11-05-2025
Inside the UK's eerie abandoned plane graveyard and the bizarre reason we know nothing about it
Where do planes go to die? There's many different answers; some are deconstructed, others become showpieces for businesses or are snapped up by private buyers - and sometimes, they're just left to, well, rot.
One such 'airport boneyard' lies surprisingly close to a major London hub, an overgrown parcel of land that houses a trio of planes that have been grounded by age.
Close to London Southend airport, next to the Skylark Hotel, is a little known plane graveyard that's currently home to aircraft that are believed to date back as far as the 1950s, according to Essex Live.
The Google Maps' satellite view of Aviation Way, Southend-on-Sea - postcode SS2 6UN - shows the site as its looked in recent years, with Mother Nature slowly claiming back the land and covering the former flyers in moss, ivy and weeds.
While it's not clear exactly why the planes - believed to be two larger aircraft and one smaller - are there, and their future, there are clues to their past.
The publication suggests that one of the more sizeable aircraft could be an ex-RAAF Hawker Siddeley HS 748's, which is a homegrown plane, having been built by British company Avro.
While it's not recommended that aviation enthusiasts embark on a journey to see the planes; they're firmly behind lock and key, it is possible to get a glimpse of them from the car park of the Skylark hotel.
Some graffiti artists have left their mark on the rusting aircraft though; with parts of the planes adorned with spray can 'tags'.
All is not lost for plane spotters looking to fully immerse in a vintage plane experience, however.
A new Airbnb glamping pod lets guests check in and stay inside an aircraft that belongs to yesteryear.
A 1970s private jet has been lovingly converted - after seven months of toil and an outlay of £90,000 - into a cosy self-catering let, where you can explore the cockpit at leisure.
The vintage 1970s Hawker - now known as Alaya Airways - is in Dolgellau in Gwynedd, Wales and has only been available to rent for less than a month but is already being snapped up by tourists seeking a mile-high stay that never leaves the ground.
Its owner Tamir Ali, 38, snapped up the vintage plane in December 2023 and decided to set about turning it into a two-bed room stay, with guests paying £170 a night.
Intrigued by its history as the staff plane of an oil company, and in use for much of the 70s and 80s, he's strived to preserve as many original features as possible, while also ensuring all the things you'd expect from a self-catering stay are there.
The original body of the plane is now a cosy seating and bedroom, with a cabin tacked on the back of the aircraft housing a double bed
There's a kitchen with all mod cons, bathroom with shower and even space to enjoy a glass of fizz in a dedicated outdoor area - and its pet friendly to boot.
With a 70 per cent occupancy rate already, the property looks set to be booked up for the summer and is described as the perfect stay for families.
Adding in a double bedroom, via a cosy cabin, plus wood floors and modern electrics ensures the plane is a comfy retreat.
Tamir, who's based in Leicester, said: 'It's awesome - when people walk in they say it's much bigger than it seems on the outside.
'It's almost like you're in a normal home. It's a unique experience, not many people get to sit in the cockpit of a 70's private jet.'
The plane enthusiast describes the plane when he bought it, around 35 years after it was retired, as 'worse for wear' but with plenty of potential: 'There was lots of mould and moss inside - but I immediately envisioned what I wanted it to be.'
He said building the plane back up and giving it new life has made for some interesting encounters, saying: 'I've always worked with eccentric people - people who deal with the weird and wonderful.
