10 Highlights of Brooklands Museum for Families

You’ll discover incredible family adventures at Brooklands Museum, from walking beneath Concorde’s massive wings and stepping inside historic aircraft to building metal airplanes in the interactive Aircraft Factory. Your kids can explore the world’s largest collection of working London buses, experience Formula One simulators, and complete engaging family trails throughout the grounds. The museum offers quiet hour sessions, baby-changing facilities, and pram-friendly access to guarantee everyone enjoys this engineering wonderland where aviation and motorsport history come alive.

Walk Under and Board Historic Aircraft in the Aircraft Park

Where else can your family walk directly beneath a Concorde’s massive wings or step inside a 1940s Viking airliner? The Aircraft Park at Brooklands offers this extraordinary experience, letting you explore historic aircraft up close. You’ll walk safely under wings and fuselages, observing structural details and engineering that brought post-war aviation to life.

The Viking, derived from the WWII Wellington Bomber, welcomes visitors aboard to experience its passenger cabin and cockpit firsthand.

Educational signage guides your exploration through nearly 80 years of British aviation innovation. Kids can grasp the true scale of these engineering marvels while discussing flight technology with the family. The site’s wartime aircraft operations come alive through stories of the pilots and navigators who flew these very machines during crucial moments in history.

This hands-on outdoor exhibit perfectly complements the museum’s indoor displays, creating an immersive STEM learning adventure that brings aviation history to life.

Step Inside the Legendary Concorde Supersonic Airliner

The world’s most famous supersonic airliner awaits your family’s exploration at Brooklands, where you’ll step aboard the legendary Concorde and discover the engineering marvel that revolutionized aviation.

Inside this sleek delta-winged aircraft, you’ll experience where passengers traveled at Mach 2.04—over 1,350 miles per hour—cruising 60,000 feet above Earth. During these high-speed flights, the aircraft’s fuselage would stretch approximately 25 centimeters due to intense heat from air friction.

Your children will marvel at the narrow cabin that once carried 128 passengers across the Atlantic in under three hours, including the record-breaking New York to London flight in just 2 hours 52 minutes.

You’ll learn how four powerful Rolls-Royce engines with afterburners propelled this aluminum masterpiece through the skies from 1976 to 2003, making supersonic travel a breathtaking reality.

Build Your Own Metal Airplane at the Aircraft Factory

After exploring Concorde’s sleek interior, you’ll roll up your sleeves in the authentic Tinsmiths’ Shop, where your family can craft genuine metal airplanes using traditional sheet metal techniques. Located within a restored WWII hangar, this hands-on activity lets everyone create their own metal aircraft souvenir while learning historical tinsmith skills used for actual aircraft components.

The immersive factory floor simulates WWII production, complete with authentic industrial markings and a central assembly line. Your kids will clock in as apprentices alongside departments for carpenters, fabric workers, and propeller makers. Upstairs, visitors can explore interactive stations where they can design their own aircraft from scratch.

The Grade II listed Bellman Hangar showcases a Wellington Bomber rescued from Loch Ness, creating an atmosphere where Brooklands once produced over 18,800 aircraft with 14,000 workers at its peak.

Explore the World’s Largest Collection of Working Historic London Buses

How do you transport your family through 150 years of London’s transport history in one afternoon? Head to Cobham Hall, where you’ll discover the world’s largest collection of working historic London buses.

Your kids can climb aboard vehicles spanning from 1875 horse buses to 1979 models, experiencing the sights, sounds, and smells of bygone eras.

Don’t miss the vintage bus rides during weekends and school holidays—you’ll actually ride these beautifully restored double-deckers.

Your family can explore unique exhibits like the “Chocolate Express” from 1924 and the only surviving WWII utility bus. The dedicated Trust operates an active restoration workshop where skilled craftspeople bring historic buses back to life.

Browse fascinating memorabilia including vintage uniforms, ticket machines, and route maps.

Best part? It’s included in your Brooklands Museum ticket, making it exceptional value for curious families.

Experience Formula One Racing Cars and Simulators

Where can your family witness the thunderous legacy of Formula One racing at its birthplace? You’ll discover an incredible collection spanning from the 1920s to today’s cutting-edge technology. Your kids will be amazed by Ayrton Senna’s 1991 McLaren F1 car and the 2001 Jordan EJ11 driven by Heinz-Harald Frentzen.

Don’t miss the McLaren F1 simulator experience, where you can actually drive the original Brooklands oval track. The MP4-22 show car simulator represents Lewis Hamilton’s first Formula 1 car from 2007, featuring a Mercedes-Benz 2.4-litre V8 engine with 190 mph capability. The museum also features dummy F1 cars specifically designed for simulator experiences.

You’ll explore the RR Jackson shed exhibition showcasing a century of Grand Prix racing, complete with racing helmets, vintage photographs, and an authentic 1930s engineering workshop recreation.

Test Your Skills in the Stratosphere Chamber and Wind Tunnel

What better way to experience cutting-edge aerospace engineering than stepping inside the legendary Stratosphere Chamber where your family can explore the same facility that tested supersonic aircraft for over three decades?

You’ll walk through the massive 70-ton steel door into a 50-foot-long chamber that once simulated conditions from sea level to 70,000 feet altitude. Your kids can examine the control room’s original temperature gauges and vacuum pump controls that created temperatures as low as -65°C.

Don’t miss the supersonic wind tunnel section where engineers tested aircraft at speeds up to Mach 4. The forward section of a Vickers Vanguard airliner remains displayed exactly as it appeared during 1950s testing, giving your family a hands-on glimpse into aviation history. The surrounding exhibits showcase a fascinating collection of aero engines, from early piston designs to advanced turbofan jet engines that powered modern aviation.

Discover McLaren Supercars and the Napier-Railton Race Car

Since McLaren Automotive partnered with Brooklands Museum in July 2021, your family can now explore the “McLaren Driven by Design” exhibition featuring some of the world’s most advanced supercars. You’ll get up-close views of the McLaren Senna GTR prototype and concept car—ultimate track machines usually housed at McLaren’s Technology Centre.

Your kids can marvel at the full-scale LEGO McLaren 720S model while learning about supercar engineering from concept to production.

Don’t miss the historic Formula 1 cars, including the McLaren MP4/6 rolling chassis from 1991 that Ayrton Senna drove. The crown jewel is the 1933 Napier-Railton race car—the fastest vehicle to ever lap Brooklands’ Outer Circuit. Brooklands holds the distinction of being the world’s first purpose-built racetrack and hosted Britain’s first Grand Prix in 1926.

These exhibits perfectly showcase both modern innovation and motorsport heritage while inspiring future engineers and designers.

Complete Family Activity Trails Throughout the Museum

While exploring Brooklands Museum’s impressive car collection captivates visitors, the museum’s free activity trails transform your visit into an interactive adventure that’ll keep kids engaged for hours. You’ll find these self-guided routes at Admissions and Reception, leading your family to unexpected corners of the museum while encouraging independent learning.

The STEM activity trail perfectly complements summer science shows running four times daily from July 25-August 30.

For puzzle enthusiasts, the “Ghosts in the Machine” escape trail challenges teamwork and problem-solving skills across museum grounds.

Easter brings special family trails from April 5-21, complete with live vehicle demonstrations and vintage bus rides.

Each trail integrates playground access, green spaces, and outdoor exploration opportunities, making learning both active and enjoyable. The museum also features vintage buses, real racing cars, and iconic aircraft that enhance the trail experience with authentic historical exhibits.

Enjoy Hands-On Engineering Apprenticeships and Interactive Exhibits

Beyond traditional museum displays, Brooklands offers your family an extraordinary glimpse into real engineering education through its Heritage Skills Academy partnership. You’ll witness apprentices learning coachbuilding and mechanical skills in the impressive 4,000-square-foot workshop at Building 103, creating an authentic educational experience your children won’t find elsewhere.

Your family can explore where history meets cutting-edge technology as apprentices master traditional techniques like panel beating with English wheels alongside modern welding methods. The vibrant engineering environment showcases real craftspeople restoring vintage vehicles using both historic methods and contemporary tools. Located at the site of the world’s first purpose-built motor racing circuit, this unique setting adds historical significance to every learning moment.

On selected event days, you’ll enjoy guided tours of the training facilities, watching skilled apprentices create components from technical drawings. This hands-on approach demonstrates how automotive engineering heritage continues through the next generation of passionate engineers.

Take Advantage of Family-Friendly Facilities and Quiet Hour Sessions

After experiencing the museum’s dynamic workshops and exhibits, you’ll appreciate knowing that Brooklands prioritizes comfort and accessibility for every family member. The museum’s Quiet Hour Sessions create a reduced sensory environment during school holidays, limiting audio-visual effects and visitor numbers so neurodivergent visitors can explore comfortably. The museum features sensory-friendly signage throughout to help with navigation and ensure visitor comfort during these special sessions.

You’ll find baby changing facilities conveniently located in both the Clubhouse and Jackson Shed, while pram-friendly access ensures easy navigation throughout the site. For the calmest experience, visit Monday through Friday during term time when crowds are lighter.

When hunger strikes, Sunbeam Café offers mini hot meals and ‘Pick and Mix’ lunch packs for children, plus a special Brooklands Breakfast during Quiet Hours. Alternatively, you can enjoy picnics in the spacious Paddock, playground, or aircraft park areas.

The Sum Up

You’ll find endless adventures waiting at Brooklands Museum, where aviation meets motorsport in perfect harmony. From building aircraft to boarding Concorde, your family can explore, learn, and create unforgettable memories together. With interactive exhibits, simulators, and hands-on activities designed for all ages, you’re guaranteed a day packed with excitement. Don’t forget to take advantage of the family-friendly facilities – they’ll make your visit comfortable and stress-free for everyone involved.