Imperial War Museum, Duxford
With a mile-long site to explore, including hangars, exhibitions, and the historic Watch Office, IWM Duxford is a destination where history and adventure collide. Whether you’re soaring through the past or relaxing with a coffee while the kids burn off some energy, you’ll leave with memories as vivid as the stories told here
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- Official opening of “The Weston Play Zone” at IWM Duxford. Thanks to a generous donation of £1.5 million from the Garfield Weston Foundation, IWM Duxford has been able to bring this ambitious project to life. In collaboration with the charity Little Miracles, IWM has ensured the Weston Play Zone caters to children of all ages and access requirements. Feedback from families and focus groups has been used to enhance the experience for children with additional needs and disabilities. This valuable input informed the creation of bespoke equipment, such as ground-level trampolines, quieter areas, and noise-making elements, making the Weston Play Zone a fun and inclusive space for all to enjoy. Photographed 27th July 2024
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- Official opening of “The Weston Play Zone” at IWM Duxford. Thanks to a generous donation of £1.5 million from the Garfield Weston Foundation, IWM Duxford has been able to bring this ambitious project to life. In collaboration with the charity Little Miracles, IWM has ensured the Weston Play Zone caters to children of all ages and access requirements. Feedback from families and focus groups has been used to enhance the experience for children with additional needs and disabilities. This valuable input informed the creation of bespoke equipment, such as ground-level trampolines, quieter areas, and noise-making elements, making the Weston Play Zone a fun and inclusive space for all to enjoy. Photographed 27th July 2024
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- Promotional Marketing image to advertise PEL Activitiy “Cockpit Control”. This image uses the interior of the Victor cockpit that is currently under conservation in Hangar 5. This will not be part of the offer, but for illustrative purposes only.
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- Marketing photography of children’s activities at IWM Duxford. Photographed 13th November 2019.
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- General view of visitors looking at the replica spitfire on its new roundel between Hangar 4 and 5 at IWM Duxford Photographed 10th September 2020
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- Marketing Photoshoot for the Weston playground. Photographed at IWM Duxford 24th July. The Weston Play Zone will open at IWM Duxford in early summer 2024. The announcement marks the beginning of Transforming IWM Duxford – a ten year, multi-million-pound plan to ensure IWM Duxford’s ongoing success as a museum, visitor destination and historic working airfield. Weston Play Zone – Opening Summer 2024 Thanks to a generous donation of £1.5 million from the Garfield Weston Foundation, the Weston Play Zone will provide an exciting new play experience that will engage children and their families with the history and adventurous spirit of Duxford. Inspired by the themes, colours and shapes of IWM Duxford, and more than twice the size of the existing play area, the Weston Play Zone will comprise several distinct areas: a ‘playful plane’ – a bespoke new climbing structure – filled with special features, sounds and puzzles will be at the heart of the Weston Play Zone, inspiring cooperative play. Ramps and slides, designed to resemble aircraft contrail clouds, will allow children to get up high, creating the sense that they are flying; familiar and much-loved play items such as seesaws, swings, slides and trampolines will add to the dynamic play experience; and a toddler area will feature a range of inclusive equipment and a play wall, with interactive and sound-making elements.
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- Marketing Photoshoot for the Weston playground. Photographed at IWM Duxford 24th July. The Weston Play Zone will open at IWM Duxford in early summer 2024. The announcement marks the beginning of Transforming IWM Duxford – a ten year, multi-million-pound plan to ensure IWM Duxford’s ongoing success as a museum, visitor destination and historic working airfield. Weston Play Zone – Opening Summer 2024 Thanks to a generous donation of £1.5 million from the Garfield Weston Foundation, the Weston Play Zone will provide an exciting new play experience that will engage children and their families with the history and adventurous spirit of Duxford. Inspired by the themes, colours and shapes of IWM Duxford, and more than twice the size of the existing play area, the Weston Play Zone will comprise several distinct areas: a ‘playful plane’ – a bespoke new climbing structure – filled with special features, sounds and puzzles will be at the heart of the Weston Play Zone, inspiring cooperative play. Ramps and slides, designed to resemble aircraft contrail clouds, will allow children to get up high, creating the sense that they are flying; familiar and much-loved play items such as seesaws, swings, slides and trampolines will add to the dynamic play experience; and a toddler area will feature a range of inclusive equipment and a play wall, with interactive and sound-making elements.
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- Marketing Photoshoot for the Weston playground. Photographed at IWM Duxford 24th July. The Weston Play Zone will open at IWM Duxford in early summer 2024. The announcement marks the beginning of Transforming IWM Duxford – a ten year, multi-million-pound plan to ensure IWM Duxford’s ongoing success as a museum, visitor destination and historic working airfield. Weston Play Zone – Opening Summer 2024 Thanks to a generous donation of £1.5 million from the Garfield Weston Foundation, the Weston Play Zone will provide an exciting new play experience that will engage children and their families with the history and adventurous spirit of Duxford. Inspired by the themes, colours and shapes of IWM Duxford, and more than twice the size of the existing play area, the Weston Play Zone will comprise several distinct areas: a ‘playful plane’ – a bespoke new climbing structure – filled with special features, sounds and puzzles will be at the heart of the Weston Play Zone, inspiring cooperative play. Ramps and slides, designed to resemble aircraft contrail clouds, will allow children to get up high, creating the sense that they are flying; familiar and much-loved play items such as seesaws, swings, slides and trampolines will add to the dynamic play experience; and a toddler area will feature a range of inclusive equipment and a play wall, with interactive and sound-making elements.
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- Marketing Photoshoot for the Weston playground. Photographed at IWM Duxford 24th July. The Weston Play Zone will open at IWM Duxford in early summer 2024. The announcement marks the beginning of Transforming IWM Duxford – a ten year, multi-million-pound plan to ensure IWM Duxford’s ongoing success as a museum, visitor destination and historic working airfield. Weston Play Zone – Opening Summer 2024 Thanks to a generous donation of £1.5 million from the Garfield Weston Foundation, the Weston Play Zone will provide an exciting new play experience that will engage children and their families with the history and adventurous spirit of Duxford. Inspired by the themes, colours and shapes of IWM Duxford, and more than twice the size of the existing play area, the Weston Play Zone will comprise several distinct areas: a ‘playful plane’ – a bespoke new climbing structure – filled with special features, sounds and puzzles will be at the heart of the Weston Play Zone, inspiring cooperative play. Ramps and slides, designed to resemble aircraft contrail clouds, will allow children to get up high, creating the sense that they are flying; familiar and much-loved play items such as seesaws, swings, slides and trampolines will add to the dynamic play experience; and a toddler area will feature a range of inclusive equipment and a play wall, with interactive and sound-making elements.
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- Official opening of “The Weston Play Zone” at IWM Duxford. Thanks to a generous donation of £1.5 million from the Garfield Weston Foundation, IWM Duxford has been able to bring this ambitious project to life. In collaboration with the charity Little Miracles, IWM has ensured the Weston Play Zone caters to children of all ages and access requirements. Feedback from families and focus groups has been used to enhance the experience for children with additional needs and disabilities. This valuable input informed the creation of bespoke equipment, such as ground-level trampolines, quieter areas, and noise-making elements, making the Weston Play Zone a fun and inclusive space for all to enjoy. Photographed 27th July 2024
Looking for a day out that’s as inspiring as it is unforgettable? Head to IWM Duxford, where history soars to life on the very airfield where Spitfires first took to the skies. This extraordinary museum doesn’t just showcase aviation — it’s a powerful tribute to the men and women who shaped the world during some of the most pivotal moments of the 20th century.
From the early days of flight through the Second World War and into the Cold War, Imperial War Museum Duxford offers an immersive experience. Wander through hangars brimming with iconic aircraft, marvel at the sheer scale of historic planes, and uncover personal stories of courage, sacrifice, and innovation. Each exhibit is a testament to the resilience of those who lived and served here, and the whole family will find something to captivate their imagination.
We’re particularly excited about the Weston Play Zone, a brand-new, multi-sensory outdoor playground that’s as fun as it is inclusive. Perfect for aspiring young pilots of all ages and abilities, this vast play area is three times the size of the previous playground and offers endless adventure, from tactile puzzles to quiet sensory zones. Parents can kick back at the nearby Armoury Café while the kids take off on their own flights of fancy.
But it’s not all about play. Imperial War Museum Duxford offers free, interactive family activities every weekend and throughout school holidays, making it the perfect destination for an action-packed day out. History buffs can get to know Duxford’s most fascinating characters — like legendary fighter ace Douglas Bader — through archive film, personal stories, and authentic wartime objects.
Open daily from 10am to 4pm, with the last entry at 3pm (but from 30 March closing will be 6pm, with last entry at 5pm), Imperial War Museum Duxford is a must-visit for history lovers, families, and adventurers alike. Admission is free for IWM members, so plan your visit, pack your curiosity, and prepare for an unforgettable journey through the skies.
Need to Know
Address:
Duxford, Cambridgeshire, CB22 4QR
Website:
https://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-duxford/families-at-iwm-duxford
Telephone:
020 7416 5000
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