Local Museums

The most notorious museums around Epping include the Imperial War Museum at Duxford and North Weald Air Museum, making a visit to Epping a must for any aviation enthusiasts.

Imperial War Museum at Duxford
Duxford is Europe's premier aviation museum - as well as having one of the finest collections of tanks, military vehicles and naval exhibits in the country. This famous heritage site began as an airfield in the First World War and also played a vital role in the Second World War, firstly as an RAF fighter station and later as an American fighter base.

Today Duxford is the centre for historic aviation with many of its wartime buildings, such as the Control Tower, Operations Room and hangars still in use and retaining their 1940s atmosphere.
On display in the museum's seven main exhibition buildings visitors will see nearly 200 military and civil aircraft as well as maritime exhibits including Concorde, the Lancaster and Mosquito. One of the major restoration projects currently being undertaken is that of a Consolidated B-24 Liberator, a four-engined American bomber from the Second World War.

Duxford's award-winning American Air Museum was designed by Lord Foster and officially opened in August 1997 by Her Majesty The Queen. It also highlights the role of US air power in the First and Second World Wars, and subsequent conflicts - Korea, Vietnam and Desert Storm, as well as NATO and the Cold War.

Children under 16 are granted free admission. For further information, visit Imperial War Museum at Duxford website.

North Weald Airfield Museum
The museum is housed in the former RAF North Weald Station Office. It is adjacent to what was the main entrance to this former Battle of Britain Fighter Station.

North Weald Airfield Museum is about people. It's about the service personnel and civilians, who have lived, worked, flown, fought and died here since the airfield opened in 1916.

The museum sets out to tell their story of a famous airfield that has protected London during two world wars.
The story is told in displays, with photographs, artifacts and personal memories. A particular feature of the museum is the detailed history of the airfield, from the time it opened until the RAF left in 1964. It is without doubt one of the best documented former RAF stations.

For further information, visit North Weald Airfield Museum website.

Epping Forest District Museum
This museum tells the story of the people who have lived and worked in this part of west Essex from the earliest inhabitants to the present. Housed in a building dating to 1520.

Exhibitions vary from permanent ones with archeological finds to changing exhibitions that change every three months. There is also a museum shop.

For further information, visit The Epping Forest District Museum website.

For further information about local museums in Epping & Duxford or to make your reservation, Contact Us at Pergola Lodge Guest House.

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