Hampton Court Palace

Imperial War Museum Duxford

The aerodrome at Duxford was built during the First World War and was one of the earliest Royal Air Force stations. During 1917 the Royal Flying Corps expanded and Duxford was one of many new airfields established to train RFC aircrew. After the war ended, unlike many similar airfields in a slimmed-down RAF, it was kept open: first as a training school and then, from 1924, a fighter station, a role it was to carry out with distinction for 37 years.

By 1938 the reputation of RAF Duxford’s No.19 Squadron was such that it became the first RAF squadron to re-equip with the new Supermarine Spitfire, and the first Spitfire was flown into RAF Duxford in August 1938.

In June 1940 Belgium, Holland and France fell to German forces and the conquest of Britain was Germany’s next objective. RAF Duxford was placed in a high state of readiness. The period of intense air fighting that followed has become known as the Battle of Britain, and the station went on to play a role in Britain’s air defence. On 15 September 1940, ‘Battle of Britain Day’, its squadrons twice took to the air to repulse Luftwaffe attacks aimed at London. Test and trial units then flew from the station, providing the RAF with vital insights into how its new aircraft would perform in combat, before it was handed over to the United States Army Air Forces.

In April 1943, RAF Duxford (soon to be officially designated ‘Station 357’ by the Americans) became home of the 78th Fighter Group, whose primary job was to escort the vast fleets of US Eighth Air Force bombers on their perilous and costly daylight raids against Germany. On D-Day, 6 June 1944, the long-awaited beginning of the Allied invasion of occupied Europe, every available 78th Fighter Group Thunderbolt supported the invasion by attacking targets behind the beachheads of Normandy.

Following the end of the Second World War, and once again an RAF station, Duxford entered its last operational phase. Now equipped with jet fighters such as the Gloster Meteor, Hawker Hunter and Gloster Javelin, its pilots stood ready to shoot down Soviet bombers should the Cold War turn ‘hot’.

However Duxford was nearing the end of its life in operation under the RAF as the defence needs which had called RAF Duxford into being as a fighter station no longer applied; it was too far south and too far inland, and the costly improvements required for supersonic fighters could not be justified. In July 1961 the last operational flight was made from RAF Duxford, and for some 15 years the future of the airfield remained in the balance.

IWM had been looking for a suitable site for the storage, restoration and eventual display of exhibits too large for its headquarters in London and obtained permission to use the airfield for this purpose. Cambridgeshire County Council joined with IWM and the Duxford Aviation Society, giving the near-abandoned aerodrome a new lease of life.

Today IWM Duxford is established as the European centre of aviation history. The historic site, outstanding collections of exhibits and regular world-renowned Air Shows combine to create a unique museum where history really is in the air.

Imperial War Museum Duxford

Walk through the same hangars and buildings as those who served at RAF Duxford. See aircraft take to the skies from the airfield that Spitfires first flew. And get up close to over a century of aviation with hundreds of aircraft and objects on display.

Churchill War Rooms

History was made in Churchill War Rooms – an underground bunker that allowed Britain’s leaders to plot the allied route to victory during the Second World War. Walk the labyrinth of rooms and corridors that stretch below Westminster that sheltered Winston Churchill and his war cabinet from the German bombing raids, and explore the Churchill museum to learn the story of his life and legacy.

HMS Belfast

Take the helm of HMS Belfast, the famous Second World War survivor and iconic London landmark. Journey through the rooms of this floating city, climbing up and down ladders to navigate your way around all 9 decks. From the guns that fired some of the first shots on D-Day right down to the engine rooms 15ft below sea level, get up close to the inner workings of a warship and hear hundreds of powerful stories from those who worked on board. 

Imperial War Museum

IWM is a family of five museums and historic sites covering war and conflict from the First World War to the present day.  Our sites and unique collection of objects tell the human stories of lives engulfed in war and show how conflict has shaped the world in which we all live.

Our museum sites include IWM London, IWM North in Manchester and IWM Duxford in Cambridgeshire.  In addition we offer two historic experiences in London: Churchill War Rooms in Whitehall and the Royal Navy ship HMS Belfast which is permanently moored on the Thames.

IWM was founded in the midst of the First World War with a mission to preserve and tell the stories of all kinds of people, not only from Britain but from the countries of its empire.  And we continue to do this work right up to present day conflict, covering 100 years of experience throughout the Commonwealth.

As well as our permanent displays, we have a dynamic programme of temporary exhibitions, events and educational activities to help our visitors to get close to the lives of those affected by war and to develop a deeper understanding of its effect on the world.

We are partly funded by government but also need volunteers, donations, sponsorship and income from our shops and commercial activities to sustain our work.  We also have a membership scheme, which is an ideal way to lend us support, while getting the best value access to all five of our sites.

Manchester Metropolitan University Special Collections

The collections

The collections are central to the artistic culture and teaching of the faculty and have been since its foundation as the Manchester School of Art in 1853.

The collections include:

• Artists’ Books: a great range of creative experimentations with the book form
• 20th century international poster collections
• The Manchester School of Art Collection including fine and decorative art and the work of past and present students and staff
• The Schmoller Collection of Decorated Papers
• Children’s Book Collection: featuring 19th and 20th century children’s book illustration
• Book collections exploring aspects of the book as an artifact
• Archive collections including artists’ working drawings and correspondence
• Manchester Society of Architects Library
• Victorian ephemera featuring 19th century albums and scrapbooks
• Mary Butcher collection of Baxter prints

National Maritime Museum Cornwall

The National Maritime Museum Cornwall is a fully independent museum. The result of collaboration between the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich and the former Cornwall Maritime Museum in Falmouth.

The museum was officially opened in 2003 and is located on the aptly named Discovery Quay in Falmouth, south Cornwall.

The museum celebrates and explores the overwhelming influence of the sea on history and culture, including the maritime heritage of Falmouth and Cornwall. As home to The National Small Boat Collection the museum also promotes an understanding of small boats and their place in people’s lives.

ULITA: An Archive of International Textiles

ULITA – an Archive of International Textiles (formerly the University of Leeds International Textiles Archive) is housed in St Wilfred’s Chapel on the Western Campus of the University of Leeds.

The purpose of the archive is to collect, preserve and document textiles and related items from many of the textile producing areas of the world for the benefit of scholars, researchers and the general public.

ULITA is primarily a textiles archive, where items can be consulted by individuals and small groups by making an appointment.  An online catalogue can be viewed to see the major collections.

Further to this there is a public exhibition area.  Temporary exhibitions are held each year, based on aspects of its own collections and equivalent themes.

There is no permanent display; appointments can be made to consult items which do not form part of the temporary exhibitions.

Roman Alcester