Overview

This review is of Hanger 1 only. I have previously written a review of the RAF Museum and if you are wanting a more general overview please read that. The museum is on a large site and there are 6 large hangers (buildings) to explore. Hanger 1 is the first building on the site and where you enter the museum. I'm planning over time to cover all the hanger buildings in separate review. The R.A.F. Museum has an impressive collection of aircraft from 1914 to the present day. The museum site is very accessible and there is a Changing Places toilet.

Transport & Parking

I went by public transport. Took the train to Mill Hill Broadway, where there are steps. The station exit/ entrance is under a cover area with bus stops. The 303 bus takes you directly to the museum entrance. The return bus stop is on the opposite site of the road.

Access

Hanger 1 is the entrance to the RAF Museum and the first building you enter and is step free. It has double automatic entrance doors and you enter into the reception area where staff welcome you. The counter is at standing height. To the right of the counter there are a supply of manual wheelchairs and mobility scooters which members of the public can use, subject to availability. Please be mindful that the museum site is huge, the hangers themselves are massive to accommodate the numerous planes and there are paths connecting the hangers, some are quite a distance apart. It's site is much larger than most museums, so it is really helpful that they have mobility scooters and wheelchairs available. At the entrance there is a sign with the exhibitions access information. This includes large print guides (located near the entrance), all their films have subtitles, all audio handsets have an integrated hearing loop and all audio is transcribed. This is a large hanger with the exhibits spaciously laid out. There's lots of fascinating things to see. The exhibition is called RAF Stories The first 100 years 1918 - 2018. It tells the history of the RAF through stories of the people who have served and worked in the RAF and objects, from huge planes, to a teddy bear mascot from the 1920s, different uniforms and protective equipment. There is also videos and audio sound recordings, as well as interactive games to play. There is some tactile objects on the RAF timeline. Westland Sea King HAR3 Although the museum itself is step free, for people with a mobility disability there are a couple of exhibits that you can climb up to to get a view of the aircraft's interior. There is a Westland Sea King HAR3, a sea rescue helicopter, which has 6 steps up to a small viewing platform, where you can look through a glass screen and see the interior of the helicopter. The stairs were wide enough for me with my crutch comfortably, see photo of steps, and there were handrails on both sides. The steps are non-slip. You then retrace your steps to exit. The Sunderland The Sunderland is the largest plane in this hanger. It will not be suitable for most people with mobility difficulties. There is a narrow entrance which you have to be able to manoeuvre through, see photo, it is the same size as the space you have to go through to exit the plane, so the idea being that if you can manage the entrance you will be able to exit safely. When I visited the Sunderland was closed due to the weather. If the museum have salt and grit laid down on their outdoor paths, it will be close to prevent damage to the plane from people trampling it in on their shoes. After the entrance there is a flight of stairs, with handrails on both sides and non-slip steps. There is a separate set of similar designed stairs on the other side of the craft which you exit by. Due to my mobility disability I won't be able to go into the Sunderland, so I can't comment on the experience. However, there is a fantastic online resource where you can see 360 degree views the Sunderland. This will provide with better views of the cockpit that you can see if you board the plane as the public can't enter the cockpit area. The webpage is https://www.rafm.guide/sunderland There is also a kiosk by the entrance to the Sunderland were you can view this. At the moment it isn't very well signposted or promoted. However, at the recent RAF Museum's Access Advisory Group Meeting, which I attended, there was a discussion about better promoting this. Quiet Room There is a quiet room, by the toilets in the centre of the hanger. It is kept open and you can use it without asking. There is a photo of this room in my previous RAF Museum review. Shop The museum shop is located in Hanger 1, filled with a wide array of books, toys and souvenirs. Seating Overall I found Hanger 1 very accessible, but I must mention its one downfall is the lack of seating. The second half of the hanger is great, there's a spacious area with free standing tables and chairs and after passing by the Southerland there are a long row of fixed seats. Both these type of seating has arms and back support. Wonderful. However, the first half of the hanger has very little seating. I spotted 2 benches, which had no arms or back support, one was next to the entrance to the Westland Sea King HAR3. The lack of seating was made worse due to the colour. The bench seating is grey and the floor is also painted grey. The seating is not obvious as doesn't stand out. I visited late in the day and there was hardly anyone on the gallery and it was difficult for me to see where the seating was. If the museum is busy, which it often is with school groups and families, and/ or if you have a visual impairment it will be difficult to locate the bench. It would be helpful if there was more seating in the first section of the hanger and it was of a more noticeable colour. Likewise where the interactive games area is it would be nice to have chairs with back support and arms as well as stools.

Toilets

Each of the Hangers has an accessible toilet, but the Changing Places toilet is in Hanger 2, this requires a RADAR key to open, which staff have on their person. Hanger 1 has 2 accessible toilet, opened by manual doors without the need of a RADAR key. They are adjacent to each other, one has right hand and the other left hand transfer. Both toilets in Hanger 1 were clean. There are plenty of grab rails and emergency cords that reaches the ground. However, one of these toilets were quite cramped due to there being 3 bins, which would make it difficult for wheelchair users to manoeuvre. I have reported this, so I am hoping this will be reviewed soon.

Staff

Staff are extremely and welcoming helpful. They were at the entrance to the museum and in the gift shop. I didn't see any members of staff as I walked round the hanger. However, I did go to the cafe, which is in a separate building. The staff were excellent and they carried my tray of food out to me at the outdoor tables.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

The RAF Museum is fascinating. It is amazing to see the plane close up, they are huge. Hanger 1 has something for everyone, there's a variety of planes to admire and lots of interactive screens. This Hanger is excellent for anyone wanting a historical overview of how the RAF has developed. The exhibition focuses on the RAF people and their objects, e.g. uniform, mascots, etc, which makes it a very personable and special. It provides an excellent introduction to the museum and the RAF. I highly recommend it. Hanger 1 is very accessible but please I would like them to increase the seating in the 1st half of the hanger and make it more visible. Definitely visiting again and plan to review all the other Hangers in timer. This is a fun and fascinating museum, which has lots to offer and well worth visiting.

Photos