Spitfire vs. Messerschmitt
To commemorate the 85th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain, we are thrilled to offer an extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime experience to our visitors on Battle of Britain Day 2025!
Go beyond the barriers for unrivalled, up-close access to our WW2 Fighters and Trainers collection – including exclusive cockpit access to the legendary Spitfire Mk I and the Messerschmitt BF109 that actually flew in the Battle of Britain.
Explore these wartime icons alongside the Hawker Hurricane, Fiat Falco, North American Harvard, and other aircraft that took part in the Battle of Britain.
Hear gripping first-hand stories of courage, sacrifice, and ground-breaking innovation from your expert guide, who will deliver a detailed historical and technical presentation at each aircraft.
Enjoy the rare opportunity to step inside selected cockpits normally off-limits to the public, followed by lively Q&A sessions at each stop.
Perfect for aviation enthusiasts and history lovers, this is your chance to stand where heroes once stood, connect with the machines that changed history, and experience the world’s first full-scale air battle like never before.
Terms and Conditions
- You must be physically fit to do this experience. The Museum reserves the right to restrict access to anyone that we believe may injure themselves during this experience due to a pre-existing health condition.
- Some aircraft will require you to climb a number of steps and to climb over the side of the aircraft; you must be able to support your own body weight when climbing in and out.
- You must be over the age of 18 to purchase a ticket and access the cockpits.
- Due to the aircraft being fully kitted with original instrumentation there is a radiation exposure risk when sitting in the cockpit of the Spitfire Mk1 and ME109 therefore access is limited to 2 minutes per aircraft and not allowed for pregnant visitors.
- Please wear trousers or shorts. Skirts and dresses may prevent or restrict access
- Please wear flat shoes with a good grip on them. Please note, we cannot allow the public access without appropriate footwear.
- You may take pictures inside aircraft – please come with a camera that can be zipped into a pocket or a camera with a strap.
- Please arrive for your access slot on time, if you are running late and miss your booked time then the Museum reserves the right to refuse access.
- The Museum does not offer refunds for missed bookings or ‘no shows’.
- Each experience ticket is only valid for one person only and is non-transferable.
