Trails

This heritage trail across the South East of England features 26 historic airfields, museums, memorials and other aviation heritage sites, spanning the earliest days of experimental flight through to the Cold War and beyond.

Many of these sites sit on airfields once used by RAF Fighter Command’s 11 Group, formed in 1936 to defend British skies in the run-up to the Second World War. The region is best known for its role in the Battle of Britain, when it bore the brunt of the Luftwaffe’s aerial assault.

The South East holds an exceptional concentration of aviation heritage connected with Fighter Command, alongside several sites tracing aviation’s earliest pioneering days. Civil aviation has also shaped the region heavily — with its large population, many of its airfields remain in active use today.

The trail is family-friendly and takes in a wide range of historic buildings and features, including an underground bunker, a historic chapel, a national memorial and numerous airfields and aircraft hangars housing priceless collections of aviation heritage — all open to the public.

Sites range from major attractions to smaller, lesser-known gems with unique collections that bring aviation history vividly to life. One is even located within a working prison.

We strongly recommend checking opening times and the latest visitor information before setting out — you’ll find contact details, addresses and website links for every site featured on the trail.