Explore where to see Concorde in the UK. Visit the iconic aircrat in London, Bristol, Manchester, Scotland, Surrey and Duxford. Step aboard history today.
If you’ve ever been on a plane taxiing to the runway at Heathrow Airport and heard someone say an excited ‘Ooh look there’s a Concorde’, chances are most of the passengers will look out to their left and take a good look. It’s a great start to any flight, guaranteed to make you smile. Did you know though, you can actually see a Concorde close up, and even go in and sit in the seats in some of them.
Relive the golden age of supersonic travel. Step inside Concorde, sit in the seats,and experience aviation history at 6 unforgettable UK locations.
Find out where you can see a Concorde in the UK.
Why is Concorde so iconic?
There is no denying that Concorde is pleasing to the eye. Its sleek shape, and vast size, make it a plane that the world is in awe of. Beyond the look of this great aircraft, it has to be remembered that this is an incredible feat of engineering.
With the first flight taking place back in 1969, Concorde became a wonder of the skies. The story of Concorde in the UK is a fascinating one, and much of its history can be traced back to the Bristol area. In fact, every UK Concorde took its maiden flight from Filton. Lovely history of the last Concorde here with great pics and video from Aerospace Bristol.
Concorde was a Supersonic plane, travelling faster than the spped of sound. A trip from New York to London took 3 and a half hours on Concorde and cruised higher than 50,000 feet, you could see the curvature of the Earth at a casual glance out the window.
The Concorde could dart through the clouds at speeds greater than Mach 2 (1,350 mph). There was an unavoidable (and undoubtedly exciting) kah-boom that resonated through the luxurious cabin as Concorde breached the sound barrier.
Tickets were outrageously expensive. The average normal transatlantic round-trip flight cost $1200 (equivalent to about $6400 today!) On Concorde the same trip cost around $12,000. ($64,000 today)
When Concorde was grounded in 2003, many were left disappointed having never had the chance to experience a supersonic flight. While there may no longer be the chance to take a flight, the good news is that you can still visit Concorde and get a sense of what this great plane once was.
How many Concorde are left?
If you are looking to visit Concorde, there are now 17 of these magnificent aircraft left. While you will find Concorde in the UK, there are only six of them here, including one that is on display in Scotland.
So what of the remaining Concorde? You will find that the other 11 Concorde are spread across France, Germany, and the US. There is, however, a single one currently in Barbados too. This means that there are plenty of options when it comes to seeing one of these great planes.
Where is Concorde in the UK?
If you want to visit Concorde in the UK, you have SIX options. These options will all offer a slightly different experience. Here’s a look at where you can head to and what you can expect:
Fleet Air Museum – Yeovilton
Fleet Air Arm Museum is the National Museum of the Royal Navy and is open Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 4.30pm.
Concorde 002 made its first flight in 1969. This model was used for supersonic testing until 1976, when she was added as an exhibit at the Fleet Air Museum. Before coming to a rest, Concorde 002 had reached supersonic speed on 25th March 1970.
If you want to visit Concorde in the UK, the display here is an ideal opportunity to. You get the chance to board the plane and look at how splendid the interior really is. Alongside this, there are plenty of guides to help you understand just what made Concorde so amazing.
Brooklands Museum – Surrey
Brooklands Museum in Weybridge is a great place to see Concorde in the UK. It is not just a case of walking by this magnificent machine. Here, you will find that there is a whole Concorde experience on offer as part of the museum tour.
Your Concorde experience sees you exploring inside Concorde, before relaxing in the original seats. You’ll then be given a history of the plane before experiencing a flight simulator so that you can get as close to a real Concorde flight as possible.
The Brooklands Museum is a great day out with Concorde being the highlight. Make sure you book in advance though. You can’t turn up on the day and expect to have the Concorde experience without booking. Advance tickets are cheaper than on the day anyway.
Do check out Red Letter Days, they have Brooklands Museum / concorde experience day offers which often work out cheaper.
Imperial War Museum – Duxford
Of course, this was never a plane of war, but this setting is an ideal one for those who want to visit Concorde. It is here that you will find G-AXDN – this is the Concorde that hit speeds that were higher than any other.
When you visit Concorde at the Imperial War Museum, you are able to board and explore. There is even the chance to enter the flight deck where you can see some of the testing equipment that is still in situ. It is easy to believe that you are getting ready to take to the skies.
National Museum of Flight – Scotland
If you want to visit Concorde north of the border then the National Flight Museum in Scotland is the only place to go. Here again, you get the chance to board Concorde so you will soon understand why this plane is so awe-inspiring.
Scotland’s Concorde, Golf-Bravo Oscar Alpha Alpha, was the first of her kind to go into service with British Airways, in 1976. 8,064 flights later, she came to rest at the National Museum of Flight in East Fortune after the Concorde fleet was decommissioned in 2003. You can find out more about her in the Explore section.
As well as the chance to board Concorde, there is an in-depth exhibition where you can learn all that there is to know about how this plane was developed. There is also an informative video that lets you see some of the greatest flights and gives an insight as to what it would have been like to have been a passenger, or even a member of the crew.
This is a great video of Scotlands Concorde at the National Flight Museum in Scotland.
Aerospace Bristol
Aerospace Bristol is a museum that bills itself as being supersonic fun for all of the family. As well as being a nod towards Concorde, this museum also hosts exhibits that are related to space travel and gives a great insight into how technology has continued to develop.
When it comes to exploring Concorde in Bristol, you won’t get the chance to take a seat. What you will get is the chance to walk through the cabin. There are plenty of opportunities to take photographs as you pass through. As you exit the plane, there is plenty of information available to let you learn more about this miracle of engineering. On certain days, you will also be able to enjoy talks given by aerospace engineers who will explain what makes Concorde just so special.
You can also book events under the wings of Concorde (including weddings) which is very cool and the occasion is topped off with an exclusive private viewing of Concorde and the Aerospace Bristol exhibition. Guests will be treated to a fascinating story of ingenious design, engineering innovation and remarkable social history, from the first flights through to the modern day. I welcome any invitations as this sounds marvellous.
The Runway visitor park – Manchester Airport
The Runway Visitor Park at Manchester Airport is pretty cool for an #AVGeek. Adjacent to the busy runways of Manchester Airport, the park’s raised viewing area means you can stand literally just a few metres away from the planes as they go past.
The park is also home to a variety of retired planes, including the spectacular supersonic airliner, Concorde G-BOAC. The Concorde tours allow you to have a tour of the cabin, walk under the wings and watch the famous nose droop. And with a glass of champagne to top it off!
There are various different Concorde tours ranging from the 2 hour platinum tour at an eye watering £38 (that one includes the champagne of course) to shorter, cheaper tours and a technical tour. Book early, car parking is only £5 all day too.
You can also book events at the Concorde Conference Centre, imagine having a wedding or Christmas Party under the wings of Concorde and guests also finish up with a tour. Fab.
So that’s where and how you can see a Concorde in the UK. Do share any visits or experiences you have had. What did you enjoy most? What suprised you? We were amazed at how small the Concorde was inside.
If you visit New York, do check out the Concorde at the Intrepid Sea Air and Space Museum
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Great roundup! I had no idea there were so many Concordes still on display across the UK. I’ve visited the one at Brooklands and it was incredible to step inside—definitely planning to check out the others now. Thanks for putting this list together!