Book RAF Manston History Museum tickets & discover 100 years of aviation history at the in Kent
Ready for take-off? Head to RAF Manston History Museum near Ramsgate and discover more than a century of aviation history, from the First World War to the Cold War and beyond.
- Explore around 100 years of aircraft history through exhibits, historic displays and fascinating stories
- Get up close to famous aircraft including an English Electric Lightning, SEPECAT Jaguar and Westland Wessex
- Discover historic cockpit sections from aircraft including the Handley Page Victor and Blackburn Buccaneer
- Explore displays covering the First World War, Second World War, Cold War and the history of RAF Manston
- Step inside atmospheric exhibition spaces bringing different periods of military and aviation history to life
- Stop for breakfast, lunch, cake or a cuppa at the museum's NAAFI Café
Historic aircraft, wartime stories & aviation heritage under one roof
RAF Manston has a long aviation story, and the museum brings that history together through aircraft, cockpits, artefacts and exhibition areas exploring everything from the early days of flight to more modern military aviation.
Take your time exploring the different hangars and display areas, where aircraft span around 100 years of aviation history.
- English Electric Lightning F.6: Get up close to XR770, an aircraft that flew with several RAF squadrons before being retired from service in 1988
- SEPECAT Jaguar GR.3: See XZ106, which flew 35 missions during Operation Granby in the first Gulf War
- Westland Wessex: Discover a helicopter painted to represent the Search and Rescue aircraft operated from Manston
- Gloster Meteor: See one of the museum's classic British jet aircraft displays
- Avro Vulcan: Discover the surviving cockpit section of Vulcan B.1 XA893
- Handley Page Victor: Explore the history behind the cockpit of Victor K.2 XL190, which completed refuelling missions during the Gulf War
- Blackburn Buccaneer: Discover the cockpit of XV352, another aircraft with a fascinating RAF service history
Journey from the First World War to the Cold War
There's much more here than aircraft alone. Exhibition rooms and displays explore the people, events and everyday experiences behind more than a century of military aviation.
Discover the story of aviation from the First World War through the Second World War and into the Cold War, including a 1940s exhibition area complete with atmospheric low lighting and wartime sounds.
With aircraft, cockpits, room sets and historical displays to explore, you can dig deeper into the story of RAF Manston while discovering how aviation changed across the decades.
Make a day of your visit to RAF Manston History Museum
Once you've explored the exhibits, stop off at the NAAFI Café opposite the museum entrance. Grab a cup of char and a slice of cake, tuck into a breakfast bap or refuel with lunch before continuing your day.
Book RAF Manston History Museum tickets today and get ready to explore aircraft, wartime history and more than 100 years of aviation heritage in Kent!