The Helicopter Museum

What it’s like

Over a hundred rotary wing aircraft to climb through, plus a chance to try a pilot's helmet on for size.

This is a proper hangar full of helicopters, not a couple behind rope barriers. Over a hundred rotary wing aircraft are on show, including some that flew the Queen's Royal Flight, and kids get to climb inside real cockpits and put pilots' helmets on rather than just look. There's an interactive character hunt and touch and feel tables to keep the younger ones moving between exhibits, plus a play area outside if the museum bit starts to wear thin.

The helicopter flights over the countryside and coast at 1,000 feet sound like the bit everyone remembers on the drive home, so it's worth saving that for the end of the visit rather than doing it first and having everything else feel flat by comparison. Under-16s need an adult with them at all times, which is fair enough for a site with this much kit, but it does mean no dropping the kids off to explore solo while you grab a coffee.

At £8.50 a child and £15 for adults it's not pocket change, though the family ticket at £36 for two adults and two kids softens that a bit. You buy on the door, no booking needed unless you're a group of 12 or more, and it's open Wednesday to Sunday, closed Monday and Tuesday, so don't turn up on a whim at the start of the week. Last entry's 3:30pm even though the doors stay open till 4:30, which catches people out if they're aiming for a late afternoon visit.

The café does proper meals, not just crisps and a Kit Kat, though you can only eat your own food in the designated picnic area by the Weston Aviation Exhibition. Parking's free and there's plenty of it, with disabled spaces close to the entrance, and a wheelchair is available on site if you need one.

Facilities

Need to know

Best for

3 to 15, with cockpits to climb into and helmets to try on

Last entry

3:30pm

Booking

Standard admission tickets purchased on the day at door, no booking needed

Parking

Free parking on site with ample spaces

Food

On-site café serving pastries, cakes, sandwiches, hot and cold meals, drinks, snacks and ice creams

Picnics

Picnic area available by the Weston Aviation Exhibition

Wheelchairs

Wheelchair available for visitor use

Dogs

Assistance dogs and guide dogs only

Getting there by bus or train

5 minutes drive from Junction 21 on the M5 Motorway

Worth knowing

Annual membership: admission tickets valid for 12 months including entry to most extra events

• Closed Mondays and Tuesdays, so plan around that
• Last entry is 3:30pm despite closing at 4:30pm
• Annual membership gets you 12 months of return entry including most extra events
• Free return tickets don't count for special events like Sunday Fun Day
• Group visits of 12 or more must be booked in advance

Plan your visit

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