Parham Airfield Museum

Parham Airfield Museum

Parham Airfield Museum
5
About
The 390th Bomb Group Memorial Air Museum and the Museum of the British Resistance Organisation are housed in the original war time control tower, associated quanset (nissan) huts, and include the Percy Kindred Library and cafe. Situated on open fields the museum is signposted from the A12 North of Woodbridge after passing through Little Glemham. We are open on Sundays and Bank Holiday Monday’s from the first Sunday in April to last Sunday in October and also on Wednesdays during June, July and August. FREE Kids activites. FREE parking, FREE Admission DONATIONS GRATEFULLY RECEIVED
Duration: 2-3 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

See what travelers are saying

  • Elipau77
    Kingswinford, United Kingdom49 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Excellent find.
    Excellent museum, surpassed our expectations and certainly deserves the 5 star reviews. All the staff were friendly, helpful and clearly passionate about the subject. Great to have a nice cuppa at a good price too.
    Glad you had a good day and enjoyed your time with us. Cheapest cuppa in Suffolk!! I will pass on your lovely words about our volunteers to them, they will be pleased.
    Written August 28, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited May 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written May 5, 2024
  • Didlees
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    What a wonderful surprise!
    We were planning a day in this part of Suffolk and thought we would just drop in here for a “quick look round”. Anyway around 3 hours later we emerged from the Auxiliaries bunker blinded by sunlight and completely immersed in the most wonderful WWII stories. Beautifully kept, run by the most knowledgeable and engaging staff - even if you’re only remotely interested in history then this really is an immersive and engaging experience. We look forward to our next visit.
    What a wonderful review! Thank you so much for taking the time to provide a review. It is always so nice to hear what our visitors think. We look forward to your next visit too.
    Written August 28, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited May 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 6, 2024
  • Ray BM
    3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    OUTSTANDING
    This is an OUTSTANDING museum - well, in reality 2 museums in one place! The British Resistance Organisation (BRO) and the 390th Bomb Group. The personnel is extremely knowledgeable and can talk through overview and little details that make the whole visit even more enjoyable. Really kind as well, made me feel very welcome. Will certainly come back!
    I am so glad that you felt welcome and thank you for taking the time to give us a review. We all love to impart our knowledge of the 2 museums and it is the little details that make things come alive. See you again soon.
    Written August 28, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited May 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written May 7, 2024
  • Paul G
    10 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A great place to visit
    We have been to several museums that explain aspects of WW2, and many end up with information and artefacts in a bit of a muddle. This museum is quite the opposite. We were made very welcome as soon as we arrived. The place is set out so well with well-informed and friendly volunteers on hand to answer questions. These folk clearly know what they are talking about. It was a great place to visit and most enjoyable.
    What a great review, thank you so much. We do try to think about our visitor experience when designing exhibits so it is nice to know that we get it right. Our volunteers do have a passion for their subject and newer volunteers learn from the experienced hands.
    Written August 28, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written June 12, 2024
  • Bob B
    Uxbridge, United Kingdom3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful little museum
    We were greeted by friendly and enthusiastic volunteers the moment we walked through the door, something that we met at every turn. Do take a chance to speak to these keen and knowledgeable volunteers! By the end of the visit, you want to join their team and volunteer too! This is a wonderful little museum, free to enter too, and pays homage to the 390th bomb group in a perfect way. We'd definitely go back, and our dogs were made most welcome too.
    Wow! Thank you! You are welcome to come and voluteer if you would like to, we could always do with more help!! We also love to answer questions from our visitors.
    Written August 28, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited August 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written August 14, 2024
  • Navigate05216774470
    Banstead, United Kingdom4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Absolutely amazing experience
    A brilliant experience at Parham airfield museum. It's volunteers, especially George who is the youngest historian volunteer, explained so much to us . We spent two hours there but you could spend longer. It's a must for so much memorabilia and more. Enjoyed it immensely.
    Thank you for your review. I will pass on your words to George - he will be thrilled.
    Written October 14, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited September 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written September 22, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles187 reviews
Excellent
171
Very good
16
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0

DFLThurrock
Thurrock80 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Couples
Hidden gem. So much larger inside than it appears and crammed full of information. Run by very enthusiastic and knowledgeable volunteers. The lady in the control tower was a mine of information about the base and it was interesting to have the runways and operational areas pointed out from above. It was easy to feel transported back to the war years. We like to read information and ask questions if needed. Some of the volunteers are slightly over enthusiastic in sharing information and could be a bit intrusive, when we just wanted to soak it all up in our own time. Rather surprised that dogs are allowed in, given the amount of aircraft parts and artefacts on display, with some of the spaces being quite small. Four dogs were there during our visit, two of which were quite boisterous. Probably acceptable in an open air museum, but didn't seem quite right indoors. The airfield museum is obviously much loved by the volunteers who do a great job in keeping the memory alive. Well done to the team.
Written July 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to give us a lovely review. We take on board your comment about over enthusiatic volunteers. We do encourage our volunteers to guage and assess the level of information visitors require and on this occasion we may have got our judgment wrong. We will ensure our volunteers are briefed to take your comments into account. With regard to the dogs, we support well behaved dogs but on this occasion it would appear from your comments that 2 groups came together and caused some annoyance but it is also worth adding that all dogs must be kept on leads at all times and their owners are told where they can and can't go when they arrive. We are really pleased you enjoyed your visit and thank you again for your review.
Written July 30, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Shadow-Driver
Norwich, UK57 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022
Visited this great museum during their Military and Classic Vehicle event on 3rd July 2022, and was very impressed. There is a lot to see in the museum itself, and the view from the top of Control Tower out across the old airfield is most evocative. Although the museum is completely volunteer run there is nothing amateur about it. All the displays and exhibits are to a very high standard. Everything is well laid out with much interesting information provided. The volunteers were all enthusiastic, polite and very knowledgeable. There is a very nice tea room and excellent modern toilet facilities. Don’t be fooled into thinking this is just a little museum where you can see everything inside of an hour. There is an awful lot to see. It is perfectly possible to spend an entire day. Visiting on a special event day and taking time to look at the visiting military vehicles and classic cars meant we didn’t quite get round everything in the museum. I must also say that it is remarkable that this excellent museum does not charge anything for entry – not even £1. With that in mind I would encourage anyone visiting to give generously – it is well worth it to support such a well-run and well-presented museum. In closing I would highly recommend this museum to anyone interested in aviation or military history. It is also of great benefit to anyone wishing to educate todays youngsters about WW2 – teachers and youth group leaders please take note.
Written July 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wow! What a lovely and detailed review you have given us. We are very proud of our museum and of the stories it tells. We hope you will visit us again. We do not charge admission because we feel that as this whole museum is a memorial to the 743 boys who did not get to go home, it would be wrong to charge people to visit. We always welcome donations though!
Written August 4, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

dwm55
Plymouth, UK47 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Couples
Parham Airfield is a must when you visit Suffolk.

It is a fitting memorial to the service men and to the volunteers who enthusiastically continue to bring to life a period in our history.

The museum is sensitive to the fact many of the items come from wreckage of crashes of planes that led to the loss of the young crews life.

The Chapel of remembrance is very moving .

The British Resistance Organisation Museum is extremely interesting and very much one of the “what ifs” of history.

From the outside looks small but it certainly is not
Written October 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your lovely review and for your comments on our chapel. We try to tell 'our boy's' stories as sensitively as we can without sanitising it too much. I'm glad it appears to be working.
Written October 16, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

LesleyandClive
Maidenhead, UK397 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Couples
This is an excellent museum mainly focussed on the US flyers during the latter years of the second world war. We thought is was a small place so stopped there on the way to somewhere else and found we spent at least 3 hours looking around and still did not see or read everything.

A real insight into the history of the area and the people.

It is run by volunteers and there are plenty available to answer questions and direct you through the museum.

Entry is free and there is a nice little cafe at the entrance of a tea or coffee.

There is a picnic area outside which would suit families and parking is very easy.

Written August 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your lovely review. We often get referred to as a 'tardis' as we look small but there is so much to see.
Written September 1, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Brian
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022
I was fascinated, informed and moved by my visit to Parham.

Privileged to have visited many fine museums, I rate this little gem up with the finest. It paints a vivid picture of an important American Air Force airfield of the Second World War. There is much to absorb plane enthusiasts, but the most compelling story it tells is one of human experience.

For me, the secret underground bunker and the aircraft engines were the highlight of the exhibits.

But is was the warmth of the welcome from the volunteer staff that made my visit all the more memorable.

My profound thanks to the people who have made this extraordinary contribution to the telling of war history.
Written June 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your fabulous review. We do pride ourselves on our welcome and are really glad you enjoyed the secret bunker. Shhh don't tell everyone!
Written June 23, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Paul
Bexleyheath, UK16 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022 • Family
This is an excellent museum dedicated to the personnel of the 390th bomb group,8th Airforce USAAF during world War 2. The museum is housed in the original control tower and newer surrounding buildings. There is also an excellent and very surprising museum on the little known resistance organisation including a realistic underground bunker. There is so much to see here it really is surprising and it’s all free although a donation would be useful I’m sure. The friendly volunteers are very informative and helpful and are all clearly very proud of their airfield. The lady describing where the original main runway was located and pointed out where the still exiting taxiways/perimeter tracks and hard standings were really brought the site to life. You could almost imagine rows of taxying B-17’s waiting to take off. Much of the landscape has little changed since then. We finished our visit with a nice cup of tea and a cake (of course!) There are museum trails for the youngsters (and grown ups)with a prize. Recommended .
Written August 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for taking the time to give us such a lovely review. Yes, we are all very proud of our museum and want to tell others about it's history and why it is a memorial as well as a museum. We are glad you enjoyed your visit and hope to see you again soon. And yes, donations are very useful as we have no other funding other than our lovely visitors.
Written August 26, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

K C
Bromsgrove, UK24 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2023 • Couples
Really glad we managed to visit (only open on Sunday). Website doesn't do it justice. More to see than we expected and really interesting. Run by enthusiastic and knowledgeable volunteers. Quite amazing quantity of WW2 artefacts have been collected. Really moving stories of some of the people stationed there too. Entry is free although donations are welcome (and you will really want to donate when you see what they have achieved here).
Written September 12, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for such a lovely review. We are very proud of our museum. You are not alone in being surprised at the amount of artifacts we have and the stories we tell. In fact one visitor described us as a Tardis!!
Written October 16, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Carl B
United Kingdom13 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2022
I live on the old airfield 600 yards from this museum and visit several times a year. This is in fact two museums, one to the 390th Bomb Group who flew from here and the other is uniquely dedicated to the Home Guard Auxiliary, the very dark side of Dad's Army. The top floor of the old control tower is um... interesting, to say the least. There's a Norden bomb sight, once so secret that it had its own guard room on the base and you might also detect some of the personnel - but I've said too much already.....
Written December 25, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your great review ........... hope to see you again in the new season
Written March 31, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Graeme
Chipping Norton, UK40 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023
Fascinating museum run by volunteers who are very knowledgeable. No entry fee (we paid a donation online). Plan ahead as opening days are limited (currently Sundays and Wednesdays in the summer season). Well worth a visit. We thought we'd spend an hour here and stayed for three!
Written July 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for such a lovely review. We often get visitors who refer to us as a tardis! Looks small but isn't!! Thank you also for your online donation. Much appreciated.
Written July 30, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Jane H
Gloucester, UK15 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Couples
We expected a couple of rooms with some wartime memorabilia. This is so much more! It's packed with information, artefacts, hidden treasures, real life stories and staffed by knowledgeable volunteers. We spent two hours soaking up new information.
Written July 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to give us a review. So glad you enjoyed your visit.
Written September 1, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Showing results 1-10 of 187
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

Parham Airfield Museum, Woodbridge

All Woodbridge HotelsWoodbridge Hotel DealsLast Minute Hotels in Woodbridge
All things to do in Woodbridge
Theater & Concerts in Woodbridge
RestaurantsFlightsVacation RentalsTravel StoriesCruisesRental Cars