Blackpool by train
Spitfire Visitor Centre, Hangar 42, Blackpool
The South Fylde line from Preston stops at Squires Gate; pair it with the seafront.
Distances are straight-line miles from Preston 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 Preston
| Museum | Miles | Adult entry | Airframes | Headline exhibit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spitfire Visitor Centre, Hangar 42, BlackpoolBlackpool, Lancashire | 14.0 | £12 | 6 | The Ops Room recreation and the £5 sit-in-a-Spitfire photography session — the cheapest Spitfire seat time in the country. |
| RAF Burtonwood Heritage CentreWarrington, Cheshire | 24.9 | Donation | 1 | RAF Burtonwood was the biggest airbase in Europe — the US 'Home from Home' depot that fixed the Eighth's aircraft; its heritage centre… |
| Speke Aerodrome Heritage GroupLiverpool, Merseyside | 29.7 | Free | 7 | Speke Airport Museum — Speke Aerodrome Heritage Group keeps airliners, including a Dan-Air 748 under restoration, on Liverpool's gorgeous… |
From the city
Days out from Preston
RAF Burtonwood is 25 miles south via the M6. Speke, the 1930s Liverpool terminal, is right on the 30-mile line. Hangar 42 is a wartime hangar dressed as a 1940s station, with Spitfire, Hurricane and Bf 109E replicas. It is the only one of the three that is easy by train.
South down the M6
RAF Burtonwood Heritage Centre → Speke Aerodrome Heritage Group
Burtonwood, then Speke; wartime Warrington, then the 1930s terminal.
- Spitfire Visitor Centre: trains from Preston to Squires Gate station, about 5 minutes' walk.
Questions
Frequently asked
What is the nearest aviation museum to Preston?
Spitfire Visitor Centre, Hangar 42, Blackpool. It is about 14 miles west, at Blackpool Airport.
Is there a free aviation museum near Preston?
Yes. Speke Aerodrome Heritage Group (about 30 miles) is free to enter in our July 2026 price snapshot. RAF Burtonwood Heritage Centre asks for a donation.
Can I get to Hangar 42 by train from Preston?
Yes. Squires Gate station, on the South Fylde line from Preston, is about 5 minutes' walk from the Spitfire Visitor Centre.