell of castor oil complete the time machine.
Listed inventory: 55 airframes.
- 1909 Blériot XI — the world’s oldest airworthy aeroplane
- DH.88 Comet "Grosvenor House", 1934 race winner
- Spitfire Vc AR501, flying
- Sea Hurricane Ib Z7015
- 1910 Deperdussin & 1912 Blackburn, both flyers
The 1934 DH.88 Comet 'Grosvenor House', winner of the MacRobertson England–Australia air race, restored to fly; and the Edwardians — Blériot, Deperdussin, Blackburn — that only leave the ground here.
Come on a flying-display evening if you possibly can (book early); on static days the hangars, vintage vehicles and garden still justify the trip. Reviews are effectively a 5.0 wall.
- “Great place with very knowledgeable staff/volunteers. Gardens are amazing.”— Andy Bynoth
Public map reports · excerpted for reference · not reviews collected by this gazetteer
The collection in profile
22 types held here that we have drawn and built in 3D. Choose one to turn it over, or see all 146 in The Hangar.
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S.E.5a
S.E.5a
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Anson
Avro Anson C.19 (Avro Nineteen Srs 2)
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Mignet HM.14 Flying Flea
HM.14 Flying Flea
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504K
504K
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F.2B Fighter
F.2B Fighter
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Pup
Pup
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Camel F.1
Camel F.1
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Hind
Hind
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Gladiator
Gladiator I
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Lysander
Lysander IIIA
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Magister
Magister I
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Bristol M.1C
M.1C
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Polikarpov Po-2
Polikarpov Po-2
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Hawker Tomtit
Hawker Tomtit
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Bristol Scout D
Scout D
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Sopwith Triplane
Triplane
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de Havilland Tiger Moth
Tiger Moth II
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Hurricane
Hurricane Mk I
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Spitfire
Spitfire LF Mk IX
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Chipmunk
DHC-1 Chipmunk T.10
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Provost
Percival Provost T.1
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Slingsby Tutor
Slingsby T.31B Tandem Tutor (RAF Cadet TX.3)
Frequently asked
What are the opening times for The Shuttleworth Collection?
Daily 10am–5pm (Feb–Oct); Daily 10am–4pm (Nov–Jan). Verify current opening times with the museum before travelling.
How much does The Shuttleworth Collection cost?
Adult admission is listed as £19.50. Check the museum's current prices before travelling.
Which aircraft can you see at The Shuttleworth Collection?
The listed collection includes ANEC II (G-EBJO), Avro 504K (G-ADEV), Roe IV Triplane replica (G-ARSG), Avro Tutor (G-AHSA), Avro Anson 19 (G-AHKX). Aircraft move between displays, so confirm current holdings before travelling.
Does The Shuttleworth Collection 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.
Show all 55 airframes
Inventory last verified 2026-10-08: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4 · source 5 · source 6 · source 7 · source 8 · source 9. Aircraft move between sites; report corrections to the compiler.
Location & contact
- Address
- Biggleswade SG18 9DT
- Website
- www.shuttleworth.org/
- Hours
- Daily 10am–5pm (Feb–Oct); Daily 10am–4pm (Nov–Jan)
(from your local clock — verify before travel) - Gazetteer
- EA-02 · East of England · the situation map