Gatwick Aviation Museum is a unique heritage transport centre located right alongside Gatwick Airport's runway in Charlwood, standing out as one of the best things to do with kids in Charlwood. Operating as an interactive aviation museum, it offers families a chance to get up close to classic British aircraft and watch live commercial planes take off and land.

Prices start from £0.00 for infants under 5, while standard adult admission is £10.00 and child admission is £5.00. With family pass options and free parking included, it provides an affordable educational day out for parents and young aviation fans.

If you are looking for the best place for a day out with family and kids, this outdoor and hangar venue offers an exciting mix of post-war aviation history and active plane spotting. Children can sit inside real cockpits, explore massive jet engines, run across green outdoor display areas, and watch huge airliners fly directly overhead. It makes for an engaging, hands-on experience near Gatwick.

What are the key features for families?

• Interactive Exhibits: Real cockpit access, simulator seats, and hands-on control panels encourage children to step into the role of a pilot.
• Educational Day Out: Families discover Post-WWII to Cold War British aviation design, engine evolution, and Gatwick Airport's history.
• Sensory Play and Nature: Roaring jet engines taking off nearby, tactile cockpit dials, and wide outdoor grass fields create an immersive environment.
• Outdoor Exploration: Outdoor display lawns and elevated runway viewing mounds provide space for open-air walks and plane spotting.

What are the main highlights kids will love?

• Live Runway Plane Spotting Area: Sitting on the outdoor viewing field positioned right next to Gatwick Airport’s active runway to watch massive passenger jets take off.
• Avro Shackleton AEW.2: Getting up close to a massive four-engine maritime patrol aircraft that used to hunt submarines during the Cold War.
• English Electric Lightning F.53: Viewing a legendary British supersonic fighter jet famous for its incredible vertical climb capabilities.
• Interactive Cockpit Access: Climbing inside designated aircraft cockpits to flip real switches, turn control wheels, and pretend to fly.
• Rolls-Royce Jet Engine Collection: Examining massive cutaway jet engines up close to see how turbine blades and propellers actually work.

Specific Named Objects and Sub-Exhibits Within the Museum:

• Avro Shackleton AEW.2 (WR963)
• English Electric Lightning F.53 (ZF579)
• Gloster Meteor F.8 (VZ467)
• Hawker Hunter T.7 (XL591)
• De Havilland Sea Vixen FAW.2 (XJ580)
• Percival Sea Prince T.1 (WF122)
• Rolls-Royce Merlin V12 Aero Engine Display
• Blackburn Buccaneer S.2B Cockpit Section
• De Havilland Venom FB.54
• Model Aircraft & Gatwick Airport Historical Archive