A153 to Coningsby
Thorpe Camp Visitor Centre → Battle Of Britain Memorial Flight Visitors Centre
Thorpe Camp, then the BBMF hangar a few miles on; book the BBMF tour ahead.
Distances are straight-line miles from Lincoln city centre; roads add a quarter to a half. Prices are adult admission from the gazetteer survey.
Nearest first
Aviation museums within 30 miles of Lincoln
| Museum | Miles | Adult entry | Airframes | Headline exhibit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Bomber Command CentreLincoln, Lincolnshire | 1.3 | £12 | — | The Chadwick Centre's digital archive lets you look up individual crew members on the spot, which turns a memorial visit into a genealogy… |
| Polish Bomber Squadrons Centre, RAF InghamGainsborough, Lincolnshire | 8.6 | £8 | 1 | RAF Ingham's Polish Bomber Squadrons Centre honours the four Polish squadrons of 1 Group with bilingual displays, a restored Nissen… |
| Metheringham Airfield Visitor CentreLincoln, Lincolnshire | 10.7 | £8 | 2 | Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre (106 Squadron Lancasters) has original ration-book atmosphere plus a fully restored Dakota you can… |
| Newark Air MuseumNewark, Nottinghamshire | 13.0 | £12.50 | 95 | Vulcan XM594, with cockpit tours occasionally given by former Vulcan aircrew, which reviewers describe with the reverence normally… |
| Cranwell Aviation Heritage MuseumSleaford, Lincolnshire | 15.1 | Free | 2 | Cranwell Aviation Heritage Museum: the RAF College story (and Whittle's jet experiments here) told free, small and interactively — a… |
| Thorpe Camp Visitor CentreLincoln, Lincolnshire | 16.6 | £7 | 5 | Thorpe Camp preserves RAF Woodhall Spa's communal site — home of 617 Squadron post-Dams — as a period village of huts, with volunteers in… |
| Battle Of Britain Memorial Flight Visitors CentreLincoln, Lincolnshire | 17.6 | £12.50 | 11 | Lancaster PA474 — one of only two airworthy Lancasters on Earth — when she's home (she periodically visits Duxford for deep maintenance,… |
| North Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage CentreBrigg, Lincolnshire | 18.5 | Free | — | North Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre at Hibaldstow: a young, fast-improving volunteer site with an underground battle HQ bunker… |
| Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage CentreSpilsby, Lincolnshire | 23.2 | £13.50 | 11 | Lancaster NX611 (taxiing now, returning to flight one day, they swear) and Mosquito NF.II HJ711 — the only running Mosquito in Europe.… |
| The Vulcan Experience (XH558)Doncaster, South Yorkshire | 25.7 | £12 | 2 | The Vulcan Experience at Doncaster is the retirement home of XH558 — the last-flying Vulcan — with underwing tours, cockpit visits and… |
From the city
Days out from Lincoln
Within 18 miles are Ingham, Metheringham, Newark, Cranwell, Thorpe Camp and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at Coningsby. East Kirkby's taxiing Lancaster is 23 miles out along the A158. Lincoln's Ruston works built Sopwith Camels in the First World War.
Bomber Command memorial and Metheringham
International Bomber Command Centre → Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre
IBCC in the morning, then 10 miles south; the memorial, then one station's story.
East Kirkby day
Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre
Out on the A158 to East Kirkby; check the Lancaster taxi dates.
- International Bomber Command Centre: bus 2 from Lincoln Central Bus Station to Canwick Road Cemetery, then a 10-minute walk. The bus station is beside the railway station.
Questions
Frequently asked
What is the nearest aviation museum to Lincoln?
International Bomber Command Centre. It is just over a mile from the centre, on Canwick Hill.
Is there a free aviation museum near Lincoln?
Yes. Cranwell Aviation Heritage Museum (about 15 miles) and North Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre (about 18 miles) are free to enter in our July 2026 price snapshot.
Can I walk to the International Bomber Command Centre from Lincoln?
Yes, but it is uphill. The Centre suggests a 20-minute walk from the station, or bus 2 and a 10-minute walk.