National Museum of Flight

Located on a historic Second World War airfield at East Fortune, this is a massive outdoor and indoor site about 20 miles east of Edinburgh. It’s near Haddington, postcode EH39 5LF.

What to Expect and Enjoy
This isn’t a “dusty” museum; it’s a huge collection of real aircraft spread across several hangars.

The Concorde Experience: This is the star of the show. You can actually go inside Scotland’s only Concorde, walk down the narrow aisle, and see the tiny seats and the cockpit. It’s a real “bucket list” moment.
Interactive Galleries: The “Fantastic Flight” gallery has over 25 hands-on things for kids to do, like testing aerodynamics or trying to land a flight simulator.
Historic Hangars: You’ll see famous planes like the Spitfire and the Harrier Jump Jet. Because it’s an old airfield, the atmosphere is very authentic.

Best For and Time Spent
Great for families, teens, and anyone who loves tech or history. Because the site is so large, there is a “land train” to ferry you between hangars if you don’t want to walk.

Duration: You’ll want 3 to 4 hours here to see everything properly.

Helpful Tips

Parking: There is plenty of free parking on-site.
Food: The “Aviation Café” serves hot meals and snacks, but there are loads of picnic benches if you prefer to bring your own lunch.
Savings: If you are a member of the National Museums Scotland, entry is free. They also offer “Family Tickets” which are usually a much better deal than buying individual ones.

More Places Nearby

Almond Valley Heritage Centre Arthur’s Seat Blackness Castle Camera Obscura & World of Illusions Dalkeith Country Park Dalmeny House Dirleton Castle and Gardens Dynamic Earth East Links Family Park Edinburgh Butterfly & Insect World Edinburgh Castle Edinburgh Ghost Tours Edinburgh International Climbing Arena (EICA) Edinburgh Zoo Five Sisters Zoo Fountain Park Foxlake Adventures Glenkinchie Distillery Hopetoun House House of the Binns Inveresk Lodge Garden Jupiter Artland Linlithgow Palace Lost Shore Surf Resort Malleny Garden Midlothian Snowsports Centre Murrayfield Stadium Tour Musselburgh Racecourse National Museum of Scotland Newhailes House North Berwick Harbour Rosslyn Chapel Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Scottish National Gallery Scottish National Portrait Gallery Scottish Parliament Visitor Centre Tantallon Castle The Edinburgh Dungeon The Palace of Holyroodhouse The Royal Mile The Royal Yacht Britannia The Scottish Seabird Centre

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