The Kent Battle of Britain Museum, located in Hawkinge, Kent, is one of the most comprehensive and immersive museums dedicated to the pivotal aerial campaign of 1940. Situated on the former site of RAF Hawkinge, a frontline fighter station during the Battle of Britain, the museum preserves and honors the sacrifices of those who defended Britain in its darkest hour.
Kent Battle of Britain Museum
Hawkinge
+44 1303 893140
Easter Good Friday to September 30th
- Tuesday – Sunday 10:00 – 16:00
Closed Monday except for Bank Holidays
Admission fee
Gift shop
Hawkinge is situated on the A260 between Folkestone and Canterbury. From the A20 Folkestone to Dover road, turn off for Canterbury on to the A260. The Museum is located one mile along Aerodrome Road and is clearly signposted on the new Hawkinge bypass.
Aircraft collection
| 9893
B2I-103 G-AAAH D-3-340 BAPC36 425/17 N2532 P2921 P3059/SD-N P3208/SD-T P3679 G-AFAP/T.2B-272 4853 – – N7033 K5054 N3289/DW-K N3313 X4255 X4321 MK356 P7056 | Bristol Blenheim Mk.4
CASA 2.111B (Heinkel He 111H-16) de Havilland DH.60G Moth DFS Grunau Baby 2 Fieseler Fi 103 (V-1 flying bomb) Fokker Dr.I Hawker Hurricane Hawker Hurricane Hawker Hurricane Hawker Hurricane Hawker Hurricane Junkers Ju52/3M (CASA 352L)* Messerschmitt Bf.109E-4 (wreck) Messerschmitt Bf 109E Messerschmitt Bf 109E North American Harvard IIB Supermarine Spitfire Supermarine Spitfire Supermarine Spitfire Supermarine Spitfire Supermarine Spitfire Supermarine Spitfire IX Westland Whirlwind NK.1 |
The Kent Battle of Britain Museum is the oldest established and largest collection of Battle of Britain artifacts on show in the United Kingdom.
The Fokker and all Hurricane, Bf109 and Spitfires are Full Scale Models.
The policy of this museum is don’t take pictures, they asking visitors to keep their mobile phones at the front desk.
*The CASA served the Ejército del Aire (EdA, Spanish Air Force) as T.2B-272 (c/n 163), but was displayed in the RAF Museum in the colours of G-AFAP, a Junkers that was flown as an airliner by British Airways.
Key Highlights Kent Battle of Britain Museum
- Aircraft Collection:
- Aircraft and significant wreckage from both Allied and Axis planes, including Spitfires, Hurricanes, Messerschmitts, and Junkers.
- Detailed displays of engines, propellers, and other parts salvaged from crash sites.
- Artifacts and Memorabilia:
- Uniforms, equipment, and personal items belonging to the pilots, ground crew, and other participants in the battle.
- Extensive collections of medals, logbooks, and letters that tell the human stories behind the aerial conflict.
- Thematic Exhibits:
- Squadron Displays: Showcasing the contributions of individual RAF squadrons, including detailed information about their missions and personnel.
- The Luftwaffe: Insights into the German Air Force’s role, with artifacts from downed aircraft and captured pilots.
- Comprehensive Dioramas:
- Highly detailed dioramas recreating key moments of the Battle of Britain, such as dogfights, airfield operations, and crash recoveries.
- Memorial and Tribute:
- A Roll of Honour listing the names of those who gave their lives during the Battle of Britain.
- Dedicated spaces to remember the “Few” and their extraordinary bravery and skill.
- RAF Hawkinge History:
- Exhibits about the airfield’s strategic role during the battle and its subsequent use throughout the war.