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Croydon Airport Visitor Centre

Croydon Airport Visitor Centre: Tickets, Tours, Address, Phone Number, Croydon Airport Visitor Centre Reviews: 5/5

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Croydon Airport Visitor Centre

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Croydon Airport Visitor Centre
5
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#1 of 28 things to do in Croydon
Speciality Museums • History Museums
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Croydon Airport Visitor Centre micro-museum- located in Airport House, Purley Way, Croydon CR0 0XZ. Open on the 1st Sunday of the month throughout the year. Special Open Days at other times- see website for details. Haley Sharpe designed and winner of a British Tourism Award, featuring interactive displays and storyboards. It tells the story of Britain's first major international airport through World War I, Imperial Airways and BOAC, record-breaking flights by the likes of Amy Johnson and other, the Battle of Britain and much, much more.
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
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5.0
298 reviews
Excellent
251
Very good
44
Average
0
Poor
3
Terrible
0
Richard M
London, UK19 contributions
Unexpectedly interesting visit
Oct 2021
This is the old terminal building of what was once London's main airport. It is now opened by a team of enthusiastic and well-organised volunteers once each month. In exchange for an optional donation, you receive a tour inside and outside the terminal building, including going up the airport control tower. There are some interesting things on show, some good written displays and a video showing what the airport was once like. Well worth a visit for anybody in the area.
Written October 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
jsdreibelb
Philadelphia, PA2 contributions
A gem of an experience
Sep 2021 • Solo
A gem of an experience. Lots of interesting artifacts and old photographs that make this a unique opportunity, whether your interest lies in aviation or military history, or just the fact that so many rich and famous (Winston Churchill, Charlie Chaplin, and Hermann Goring to name a few) passed through its Booking Hall. Special thanks to our guide, Graeme, for the private tour and who went out of his way to make our visit there worthwhile. Easily reached by train from London.
Written September 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
M S
1 contribution
Wonderful step back in time
Sep 2021
A wonderful step back in time to the dawn of flying, airlines and the first airport. Lots of artifacts and film with a great guided tour particularly for history and engineering buffs.
Written September 9, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
colin r
Chatham, UK6 contributions
Brilliant
Aug 2021
My friend and I both had nostalgic reasons for visiting Croydon airport my father worked as a riveter on the war planes and my friend s father was a policeman later on and moved to Heathrow when Croydon closed the whole tour was so interesting had a lovely guide would have just liked and audio for the television show as there was alot of noise my friend is hard of hearing so couldn't hear it the outside was fascinating imaging how it was back in the days. How travel has changed but as our guide said still takes four hours to reach Paris
All in all a brilliant tour one thing missing nowhere to get a coffee ☕
Written August 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
HistoricCroydonAirport
Hello Colin, We're so glad you enjoyed your visit and thanks for the helpful feedback. Just regarding the coffee situation. You are correct that the coffee bar inside the building was not open on the day you visited, and, unfortunately, we have no control over that. However, there are several coffee shops/outlets just a 2 minute walk across the Purley Way which are open for before or after visiting us. Best Regards Graeme Roy, Trustee.
Written August 8, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
billielondon2017
London, UK18 contributions
A wonderful day out
Aug 2021
We visited for my partner's 30th birthday (he loves planes and history, so it seemed like a good fit). The tour guides were all incredibly knowledgeable, friendly and kind, and they went above and beyond to make sure we had a lovely time and learned a lot! The standard of the exhibits and the tour was up there with the famous museums, which is truly remarkable for something entirely volunteer-run. We left a larger donation than the suggested £6 each because it's such a worthy cause and amazing place to see - the airport was once the most important in the country and is the birthplace of air traffic control (we even got to go up the control tower). I would highly recommend this to anyone visiting London/Surrey/Sussex.
Written August 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Bridget W
London, England, United Kingdom25 contributions
A truly worthwhile visit - a must
Aug 2021 • Family
A fabulous way to travel back in time to the start of civil air travel. Incredibly interesting stories, artefacts and photos telling the story of the UKs first international airport. Dedicated and knowledgable guides, able to tell fascinating and fun stories about the early days of air travel.
Written August 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
jivebanana
Coulsdon, UK552 contributions
A great tour
Jul 2021 • Couples
What a treat. Lovely volunteer guides with loads of knowledge will give you a tour of the original airport building including the control tower. A brilliant VR video really gives you a sense of the building in the 1920s and how important this airport was to the beginning of air travel.

There are stairs up to the control tower so if you have mobility issues that might be worth checking out.
The building is only open on the first Sunday of the month and although it is free to join the tour you do need to prebook and a donation of £6 pp is expected. The tour was well worth it and it was really fascinating.
Written August 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
sophia
3 contributions
Amazing, Awesome, Friendly, Educational and Fun
Jul 2021 • Solo
It was absolutely amazing! The tour guides and all staff/ volunteers were so welcoming and friendly. They greeted us and took us in and let us have a look around the entrance. Then, a tour guide came with lots of facts about Croydon airport. We went outside for this part of the tour and it was very enjoyable. Next, we went back indoors and walked through looking and learning about all the different pictures and all the people within them. We watched a film about what the airport looked like in the 1920s and we also went up some stairs and learnt a bit about Amy Johnson. It was very educational but not boring. It was very fun and at the top we went and flew a computer spitfire! Over all it was an amazing experience and anybody wanting an afternoon or morning out this is the perfect thing!
Written July 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Angela D
London, UK6 contributions
A wonderful experience
Jul 2021
My dad and I visited the centre last weekend and were really impressed. It was fascinating learning about the history of the airport. The exhibition was presented in a clear and interesting way. The staff and guides were friendly, helpful and clearly passionate about their work. Very well organized with tours at different times for small groups.
We booked a slot a few days before- great, prompt communication. We were privileged to be one of the first to see the excellent 3D video recreation of how the airport would have looked back in the 30s. Lots of rooms with a range of displays and video footage from war era.
Well worth a visit, especially if you are from the area or interested in aviation. Would appeal to all ages. Highly recommend. Glad to make a voluntary donation to support the centre. Thanks so much!
Written July 12, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Daren
4 contributions
Excellent journey back to the beginning of commercial air travel
Jul 2021
Lived in the area for many years and been meaning to do this visit for a long time, got some family history associated with the airport, my grandfather served there in WWII.
Fascinating tour, our guide Neil was very knowledgeable and really evoked a sense of the various time periods of the airport. The view from the control tower was excellent, as it was a clear day, and you can really get a sense of why it was built there with its panoramic view of London. The museum is small but very interesting and filled with lots of memorabilia of flying. We were very lucky to view a 3D computer model of what the airport would have looked like in its heyday, created by one of the volunteers. I hope this becomes a permanent feature of the airport tour. In summary its an a fascinating look at how modern air travel began and well worth 1 or 2 hours of your time.
Written July 9, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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