We went for the Engine Run event. The roar of the twin jet Lightning was incredible and the Shackleton tried it best. The whole day was great, aided by knowledgeable and friendly volunteers. The snacks and drinks are reasonably priced. The viewing area for the runway takeoff is an added bonus.

We recently visited the Gatwick Aviation Museum with our dementia members from the day club, and it turned out to be a really enjoyable and memorable outing. It’s quite a small museum, so you can comfortably see everything in about an hour, which actually suited our group very well. Despite its size, it’s a pretty place with an interesting collection of aircraft and exhibits to explore at a relaxed pace. One of the highlights was being so close to Gatwick Airport. We had the exciting opportunity to watch planes coming in to land, flying right over our heads, which everyone really enjoyed—it added something special and a bit different to the visit. The staff were incredibly kind, welcoming, and helpful throughout. They made us feel at ease and were more than happy to assist or chat, which made a big difference to the experience for our group. We also spent some time in the café, where we enjoyed lunch together in a relaxed setting. It was a lovely way to round off the visit before heading home. All in all, while it’s not a large attraction, it offers a pleasant and manageable day out, especially for groups like ours. We left with some fun memories and smiles all around.

Great little museum. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff who are working hard for their little museum. Displays are well laid out with plenty of information boards. The guided tour of the Shackleton is well worth the extra £5. You could spend 2 hours or 5 hours there. There's also access to the Gatwick runway viewing area area. Overall a great day out 😀😀😀

A must-visit for aviation fans and curious commuters! After years of flying out of Gatwick and spotting that cluster of vintage aircraft as you take off, I finally made the effort to visit during a day in January. What an absolute hidden gem! The collection is fantastic - seeing iconic jets like the Harrier up close was a real highlight. Beyond the planes themselves, the building is packed with fascinating archive materials and aircraft parts. It’s clearly run by people who care about the history. There’s also a lovely gift shop and refreshments to keep you going. If you've ever wondered what’s behind the fence at the end of the western runway, do yourself a favour and stop in!

A truly brilliant experience for aviation fans. Highly experienced volunteers plus some of the volunteers are ex RAF pilots/radio navigation. A good collection of aircraft plus the really rare Shakelton early warning plane. This is worth a separate visit which with a guide, takes approx 45 minutes and where you will learn much. Coffee shop, live atc, gift shop, easy parking, stand inside a jet engine, wander around military planes, talk to experienced ex staff, watch the aircraft at the runway at LGW, this was a great day trip out.