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About
North Weald Airfield Museum
The museum is open from 30th March until the end of November on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays 12:00—5:00 pm (last entry 4 pm)
There is ample free parking and a small museum shop.
Organised groups are welcome at other times subject to prior arrangement. Please note that there is a minimum fee of £50 for groups and out of hours visits. This can include options such as a presentation on arrival, refreshments or an airfield tour. Please contact our secretary here with your requirements.
Why not combine your visit with a trip on the Epping Ongar Railway, or a meal in the 17th century Kings Head (a favourite with aircrew) or a meal at one of the aviation locations on the airfield.
ADMISSION PRICES: ADULTS £2 CONCESSIONS £1.50 CHILDREN (5-18) 50p UNDER 5's FREE
About the Museum:
Housed in one of the RAF buildings on the edge of the airfield, the museum tells the story of North Weald Airfield which opened in 1916, to defend London against the German Airship and Bomber raids of the First World War, Operational flying ceased in 1919, but restarted when the airfield became an operational RAF Fighter station once again in 1927. More than 52 squadrons from seven nations, including the U.S. and Norway, flew from the base before the last operational fighter squadron left in 1958. It's role in the Battle of Britain inevitably brought the community into the firing line and during enemy raids on the airfield many bombs fell on North Weald village and the surrounding areas.
Each room of the museum is packed with information and artifacts covering all the eras and activities associated with the airfield. It is run and staffed by very knowledgable volunteers. There are no aircraft on display but heritage war birds can be seen on the airfield or in the skys over the museum.
To find out more about the museum and the history of the airfield, subscribe to The Hurricane, the museum's e-magazine. More details HERE plus accesss to past issues.
Support the museum by becoming a Member.
The Memorial and Debt of Honour in front of the museum:
Aircrews from at least seven nations have been stationed at North Weald and, at one time or another, the local hostelries have echoed to the accents of Americans, Canadians, New Zealanders, Czechs, Norwegians and Poles. Altogether, 267 men, women and civilians lost their lives while serving at the Station in peace and war and in the Debt of Honour no distinction has been drawn between death in the face of the enemy or in an accident on or around the airfield. All served . . . and all paid the supreme sacrifice. The memorial also highlights the close connection between RAF North Weald and the Norwegian Airforce. In June 1952, HRH The Crown Princess of Norway, Princess Astrid, unveiled the granite obelisk, on behalf of the two Norwegian squadrons which were based at the airfield during the Second World War, dedicated ‘in gratitude to the Royal Air Force, to the RAF Station North Weald, and to the people of the district’.
Map & Directions
Road Directions
Follow brown tourist signs for 'Memorial and Debt of Honour'.
From junction 7 on the M11 (Marked A414 Harlow) follow signs for A414 Ongar (Canes Lane). Go straight on at the first roundabout (turn right here for the airfield entrance) and turn right at 'The Talbot' pub (Harvester), carry on through North Weald village. We are at the far end of the village on the right hand side.
From Chelmsford, take the A414 towards Ongar. At the Four Wantz roundabout at Ongar, go striaght on towrads North Weald. Turn left at the Talbot Pub and continue as above.
From Epping travel north up the High Street and turn right at the traffic lights just after the War Memorial. Continue along this road and pass under the M11. Drive along the road with the airfield and end of the runway on your left and the museum is the first turning on the left.
To get to the airfield entrance from the museum, travel towards the village centre on Epping Road. Turn left into Church Lane at the mini-roundabout. Continue along Church Lane (it becomes a narrow country lane) and turn left at the T junction at the end of the road. Take the first exit from the roundabout and follow the road passing the airfield entrance to turn back on yourself at the next roundabout to access the entrance. Through the barrier, turn left and follow the perimetre road which will take you around the airfield to the far side, passing Weald Aviation ending at the Squadron - both locations serve food and drink and are home to heritage aviation.
Public Transport Directions
Bus services connect Epping and Ongar to North Weald. Epping Ongar Railway also run heritage buses from various stops including Epping Underground Station which stop at the museum (ask the conductor when you board). You can also travel to North Weald from Ongar on the Epping Ongar Heritage railway and the museum is a short walk from North Weald Station (one of the reasons North Weald was selected for an airfield in WW1).
