Gladiator remnant at the RAF Museum, Hendon
 
Hendon in North London was once home to a regular RAF station which was the scene of some famous pre-WW2 air displays.  No long an airfield, mostly large housing estates, though well known for having the Police College there as well, Hendon became the site for the RAF Museum.  It is over 30 years since I last visted, but goodness me what a change and some really superb things to see these dyas.  More than that, there are now 3 different museums all ont he same site.  The main one is the RAF Museum itself, but there is also the Battle of Britain Museum and the Grahame-White Factory.
 
The Grahame-White factory is a reproduction of the old aircraft factory, and this houses a fine collection of WW1 period aircraft, including famous names like the Avro 504K, the Sopwith Triplane, an SE5a and a Vickers Vimy just to name a few.  A couple of vehicles to be found here, a Crossley tender and a Hucks Starter as based on the old Model T Ford.
 
The Battle of Britain Museum is another seperate building, and since I last went they have changed the corrugated end wall for glazing, which helps the light at one end.  My one disappointment was the lighting in the other end of the building which was simply too dark to see things properly.  Spot lights showed up some detail, but generally, and in great contrast to the rest of the museum, this area was disappointingly dark.  A huge shame as some very interesting aircraft are in this area, and neatly displayed.  A Spitfire and Hurricane are in blast pens, where the pen wall creates another area for exhibition cases with original memorabilla on show.  Many people will want to see the line up German aircraft here, with the rader equipped Me 110 and JU88, along with an Me Bf109E and an He 111.  A Stuka is there, along with a reminder of the Italian involvment in the battle with a Fiat CR42.  In the lighter end, a Walrus and a Sunderland are there, and the Sunderland is open with a walkway through it so you get a super view of the interior, and realise just how huge this aircraft was inside.  Alongside, a V2 has been sectioned, and rests on an original transport trolley.
 
Then for the main museum, entry is via another new building (since I last went anyway), for the Milestones of Flight.  You enter up the stairs to a viewing balcony where you are alongside aircraft hanging from the ceiling, including a Typhoon prototype, and looking sown on such things as the Me Bf 109 Black 6 (llok carefully at the photo in the album, and you might spot member Chris B taking a look), a Japanese Nakajima fighter and an Me 262, just to name the ones I was especially excited to see.
 
Then you move into the Bomber Command section of the main museum, housed in original hangers from the airfield days.  A wrecked Halifax is laid out as found, and alongside the nose of a Victor Tanker from the Gulf War.  The Lancaster S-for Sugar holds pride of place, but a B17 is close by, and a Vulcan stands in the corner along with a huge display of the bomb load laid out in front of it.  Nearby another new one for me, a twin seat Fw 190, close to a Mitchell and the little He 162 jet.
 
Moving into the main hall, a load of helicopters in the corner, including Chinook, Whirlwind, Wessex, Sycamore and others.  Of course there is more in the form of a Spitfire F24, the WW2 era Tyohoon, along with Phantom, Tornado, Canberra, Lightning and so many others.  the photo album below show a number of exhibits just to whet your appetite, there are many more.   Dotted around are a few vehicles and bomb trollies, including one with the 22000lb Grand Slam, then an Austin K2 Ambulance (of 'Ice Cold in Alex' fame) and a Humber Light Recce Car (LRC).  One model in a corner shows a Typhoon, until you get close and realise it is made up of scalpel handles, ball pens, spanners, screwdrivers and loads of other bits and pieces.  One of my favourites though was there when I last visited, and that is the remains of one of the Gloster Gladiators, lost through the ice in Norway and recovered in the 1970s (I think) and now on show as it came out of the lake (see the heading picture).
 
A very imaginative childrens play area, a snack bar, a simulator ride and other displays mean there is plenty there for the family and all in all I found it a very well laid out display these days.  Get up on a stand to see the restoration on a wooden flying boat hull, or into the cockpit of a Phantom.  Just a tater erally as there is lots more to see as well, but hoepfully there are a few thing here to encourage to go and have a look for yourself.
 
Outside a Spitfire and a Hurricane are mounted on pylons, and a pair of RAF Launches are displayed near the main entrance.
 
Overall a really excellent site to visit, with 3 seperate museums to see.  Entry is free to all of them, though there is a charge for parking on site.  Costs are £2.50 for up to 3 hours or £3.50 for up to 6.  Well worth it in London all the same.  There is of course an extensive museum shop, and plenty to tempt you there as well.
 

See the RAF Museum website with maps and more information