Before your Visit

• All school groups wishing to visit IWM Duxford must pre-book. Decide what you would like to do and the date you would like to visit then call the Department for Learning on 01223 499341 to make a provisional booking. Confirm these arrangements by completing our booking form.
• We advise that group leaders make a free preliminary visit to IWM Duxford to appreciate the walking distances involved, the general layout of the site and to conduct their own risk assessment. With over 180 aircraft and other exhibits in five hangars, Land Warfare, the American Air Museum and smaller buildings, you may wish to concentrate on certain exhibits or themes. To arrange a complimentary ticket email dux-edu@iwm.org.uk. If you cannot come on a preliminary visit then we strongly recommend that you download our map and view our risk identification in advance to help with planning.
• Ratios of adults to children for supervisory purposes must be a minimum of 1:10. As a concession, one supervising teacher/adult will be admitted free with every ten children. We reserve the right to refuse admission to groups that do not meet the ratio on the day.
• Please brief each accompanying adult who will be supporting the visit. The success of the visit will largely depend upon the adults and the interaction they promote between the students and exhibits. The briefing should include intended learning aims and outcomes from the visit, the itinerary for the day, a map, the behaviour expected of the students, background information to support activities, a copy of any self-directed trails and quiz sheets and health and safety information about the site.
• Please ensure that children and parents are aware of the open air nature of IWM Duxford, between the buildings so that they can dress appropriately.
• If you require further assistance, particularly with access, then please telephone the Department for Learning and we will try to accommodate your needs.

Payment Policy

Pre-booked learning sessions (all costs include VAT):

• £65 per group (maximum 36 pupils) for a 60-minute session.
• £95 per group (maximum 36 pupils) for a longer session, 60–120 minutes.
• £16 per pupil for full-day workshops/conferences.
• Admission is free for children under 16 and accompanying adults within our allowed ratios. Additional adults will be charged the Group Adult admission price.
• Admission charges apply to groups aged 16 or over, but if your group’s admission fees total more than the cost of your teaching session, then the cost of that session will be waived.
• Payment for learning sessions and most special events should be made on the day (cash, credit/debit card or cheque made payable to ‘Imperial War Museum’. We do not accept American Express).
• IWM Duxford has a cancellation policy. Bookings cancelled more than four weeks prior to the visit date will not be charged an administration fee. Bookings cancelled between four and two weeks will be charged a 50 per cent administration fee. Bookings cancelled within two weeks of the visit will be charged a 100 per cent administration fee.

To Get the Most Out of your Visit

• Ensure that you have a structured day with clear learning objectives and defined activities for your students.
• There are a range of self-directed resources for you to download. These are subject related and themed. For each there are teachers’ notes/trails and then accompanying student activity sheets.

On Arrival

• There is a coach drop-off point outside the Visitor Centre in the main car park. Adults and students should disembark here and wait in this area until the group leader has checked in at the Visitor Centre. Payment needs to be made as appropriate, and a mobile telephone number will be requested should there be an urgent need to contact the group.
• Groups should enter the museum via the Schools Entrance, which is situated to the side of the Visitor Centre.
• There are various rooms where teaching activities take place. Your talk location and time will be on your entry ticket/invoice, but if you are unsure where to go, please ask.

Behaviour in the Museum

• Teachers are responsible for the behaviour of their groups throughout the visit. Ensure that your party is divided into small groups and that a responsible adult is in charge of and in sight of each group at all times. An adult should be present in the shop and on open aircraft such as Concorde. For many visitors, the museum is not history but reflects very real events that they have experienced in their own lives. Care and consideration must be given to all other users of the museum.
• No food or drink, including sweets, may be consumed inside the buildings, except the Eating Space and the eating outlets, if purchased there.
• It is not permitted to touch any of the exhibits on display. This is for their long-term preservation and for safety reasons. This does not apply to blind and partially sighted visitors.
• We regret that failure to abide by these rules may result in the group being asked to leave the site and future visits by the school being stopped.

Health and Safety

• Litter is dangerous on active airfields and should be disposed of correctly.
• For security reasons please do not leave bags unattended.
• The museum has full evacuation procedures in case of emergency or fire. All fire exits are clearly marked and all staff trained in evacuation procedures. Please ensure that your group understand the importance of following such procedures in the event of an evacuation.
• IWM Duxford has staff fully trained in first aid should you need assistance.
• IWM Duxford has £10 million public liability cover.

Shop

The shop sells a guidebook and a variety of posters, pens, books, models, mugs, badges etc. A pre-visit order of goody bags for your class can be arranged for set prices, for quick and easy collection on the day of your visit. Please contact the museum shop directly on 01223 499369 for details.

Lifts

The lifts in AirSpace and Land Warfare are intended for elderly and disabled visitors only.

Toilets

There are toilets around the site as marked on the map. None of the toilet facilities is dedicated for schools' use only. There are toilets for wheelchair users.

Picnic Room

The Eating Space, in AirSpace, can be booked in advance for eating packed lunches. It accommodates approximately 120 and may be booked for half-hour sessions. Users are requested to clean up after themselves. Schools are not permitted to eat packed lunches in the eating outlets.

Departure

Departure is via the Visitor Centre.

Disabled Access

Please see Visitor Information for more detailed information on accessibility.