A 1:1 scale Westland Whirlwind

I have to throw in my 2 pence, as having visited the museum and being blown away by the extraordinary kindness by the team at KBBM, my experience there has been the complete opposite.
They’ve had some very serious thefts there in the past, which as has been fairly pointed out, is a problem affecting all museums. If I understand correctly, they’ve also had a number of items for display donated by families of airmen, who stipulated that no photographs be taken of said artifacts. I can fully respect and understand that.
I would implore people to give it a visit; not only does it have a superb collection, but it is the definitive source of Battle of Britain items. 
As said, was very much taken back by the way I was treated there, they were extremely friendly and answered all my research based questions comprehensively. 

Just to correct the comment mentioned above about Tangmere – they don’t have a no photo rule.  Been there lots of times over the last 10+ years and never had any issues.

I haven’t been to Hawkinge for a while (the Heinkel and Ju52 weren’t there last time I went) but I found the staff to be friendly and helpful.  On our way in they asked the “do you have a camera/ phone” question – I replied that they were in the car and I assumed that would be all I heard.  As we were about to leave a member of staff approached us and asked if we’d like to take any pictures of the aircraft on display outside – so I went and got the camera out of the car.  I got photos of all of the aircraft outside and the member of staff took a few photos of the group of us in front of the aircraft – so no complaints from me at all.

I found that Hawkinge and Lashenden were great musuems to take my son to visit as seeing recovered parts from aircraft that crashed around the area we live really brought it home to him and helped him relate what he was seeing in front of him to the history behind it.

We visited Hawkinge 2 years ago,we just treated the no camera rule as a slight inconvenience.They have a wonderful collection of artefacts – we ended up fairly close by on holiday so we made sure that we drove over to visit Hawkinge,normally we live over 500 miles away.You really are cutting off your nose to spite your face if you miss out on the fabulous collection just because of a perceived nose out of joint – they do make the no camera rule very clear so it should not be a surprise to any British aviation enthusiast.

A visit is highly recommended – we probably only had approx 3 hours spare for  there and barely scratched the surface.

We do not have many aviation destinations in scotland so try to make the most of any visits ‘dahn sarf’.

As I said in my post above – their excuse is one that many museums could hide behind but don’t.

Not really wishing to prolong this castigation of Kent Battle of Britain Museum, it seems to me that the contributors have not consulted the reasons put forward for enforcing their no camera rule?  Home :: Kent Battle of Britain Museum   Note that the website does state that photography of the exterior exhibits is possible towards the end of your visit if accompanied by staff.

Each summer for a week while visiting the UK from Southern Spain, I have been attempting to visit all Britain’s aviation museums (defined by me as having five for more complete aircraft and open to the public at least 2 days per week during the summer).  So far, in 3 summers, covered 30 of the 43 or so candidates.  Hawkinge BofB, Kent is on my list for ’25, as is a revisit to Tangmere – another Museum with a no cameras rule, for much the same reasons.  The Museums that have impressed me most so far are the South Wales Museum at St.Athan and the Ulster Aviation Museum near Belfast (even though it currently falls outside my access definition).  Both have relaxed rules and the absolute minimum of safety barriers, with an impressive variety of aircraft to see up close.  Just a pity they are so far out of the way for many to easily visit!  Greatest disappointment, NMS East Fortune as the few external aircraft are suffering badly from weathering, not a single change of exhibits in 6 years since I was last there, this while having a hangar full of interesting types totally out of bounds.  Admittedly, in contrast entering the aviation gallery of NMS Edinburgh City was the most delightful surprise of all!  I could go on … any point in a thread for experiences/opinions regarding Britain’s, generally fantastic, aviation museums – from international to local?

I wont go there either , i always have my camera with me as visiting is just part of a day / journey and i am not leaving it in a car or with a stranger in a museum ,their loss ,always buy a book or a cuppa and a bit of cake when we go anywhere.

By: Prop Strike – 22nd December 2024 at 21:40 

This year I tried to donate maybe £200.00 of aviation books to a well known museum, and the fellow was very sniffy, and indifferent.

I had a similar reception from a museum I was attempting to donate several A.P.s to. None were common types and if nothing else I assumed they might be useful trades with other museums. I still have them and they’ll be donated elsewhere.

Museums get targeted by thieves. They don’t use it as an excuse.

Off memory didnt they get targeted by thieves a couple of times?

They won’t respond.

I first nearly visited 12-13 years ago but I already knew of their camera policy, it had been discussed and complained about several times previously on this forum, if not elsewhere.

Like this time, I just stuck my nose in to see if anything had changed, discovered it hadn’t and left.

I hope that they will respond to these comments. I am not at all saying that they should apologise for the reasons  behind these observations, but it would be good PR to explain their position, and hopefully keep people enthusiastic about their impressive museum. Now they have some real aeroplanes, it is a much more attractive destination.

It is disappointing that some voluntary organisations ( not necessarily this one) have people in customer facing roles with no real  personal skills, who manage to upset visitors with their attitude.  This year I tried to donate maybe £200.00 of aviation books to a well known museum, and the fellow was very sniffy, and indifferent.

Duxford Aviation Society were much more appreciative!

I’d have to agree. In many decades of visiting aircraft museums, they are the only one I know that prohibits cameras. Their excuse is one that all museums could hide behind but don’t. They do themselves a great disservice because I know many people who won’t visit, mainly due to the attitude than anything else.

I’ve been to museums large and small all over the country but I will never go there on principle. Must be the only museum in the country (or at least one of a very small number) where they demand (not just request) that you hand in your phone and/or camera as a condition of entry.

Undoubtedly some will say it’s my loss, not theirs, and perhaps it is but in a world where reputation counts for everything, attractions compete for ever decreasing disposable incomes and an ageing volunteer base, the loss will ultimately be theirs.

I can’t remember the exact wording but they’re not even polite about it. “You will leave your camera/phone here…”

Add to that the surly bloke behind the counter/ticket desk, and even the cat in the shop was stroppy.

It seems to be the museum’s principle to be rude.

dhfan – Exactly my thoughts, and I was part of the group that started talking about the possibility of the project all those years ago on the late lamented Warbirds Worldwide forum.

I’m actually sorry it’s going there – had hoped it might end up in Hendon or Cosford

I would love to have seen it when we briefly visited back in September, but as they’re still convinced that all their potential visitors are crooks, I still take the view that they’re a***holes and didn’t go in.

The idea for the replica was conceived in this very forum a few years ago, as I remember.