Britain's historic airfields make for a thrilling day out

Telegraph

04-07-2025

This year marks the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, when – for three and a half months, between July 10 and October 31 1940 – the skies above the UK whirred with the throaty roar of Supermarine Spitfires and Hawker Hurricanes, defending the country from the German Luftwaffe.
There could, then, hardly be a better moment for Britain's airfields to be thriving as they currently are, with many rebranding themselves as the country's new premier heritage family day out.
Leading the charge with his revamp of Compton Abbas airfield in Dorset is director Guy Ritchie – but he's not the only one: from West Sussex to Bedfordshire, these bastions of aviation 's Golden Age offer the chance to see (and even fly – or jump out of) planes – both vintage and modern – soak up a bit of history, and enjoy a slap-up meal.
Tempted? Here are the best of the bunch, and everything you need to know to plan your visit.
Compton Abbas Airfield, Dorset
Close to the pretty town of Shaftesbury, Guy Ritchie 's airfield offers visitors the opportunity to observe double-formation take-offs and spectacular airborne loops, then sit down to a lunch of smoked pork belly or beef brisket at the Lore of the Sky, sister restaurant to his London pub, the Lore of the Land.
According to Jason Hammond, the ex-military veteran at the helm of Compton Abbas Airfield, Ritchie has a 'definite bent for nostalgia', and 'tends to have a low-key pint at the converted horse box bar or an ice cream at the Smoking Barrels snack bar' when he visits.
If spectating offers insufficient excitement, opt for Aero Legends' 40-minute 'Needles' experience (from £4,250 per person), during which you'll go up in a Spitfire and soar over the Isle of Wight.
Alternatively, you can fly in a Tiger Moth for 15 minutes (from £179 per person), or in a bright yellow American T-6 Texan (from £519). If you're based in the South East, note that Aero Legends also offer flying experiences from the North Weald airfield in Epping, one of the Battle of Britain's key fighter bases, and from the Headcorn Aerodrome in Kent.
Where to stay: The King John Inn in nearby Tollard Royal is a dog-friendly Victorian country inn with eight en-suite rooms, costing from £110 per night.
Sandown Airport, Isle of Wight
Billed as the UK's 'premier destination airfield', Sandown Airport offers helicopter flights with Flydays (from £99 for an 18-mile scenic route) and even skydives over the island's spectacular rolling countryside, as well as wood-fired pizzas and barbecues at its popular Island Bistro.
The site is also home to the Wight Aviation Museum, located in a disused hangar (open Friday-Tuesday until the end of October), where you'll find a full scale replica of the Black Arrow rocket, a British satellite carrier developed during the 1960s, among other exhibits.
The airport, which served as a training airfield during the Second World War, makes a wonderful local day out for those holidaying on the eastern side of the island, where you're also within easy reach of Brading Roman Villa, Dinosaur Isle and several dog-friendly beaches.
Details: eghn.org.uk
Where to stay: Haven Hall is a five-star country house hotel in nearby Shanklin with views over Sandown bay and rooms from £352 per night.
Goodwood Aerodrome, West Sussex
Known as RAF Westhampnett during the Second World War, today the aerodrome draws pilots and passengers alike with its promise of bird's-eye views over the Solent and Isle of Wight.
While the flying experiences offered here by The Spitfire Academy are eye-wateringly expensive (from £3,250 for 30 minutes in the air), those in the modern Cessna, one of the most popular training aircraft in the world, are a good deal more reasonable, at £185 for 30 minutes, or £525 with an aerobatic pilot in a two-seater stunt aircraft.
If a helicopter ride is more your speed, opt instead for a 17-mile tour of the 11,000-acre Goodwood Estate (from £75 per person) before heading for the estate's excellent farm-to-fork restaurant, Farmer, Butcher, Chef, for a hearty meal of beef, pork or lamb reared at the Goodwood Home Farm.
Where to stay: The Goodwood Hotel, a smart, comfortable four-star on the edge of the South Downs National Park, has rooms from £225 per night.
Old Warden Aerodrome, Bedfordshire
This privately owned airfield is home to a stunning Regency-era garden, a woodland sculpture trail, 875 acres of lakeside parklands – and the superlative Shuttleworth Collection, a treasure trove of vintage aircraft, cars, motorcycles and agricultural vehicles.
There are seven action-packed air shows each season, including the Summer Air Show on July 26; Flying Proms (expect fireworks and aerobatic pyrotechnics) on August 16; and a Best of British Air Show on August 30. Make time, too, for a stop at the delightful Runway Café, which serves seasonal dishes.
Details: shuttleworth.org
Where to stay: The Keeper's Cottage, a model cottage tucked away in the woods of the estate, is available through the Landmark Trust from £412 per night.
Imperial War Museum Duxford, Cambridgeshire
No selection of Britain's homages to vintage aircraft would be complete without mention of Duxford, home of the country's largest aviation museum.
The aerodrome, built during the First World War, was one of the earliest Royal Air Force stations and now houses galleries depicting the personal stories of lives impacted by conflict, a permanent Battle of Britain exhibition and an American Air Museum with a giant B-52 Stratofortress (an American long-range subsonic jet-powered strategic bomber) and commemorations for those who served in Afghanistan.
A packed calendar of events includes a Battle of Britain Air Show (September 6-7) and the well-loved Duxford Dash – a 'family mile', 5k or 10k run – on October 26.
Details: iwm.org.uk
Where to stay: Cambridge Lodge is a two-bedroom holiday cottage at nearby Audley End House and Gardens, an English Heritage property, from £515 per night (sleeps four).
Dunkeswell Aerodrome, Devon
The village of Dunkeswell – set deep in the Blackdown Hills National Landscape, close to the Somerset border – is home to the highest licensed aerodrome in the UK. Built in 1943, it was occupied by the USAAF 479th Anti Submarine Squadron and, later, the US Navy.
In fact, post-March 1944, Dunkeswell was the only US Navy base in all of Europe. Today, the terrace of the Aviator Coffee Bar and Restaurant is a wonderful spot from which to take in uninterrupted views of various aviation activities. If you prefer to get in on the action, a 30-minute Spitfire flight over Exeter and Torbay will set you back £3,400; while skydiving and wing-walking (not for the faint-hearted) are also on offer, as are thrilling microlight and helicopter flights.
There's also a heritage centre, where visitors can browse memorabilia and archive photography.