East Midlands Aeropark — Attraction in North West Leicestershire

The East Midlands Aeropark is a hidden gem for aviation enthusiasts and families looking for an educational and enjoyable day out. Located near East Midlands Airport, this aviation museum offers a fascinating glimpse into the history of flight, with a focus on both civilian and military aircraft.

One of the standout features of the Aeropark is its impressive collection of aircraft. From vintage planes to more modern jets, the variety on display is sure to captivate visitors of all ages. The outdoor exhibition area houses a range of aircraft, including iconic models like the Avro Vulcan bomber and the English Electric Lightning. Being able to get up close to these machines, some of which you can even step inside, gives you a real sense of the scale and engineering prowess involved in aviation.

The indoor museum is equally compelling, with exhibits that delve into the history and development of aviation. There are numerous artifacts, including aircraft engines, cockpit displays, and even uniforms worn by pilots and crew members. The museum's information panels are well-presented and informative, making it easy to learn about the significance of each piece on display.

The Aeropark is run by passionate volunteers who are always eager to share their knowledge and answer any questions you might have. Their enthusiasm adds a personal touch to the experience, making your visit feel like a journey through aviation history with knowledgeable guides by your side.

For families, the Aeropark offers plenty of space for kids to explore and burn off energy. The outdoor picnic areas are perfect for a leisurely lunch, with views of planes taking off and landing at the nearby airport providing constant entertainment. There’s also a small gift shop where you can pick up aviation-themed souvenirs.

One of the unique aspects of the East Midlands Aeropark is its proximity to the airport, allowing visitors to watch live air traffic while surrounded by historic aircraft. This juxtaposition of past and present is truly special and enhances the overall experience.

In conclusion, the East Midlands Aeropark is a fantastic destination for anyone with an interest in aviation. It’s a well-curated, family-friendly attraction that offers both education and entertainment. Whether you’re an aviation buff or just looking for a unique day out, the Aeropark is well worth a visit. Highly...

This museum/viewing area is amazing! The vast majority of the aircraft look to be well cared for, perhaps not fresh from retirement but looking as well as can be expected from a volunteer ran museum. The collection of aircraft is great, with a variety of types represented, some rare and some quite common. It's a great environment to go and chill and watch some planes taking off and landing at the airport if you want to do that, as well as a great museum.

My personal favourite is the Vulcan B.2 XM575 (incorrectly labelled as a B.2A, which did not exist. Minor point, I'm a Vulcan nerd), it's recently been undergoing a full repaint and looks amazing with the correct Dark Sea Grey paint replacing the faded coat which was looking closer to Medium Sea Grey by last year. A few spots are left to be completed, but I imagine this will all be done within a few months. Underneath the aircraft is being resurfaced so you cannot currently go all the way underneath it, again that will hopefully be finished in a few months.

The Nimrod also looks too be in great shape. 10 years on from its final flight to EMA, some electrical systems appear to be running (I saw some of the exterior lights were switched on today), and the paintwork is looking fairly good, if in need of a few of the markings being reapplied (the serial is quite faded for example). I hope the museum will get to this in due course.

Unfortunately due to Covid, no aircraft are currently open to go inside, but that's entirely understandable. I'll be back when they are open :)

Inside, there are a few aircraft in storage: a disassembled Sea Venom FAW.22 and a Chipmunk. I hope we can see these on display in the next few years. I also noticed there's another Meteor outside disassembled and a Meteor cockpit inside, I assume this is an ongoing restoration?

The only feedback I would give the museum is that it would be nice if the rope barriers around the aircraft nearest the airport fence could be changed to allow you to walk between them, it is difficult to get a good photograph of these with where the sun is in the afternoon, and the ideal angle seems to be between the aircraft. There looks to be plenty of room for this, if the museum would...

What an amazing experience. It was a well thought out display of aeroplanes and exhibits that kept me engaged and interested for the whole visit. The volunteer staff were knowledgeable and friendly and no question was too much trouble for them. The tactile exhibits where you could sit in the planes to experience hands on viewing was exceptional. All this for an affordable entrance made it a very pleasant experience. The cafe in the museum section under cover was a great idea for an occasional shower coming over. They served hot and cold drinks and snacks at nominal prices that would make it not out of reach for a family on a budget. There are lessons to be learned for other exhibitions. Instead of charging a higher price as you think you can"get away with", have a structure that those of modest means can afford and increase the foot fall and impress those who can afford, to donate a little extra to make the experience one that does not exclude less well off. To the staff and volunteers who made this a really enjoyable experience. Well done I've already spread the word to my friends and will...