Specialist area

RAF Waddington Heritage Centre focuses on the History of RAF Waddington from 1916 to present day including exhibits from the Second World War, the Cold War, the Black Buck raids of the Falklands campaigns up to the present day. There is a display of a Lancaster bomber that was discovered where it had crashed on a Scottish hillside. This will make the basis of an activity on crash site investigations.

Ideal age range for visits

The centre has been designed for aviation enthusiasts or people with a connection to RAF Waddington so it has not been designed with children in mind. Children (aged 7 plus) can be accommodated and there is also the WAVE facility nearby where they can eat.

The briefing room is a great facility with a projector and potential for multi media displays. It is currently used as a briefing room where RAF personnel interact with the Heritage Centre so it is an exciting place for young people to be.

On site

The museum is on an operational RAF base so visitors must be escorted at all times. The Centre is made up of three large rooms:

• the first contains artefacts and documents relating to the history of the Squadrons at RAF Waddington.
• the second is a briefing room which contains information on the V bomber, the Valiant, Blue Steel missile, Vulcan and Victor, the role of the Royal Air Force, Black Buck missions during the Falklands conflict.
• the third room contains the remnants of a Lancaster that crashed in Kingussie in Scotland. It was preserved in a peat bog. This room tells the story of conserving and transporting the wreckage to Waddington and it also tells the story of the crew who were involved in the crash.

Visitor information

Visits are free although donations are welcome.

Opening times
By appointment only. Please contact the Visits Coordinator on 01522 728595.

If you plan to visit the RAF Waddington Heritage Centre we ask that you please bring with you some valid Photo ID e.g. driving licence or passport.

Further information about the Heritage Centre can be found at: http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafwaddington/aboutus/heritagecentre.cfm