Duxford - village and civil parish in Cambridgeshire, England

Duxford is a small village (under 2000 inhabitants) in the English county of Cambridgeshire, approximately 8 miles (13 km) south of Cambridge. It is probably best known as the location of a Second World War British and American airfield, today serving as an important branch of the Imperial War Museum.

Understand

After 1945 and the end of the war, Duxford and its airfield fell back into relative obscurity. With its employment in the making of the 1968 film The Battle of Britain, the location achieved new prominence and was purchased by the Imperial War Museum to house its aircraft collection.

Get in

By road

From London (less than 50 miles), take the M11 motorway north to Junction 10. Alternatively, routes northwards in the A1 and A10 / A505 will lead to the vicinity of Duxford - watch for signs.

By bus

A free bus service to Duxford operates when there are airshows from central Cambridge. The Citi 7 bus from Cambridge operates daily to the museum; not all buses go to the museum so ask the driver before getting on and paying.

Get around

See

• Imperial War Museum Duxford, 52.096761°, 0.136038°, +44 1223 835000. Daily except for 24-26 December, summer (19 March - 29 October) 10AM-6PM, winter 10AM-4PM, last admission 45 min before closing, admission adults £12, seniors and students £9, disabled £8, other concessions £7 - group concessions available, free admission for children 15yrs and younger. Parking is free. "Europe's premier aviation museum."
  • the British Aircraft Collection (dead link: January 2023).
  • the American Air Museum in Britain (dead link: January 2023) stands as a memorial to the 30,000 Americans who died flying from the UK in the Second World War. This outstanding example of contemporary British architecture (designed by Lord Foster) houses Duxford's unique collection of historic American combat aircraft including the B-17 Flying Fortress, with many suspended from the ceiling as if in flight.
  • the Battle of Britain Exhibition

Do

• Attend one of the several air shows staged each year at Duxford .

Eat

The Imperial War Museum Duxford has a number of refreshment options, including the Runway Restaurant, a café and coffee shop/kiosk.

Drink

• Red Lion Inn, 32 High St, Hinxton CB10 1QY, 52.084°, 0.182°, +44 1799 530 601, info@redlionhinxton.co.uk. W-F 6-11PM, Sa 11AM-11PM, Su 11AM-7PM. Traditional village pub and restaurant, the bar is Grade II listed. Local microbrewery Nethergate supplies the house ale Red & Black. Good food, also has rooms, B&B double £140. 2020-07-12

Sleep

• Holiday Inn Express Cambridge-Duxford M11, Jct.10, 42 Station Rd E, Whittlesford Bridge, 52.103479°, 0.166257°, +44 1223 497070.

Stay safe

Go next