Duxford Flying Season Frequently Asked Questions

Some questions relate to all our IWM Duxford Flying Season events:

• Booking tickets
• Refund policy
• Planning your day
• Getting here
• Special entertainment 
• Accessibility
• What to bring 
• What not to bring

There are some additional questions that specifically apply to an event coming soon:

• IWM Duxford Air Shows 
• Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show 
• Duxford Flying Evening 
• Duxford Flying Finale 
• Duxford Flying Days

• All IWM Duxford Flying Season events are advance ticket only.
• Pre-booking to secure your tickets is essential. There are no tickets available to purchase on the day, either online or at the gate. With the exception of our three Flying Days, if there are tickets still available on the day these can be purchased online only. 
• For any questions about your ticket once you have booked, please contact us.
• By booking a ticket, you have agreed to our terms and conditions for attendance on the day. 
• If you are experiencing problems booking your ticket(s) online for any IWM Duxford Flying Season event, please contact us. 

Find out more about what is included in your ticket booking and how to book:

• Duxford Summer Air Show ticket page 
• Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show ticket page 
• Duxford Flying Finale event page 
• Duxford Flying Evening event page 
• Duxford Flying Days 

• In the event of an IWM Duxford Flying Season event being cancelled for any reason, including weather-related circumstances, tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. 
• All flying is subject to weather conditions and aircraft serviceability. 
• Please note that all showground entertainment and flying takes place outdoors so we strongly advise you to come prepared for all weather conditions to ensure an enjoyable day out, whatever the weather! 

• The following information provides an approximate timetable to help plan your journey. 
• Flying displays and timings are dependent on weather and serviceability. 
• We recommend that you arrive before 12:00 midday to ensure you do not miss the flying displays and extra special entertainment scheduled for event days.
• Visit or bookmark the event web pages to stay updated in the countdown to Duxford Summer Air Show or Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show.

There are different travel arrangements available for IWM Duxford Flying Season events. 

Make sure to leave plenty of time to get here to reduce the chances of having to queue.

It is possible to walk to the museum however, please be aware that if you are coming from the Whittlesford area you will need to cross the busy M11 roundabout following the paths provided. 

For families and groups with young children, we do not recommend walking to an IWM Duxford Flying Season event. 

IWM Duxford Air Shows

• Special travel arrangements are in place for Duxford Summer Air Show and Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show. Please visit our Duxford Air Shows Getting Here page for more information. 

Other Flying Season events

• For all other events including Duxford Flying Days, Duxford Flying Evening and Duxford Flying Finale the same travel arrangements and advice are in place as a general visit to IWM Duxford. 
• This effectively means that our standard day parking provision can cope with the expected onsite numbers and tickets available and so:
  • Shuttle buses are not available at these events. 
  • Parking permits are not required to park onsite at these events. 

Most of the ground activities published as part of your event experience are included in the ticket price. 

Where an additional charge is required we will clearly communicate this in our listings. Showground activities that will incur an additional charge on the day include: 

• The Civil Airliner Duxford Aviation Society boarding pass 
• Tank Rides with the Duxford Aviation Society  
• Hair and makeup sessions (cash only)

• The airfield is mostly on flat ground. Some areas are on tarmac, but most areas are on grass. 
• Whilst we make every effort to make our site accessible, due to the historic nature of the site, some areas may not be suitable for visitors with restricted mobility. 
• Mobility scooter hire is available at IWM Duxford Air Shows but must be pre-booked in advance. Event Mobility provide electric mobility scooters (£35.00) and manual wheelchairs (£15.00) for daily hire.

Scooters and manual wheelchairs can be pre-booked by following these links: Duxford Summer Air Show and Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show.

Accessible Parking
 

Parking permits are only required for Duxford Summer Air Show and Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show:

• Blue Badge parking permits can be booked when you secure your tickets, subject to availability. 
• If you need assistance with your Blue Badge parking permit when you book tickets for Duxford Summer Air Show and Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show, please contact us.
• Visitors booking Blue Badge parking permits must have a valid Blue Badge (or international equivalent). 
• Your Blue Badge parking permit and Blue Badge must be displayed on your car dashboard on entry to the site to help traffic marshals direct you to the blue badge parking area.
• Please bring proof of DLA or PIP as it may be required to be shown on arrival at IWM Duxford.
• Due to ongoing changes at IWM Duxford, the Blue Badge parking area will now be located next to the Land Warfare Hall at the western side of the museum. 
• Additional accessible facilities will be available in this area along with members of staff to assist with your visit.
• A shuttlebus with wheelchair access will be available to transfer visitors to the main showground area.

The following FAQs are relevant for Duxford Summer Air Show and Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show only. 

Accessibility – Blue Badge Parking 

• We have made sure that booking a parking permit is part of the booking process when purchasing your ticket to Duxford Summer Air Show or Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show.
• However, if you need assistance with your Blue Badge parking permit, please contact us.

• Due to ongoing changes at IWM Duxford, the Blue Badge parking area will now be located next to the Land Warfare Hall at the western side of the museum. Additional accessible facilities will be available in this area along with members of staff to assist with your visit.
• A shuttlebus with wheelchair access will be available to transfer visitors to the main showground area.

Gold Experience 

• Available at both the Duxford Summer Air Show and Battle of Britain Air Show, the Gold Experience is an exclusive area with limited tickets for an extra special experience. 

• The free carer ticket must be booked with a full paying Gold Experience adult or Gold Experience child ticket. 
• Please note carer will not receive a complimentary programme.  
• There is a designated smoking area next to the Gold Experience outside seating area. Please keep to the designated area if you want to smoke in the Gold Experience.

Parking Permits 

• You will be asked if you would like to add a parking permit to your purchase when you book your IWM Duxford Air Show ticket. 
• If you need assistance with your parking permit, please contact us.
• Traffic management staff will be checking for parking permits on arrival at the car parks.
• Please clearly display your parking permit in your windscreen on arrival and throughout the day to help our staff direct you to the appropriate parking area. 
• Customers who have booked Blue Badge parking permits must have their Blue Badge (or international equivalent) displayed with their Blue Badge parking permit to gain access to this area.  

Motorbike Parking

• Parking for motorbikes is free and you do not need to purchase a parking permit. 
• Motorbike parking (on flat ground) is located in the main Visitor Centre car park. 

Flying In

• Unfortunately, for operational reasons we are unable to accommodate general aviation bookings. 

Getting Here

• For further information on how to get to Duxford Summer Air Show and Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show please visit the IWM Duxford Air Shows Getting Here webpage. 

Cash Withdrawal Facilities

• We no longer have a cash machine on site. IWM Duxford shop and catering outlets do accept card payments.
• The IWM marquee shop in front of the control tower and the American Air Museum will only accept card payments, however, the Visitor Centre shop, catering outlets and Traders will accept cash and card. 
• We cannot guarantee all the trade stands have card payment facilities.

Free Wi-Fi

• Free Wi-Fi is available across most of the museum. 
• Access begins as soon as you agree to IWM's terms and conditions of use. 
• Due to the number of people attending Duxford Summer Air Show and Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show internet speed may be slower than usual. 
• Phone signal and Wi-Fi may be affected by the number of people on site. 

Flying Display

• IWM will continually update the participation list as new aircraft are added or amended.
• The final participation list is available on the air show flying list page in the week prior to Duxford Summer Air Show or Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show. All flying is subject to weather and serviceability. 
• Usually, the flying participation for both days is similar, including timings. However, there might be some aircraft which display on one day only. Please read published flying lists carefully.
• A general flying schedule is available in the souvenir programme which can be purchased in advance with your tickets and collected on the day. You will also save £2 by purchasing your programme in advance.
• You can also purchase programmes from one of the IWM shops.
• The flying display participants will be listed on our website before the show and displayed on site over the weekend. 

Arriving on site 

• These are popular events and there are likely to be traffic queues in the area, queues to park at the event and delays to get onto the showground. This will also apply to leaving the event.
• Please plan your day accordingly to avoid long queues, which includes the end of the flying display. 
• Catering facilities and some ground activities will remain open till 7pm. 

IWM members

• IWM members receive a priority booking email from IWM membership on the day member tickets launch.  
• IWM members must show a valid membership card for each membership ticket purchased. 
• There will be an IWM members' area at Duxford Summer Air Show and Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show. The members’ area is open-air so please come prepared for all weather. 
• The area provides great viewing and includes:   

• Capacity will be managed carefully to ensure the health and safety of all our members - we may need to limit the number of members using the area.  
• In the event that capacity is reached, it will be made clear to you at the point of purchasing your air show ticket that we have reached capacity in the members area. 
• You will still be able to purchase a Duxford Summer Air Show or Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show members ticket (subject to availability), but it will be clearly marked on your ticket that it does not include access to the members area.  
• We advise you to purchase your ticket as soon as possible to ensure you take advantage of the full membership benefits. 
• On arrival at the members area, our volunteers will greet you and ask to see your valid membership card before giving you a wristband, so you have access all day.  

Catering and Retail 

• IWM Duxford’s Armoury Café, American Air Museum Café and Workshop Restaurant will all be open, plus outdoor catering outlets providing an array of food and drink stalls across the showground. 
• Visitors are welcome to bring their own packed lunches/picnics but for safety reasons, barbeques are not allowed anywhere onsite. 
• Programmes are available to purchase online in advance for £8 when you book your tickets, or from IWM retail traders on the day for £10. 
• We recommend you purchase programmes in advance, as numbers on the day are limited and Programmes will sell out so please book in advance to avoid disappointment. 
• If you have purchased the programme or any of our retail items in advance, you should collect this from one of the collection points onsite by showing your email confirmation as proof of purchase.   

• The Grandstand is only available at Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show.  
• The Grandstand is on the flightline, providing seating between two and four metres above the crowd. 
• Perfect for photography and aviation fans looking for the best photo opportunities. 
• You need to add a Grandstand seat to your standard ticket booking before checkout. Children will also require a ticket for Grandstand seating. 
• To speed up your check in process on the day, you can now pre-select your seat when adding Grandstand to your standard admission ticket booking. 
• Although you can pre-select your seat in advance, there may still be some queues on arrival. 
• Please arrive at the Grandstand to take your seat well in advance of the published flying start time. 
• There is limited capacity in the Grandstand so please book in advance to ensure your seat. 
• The Grandstand is not covered to ensure the best view of the airfield and flying displays. Come prepared for the weather forecast on the day. Please note the grandstand may be slippery when wet.
• If you are a Gold Experience ticket holder you are welcome to add a Grandstand seat booking (for an additional £22.50) to your order if you would like to experience both seating areas at the show. 

These frequently asked questions are specifically related to Duxford Flying Evening:

• Pre-booking is essential. You will need to purchase tickets to Duxford Flying Evening in advance.
• Tickets will be purchasable up until 5pm on the day only if tickets remain. 
• Your Duxford Flying Evening ticket does not include day entry to IWM Duxford. Please also book a day ticket if you intend to visit IWM Duxford before the event starts at 5pm. Last entry for general admission on the day is 12.30pm-1pm.
• For information on hangars and exhibitions that will be open on the evening, please visit the Duxford Flying Evening webpage.
• Parking permits are not required for this event. Visitors will be parked in either the Main visitor car park or on Northside of the site. Visitors with Blue Badges or accessibility needs will be prioritised into the Main Visitor car park. 
• Additional toilets and lighting will be provided in the Northside car park. 
• There will be some catering outlets open on the evening and an array of food and drink stalls. 
• Visitors are welcome to bring their own packed lunches/picnics but for safety reasons, barbeques are not allowed anywhere onsite.
• Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate general aviation bookings, for operational reasons. 
• IWM will continually update the participation list as new aircraft are added or amended.
• The final participation list is available in the week prior to the event on the Duxford Flying Evening webpage.
• All flying is subject to weather and serviceability. 
• The flying display participants will be on our website before the show and displayed on site during the day. 
• There isn’t a dedicated members parking area or members viewing area on the evening. 
• IWM members can book tickets using your surname and member number which is the 14 digit number found on your membership card. 
• IWM members must show a valid membership card for each membership ticket purchased.

These frequently asked questions are specifically related to Duxford Flying Finale:

• All flying is subject to weather and serviceability. 
• The flying display participants will be on our website before the show and displayed on site during the day. Pre-booking is essential. 
• Parking permits are not required for this event.
• Visitors will be parked in either the Main visitor car park or on Northside of the site. Visitors with Blue Badges or accessibility needs will be prioritised into the Main Visitor car park. 
• Additional toilets will be provided in the Northside car park. 
• There isn’t a dedicated members parking area or members viewing area on the day. 
• Regular museum opening hours apply to Duxford Flying Finale.
• IWM members can book tickets using your surname and member number which is the 14 digit number found on your membership card. 
• IWM members must show a valid membership card for each membership ticket purchased. 
• Free shuttle buses will not run for this event.
• Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate general aviation bookings, for operational reasons. 

• Flying Days are a series of special themed events throughout the summer, reflecting on the role Duxford has played in aviation history.
• These special events provide up to two hours of scheduled flying, on top of your great day out at IWM Duxford.
• All flying is subject to weather and serviceability. 
• The flying display participants will be on our website before the show and displayed on site during the day. 
• Pre-booking is essential. 
• Parking permits are not required for this event.
• We are not able to offer a free shuttle bus service on Duxford Flying Days.
• Regular museum opening hours apply to all Duxford Flying Days. 
• IWM members receive free entry to Flying Days but tickets must be booked in advance. Simply book your ticket via our website where you will need your Member number ready to claim your free entry ticket.
• IWM members can book tickets using your surname and member number which is the 14 digit number found on your membership card. 
• IWM members must show a valid membership card for each membership ticket purchased.
• Please note that tickets to Flying Days are limited so do book early to guarantee your place! Once tickets are sold out, all bookings will close.
• Visitors will be parked in either the Main visitor car park or on Northside of the site. Visitors with Blue Badges or accessibility needs will be prioritised into the Main Visitor car park. 
• Additional toilets will be provided in the Northside car park. 
• There isn’t a dedicated members parking area.
• IWM Duxford’s Armoury Café, American Air Museum Café and Workshop Restaurant will all be open.
• The flying display participants will be on our website before the show. Listen out for timings from announcements on the day.
• There will not be a members’ area at any Duxford Flying Days. 

IWM Duxford Flying Season FAQs

First Published: 16 October 2023

Webpage version updates will be published here.