Housed at RAF Coningsby Visitor Centre, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight is an aerial display group. Here’s the info for visiting.
How To Get To Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Visitor Centre is located within the boundaries of RAF Coningsby.
RAF Coningsby sits on the southern edge of Coningsby village, near the A153/A155 and the easiest way to get there is by car.
It’s located nearly 10 miles (15.8 km) north west of Boston and about 14 miles (22.5km) north east of Sleaford in Lincolnshire.( Dogdyke Road, Coningsby, LN4 4SY)
Once you get towards Coningsby village you will see the signs for both RAF Coningsby and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF).
Follow the signs until you reach the free car park for the BBMF Visitor Centre.
Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Entrance Fee
Access to the hangar is by guided tour only and admission charges apply.
Tickets prices are:
Adult £9.80
Child (5-16 years) £5.70 (under 5s free)
Family ticket £26.80 (2 adults and up to 3 children)
Aged 60 and over £8.30
Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Opening Times
The visitor centre is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 5pm.
It’s not necessary to book a tour during the quieter months, just arrive at the Visitor Centre and they will get you on the next available tour.
During peak season it’s advisable to check the website re whether you need to book or not.
Tours leave every half hour starting at 10.30am, but may go more frequently if it’s busy.
The last tour leaves at 3.30pm from March to October and at 3pm from November to February.
Best Time To Visit Battle of Britain Memorial Flight + Tips
As the visitor centre is not open at weekends, you will find that families will visit during the school holidays.
Therefore, if you prefer to avoid the crowds, during term time will be quieter.
I recommend a visit to the RAF Coningsby plane spotting area just down the road from the Visitor Centre. Usually plenty of action happening there during the week!
What To Pack
History of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight was started in 1957 at RAF Biggin Hill and was initially called the RAF Historic Aircraft Flight.
It was later renamed the Battle of Britain Flight before it finally became the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight in 1969.(BBMF)
Between 1959 and 1965 the flight only had one Spitfire and one Hurricane. Currently it has twelve flying aircraft – an Avro Lancaster, a C-47 Dakota, six Spitfires, two Hurricanes and two de Havilland Chipmunk training aircraft.
Funded by the Ministry of Defence, the BBMF is a regular RAF unit, manned by service personnel.
The BBMF motto Lest We Forget truly embodies their mission.
What To Expect At Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
Once inside the hangar you will get up close to a well laid out display of iconic World War II aircraft including Spitfires, Hurricanes, Chipmunks, a Dakota and a world famous Lancaster Bomber.
These aircraft all belong to an aerial display group that fly over 100 displays and around 800 flypasts. All at various events each year in the UK, during the months from May to September.
You can see them flying at major airshows and also doing flypasts at special public and military events such as Trooping the Colour.
The mission of RAF BBMF is to ‘Maintain the priceless artefacts of our national heritage in airworthy condition in order to commemorate those who have fallen in the service of this country.’
You will be taken around the hangar by a knowledgeable guide who will often have first hand experience of the aircraft and lots of interesting stories to tell!
During the 90 minute tour you will also see the RAF BBMF technicians working and carrying out maintenance on the aircraft, making sure they are kept airworthy.
Once you have finished your tour, why not visit the gift shop to grab a little souvenir as well as some tea and cake from the Tea Bar.
The BBMF Visitor Centre is well worth a visit and knowing the reason why these historical old aircraft are still flying, makes it even more special.
Additionally, if you want to see some aircraft flying, there is a plane spotters car park just a few hundred metres from the Visitor Centre. You may get to see some Typhoons on their regular training flights.
Where To Stay In Coningsby
Luxury – Petwood Hotel
Originally built in 1905, and surrounded by 30 acres of beautiful gardens, this former country house offers free Wi-Fi, free car parking, and log fires in the drawing room. It boasts a beauty and wellbeing studio, restaurant, terrace bar, as well as conference and banqueting facilities.
Rooms at the Petwood Hotel feature an en suite bathroom with a hairdryer. They also include a TV, radio, tea/coffee making facilities and some rooms have garden views.
The Restaurant serves fine cuisine influenced by locally sourced produce. The hotel famous for its RAF connection, was part of 617 Squadron in World War II.
You can visit the Squadron Bar to view memorabilia and tributes to the officers. The Squadron Bar is also available for private hire.
Mid-Budget – Holiday Home Breaks At Tattershall Lakes
Featuring garden views, Holiday Home Breaks At Tattershall Lakes offers accommodation with a private beach area and a balcony, around 24.2 miles from Lincoln University.
This property offers access to a terrace, ping-pong, free private parking and free WiFi. Guests have access to spa facilities, wellness packages and can also attend fitness classes.
The sustainable holiday park is located on the ground floor, with 3 bedrooms, a flat-screen TV with streaming services and a fully equipped kitchen that provides guests with an oven, a microwave, a washing machine, a toaster and a fridge.
A private entrance leads guests into the holiday park, where they can enjoy some wine or champagne and chocolates or cookies. This holiday park is allergy-free and non-smoking.
Budget – The Leagate Inn
Located just 24 miles outside of Lincoln, The Leagate is in the quiet village of Coningsby. Surrounded by countryside, this 16th century inn offers free parking on-site and free Wi-Fi access to all guests. It also has a bar and a restaurant.
Within the contemporary designed rooms of The Leagate, there is a TV, a work desk, tea and coffee making facilities and an en suite bathroom with complimentary toiletries.
The restaurant serves a full English breakfast and a continental breakfast in the mornings. In the evening, there are a variety of bar meals available to guests along with a wide range of beverages.
For more places to stay in Coningsby, you can check the latest prices on Booking.com.
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