National Museum of Flight Museum
Aviation museum showcasing historic aircraft and spacecraft
Near Edinburgh, the National Museum of Flight houses historic aircraft-including a preserved Concorde-WWII hangars and interpretive displays on aviation history and technology.
National Museum of Flight at a Glance#
Address: National Museum of Flight, East Fortune, East Lothian, Scotland
Website: https://www.nms.ac.uk/our-museums/national-museum-of-flight/
Admission: Free (general admission)
About National Museum of Flight#
The National Museum of Flight is Scotland’s national aviation museum located at the former East Fortune airfield in East Lothian. It presents collections of civil and military aircraft, engines and aviation-related artifacts.
Aircraft and exhibit hangars that display historic aeroplanes, cockpits and aviation technology, plus interpretive exhibits on aviation history. The site uses the large exhibition spaces of former airfield buildings to show full-size aircraft.
Established to preserve and present Scotland’s aviation heritage, the museum developed on the East Fortune site using former airfield buildings and new exhibition spaces to house its growing collection.
Sited at East Fortune in East Lothian, Scotland, the museum occupies part of the former RAF East Fortune airfield, near but outside the immediate Edinburgh area.
- Site: Located on the former RAF East Fortune airfield, with aircraft displayed in hangars and on the airfield grounds.
How to Get to National Museum of Flight#
The National Museum of Flight sits at the former East Fortune airfield in East Lothian, east of Edinburgh. By car take the A1 from Edinburgh toward East Lothian then follow local roads to East Fortune; the drive from central Edinburgh typically takes about 30-40 minutes depending on traffic. Onsite parking is available.
Public transport options are limited: the nearest rail stations are at Drem or North Berwick (ScotRail) and both require a taxi or a local bus/taxi for the final few miles to the museum.
Tips for Visiting National Museum of Flight#
- Aim for a weekday morning right at opening (or late afternoon) to avoid weekend and school-group peaks; the museum's large hangars are easiest to enjoy with fewer people early in the day.
- Enter via the main visitor centre/car park at East Fortune (the museum complex sits on the old airfield) so you can follow the internal signage to the indoor hangars first and then walk out to the outdoor aircraft on the airfield.
- Don't skip the airfield viewing areas and the wartime displays tucked into the separate hangars-many visitors stick to the largest central hangar and miss smaller conservation and restoration spaces where staff sometimes work on aircraft.
Best Time to Visit National Museum of Flight#
For the National Museum of Flight, visit in late spring to early autumn for the best combination of mild weather and manageable crowds; for the quietest experience choose weekdays outside peak summer and school holidays.
Weather & Climate near National Museum of Flight#
National Museum of Flight's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with cool summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 0°C to 19°C. Moderate rainfall (641 mm/year), distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | 0° - 6° | -1° | 56 mm | overcast | 90% | 6.1 m/s | 0.0 low | 7.4h |
| February | Poor | 0° - 7° | -1° | 39 mm | overcast | 89% | 5.7 m/s | 0.1 low | 9.3h |
| March | Acceptable | 2° - 9° | 1° | 47 mm | overcast | 87% | 5.8 m/s | 0.3 low | 11.7h |
| April | Acceptable | 3° - 11° | 4° | 41 mm | overcast | 85% | 4.9 m/s | 0.6 moderate | 14.0h |
| May | Acceptable | 5° - 14° | 7° | 49 mm | overcast | 83% | 4.5 m/s | 1.0 moderate | 16.2h |
| June | Good | 8° - 17° | 13° | 51 mm | overcast | 84% | 4.3 m/s | 1.1 high | 17.3h |
| July | Good | 10° - 19° | 15° | 57 mm | overcast | 84% | 4.1 m/s | 1.1 high | 16.8h |
| August | Good | 10° - 19° | 14° | 63 mm | overcast | 85% | 4.1 m/s | 0.8 moderate | 14.9h |
| September | Good | 8° - 16° | 12° | 61 mm | overcast | 86% | 4.9 m/s | 0.5 low | 12.6h |
| October | Acceptable | 6° - 13° | 7° | 64 mm | overcast | 88% | 5.1 m/s | 0.2 low | 10.2h |
| November | Acceptable | 3° - 9° | 2° | 59 mm | overcast | 90% | 5.4 m/s | 0.0 low | 8.0h |
| December | Poor | 1° - 7° | -1° | 54 mm | overcast | 90% | 5.7 m/s | 0.0 low | 6.7h |
