Visit Fleet Air Arm Museum

By car

The Museum is located at Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Yeovilton - also known as HMS Heron. It is on the B3151 just off the A303 and A37. It is accessible from the M5 motorway, junction 25 at Taunton. If you are using a Sat Nav device, the postcode is BA22 8HW.

Between the 20 November until 20 December, access to the B3151 is restricted between Plowage Lane and Zayn’s Bistro. The A303 Westbound Downhead (CamelCross) exit sliproad will be closed as part of the Sparkford to Ilchester improvement scheme. For visitors accessing the Museum, our advice is to come off the A303 via Podimore / Ilchester junction instead.

By rail

The Museum is accessible via rail and public transport: Visitors are advised to access mainline routes to Yeovil Pen Mill, Yeovil Junction or Castle Cary stations.

By bus

The Museum is on a direct bus route, the number 54, which is operated by First Buses. The route runs between Taunton and Yeovil. Find up-to-date timetables and information on their website.

Accessibility is important to us. We are continually striving to improve our overall position to provide as much access as we can to all who visit our site. For any questions regarding access in advance of your visit, please contact us by telephone on 01935 840565 or email fleetairarm.enquiries@nmrn.org.uk.

Accessible Parking

The Museum has a large car park (230 spaces) which is situated to the left immediately upon entering the site, 15 spaces are allocated to disabled visitors. All Parking onsite is FREE and no advance booking is required. The Museum Ground Floor entrance is approx. 50m from the Car Park.

Entrance

Be aware that the site is a working Naval Air Station and certain areas may present difficulties to visitors who use wheelchairs, with a restricted mobility or who are visually impaired. Access to the Museum is either via a large staircase (situated around 40 metres from the car park) or via a pedestrian gate on the ground floor.

Admission

Registered disabled visitors to the Museum should purchase an appropriate ticket according to their age. They are eligible to bring along a carer for free if required. A complimentary day ticket can be allocated to the carer on request at our Ticket Desk on arrival and is included with the online ticket purchase.

Physical Access

Approximately 95% of the Museum is fully accessible by those in wheelchairs and the Museum has a number of wheelchairs freely available for visitors to use. To book a wheelchair in advance please contact us by telephone on 01935 840565 or email fleetairarm.enquiries@nmrn.org.uk.

There are lifts giving access to most exhibits on the first floor. Areas which have restricted access without use of a lift include inside the fuselage of Concorde and some upper galleries within Hall Two.

Hearing "induction loops" are installed at the Ticket Desk, Information Office and on audio information points in Halls One and Four.

Toilets

The Museum has easy access toilets and baby changing facilities. These facilities are located in Halls One, Two and Four.

Other Information

For those with visual impairment, we are happy to arrange a guide for you to assist you with your visit. Assistance dogs are of course welcome. The Museum's Visitor Experience team are pleased to welcome those with learning difficulties and individual practical sessions can be arranged along with guided tours as appropriate. Please contact us on advance by telephone on 01935 840565 or email fleetairarm.enquiries@nmrn.org.uk to arrange any additional access requirements.

The Fleet Air Arm Museum's normal operating hours are between 10am to 4.40pm, Wednesday to Sunday. 

The museum is open every day throughout Somerset school holidays. Please follow this link to see up-to-date information on upcoming holidays.

The best way to find on the day information and updates is to follow our Facebook page. 

Facilities we have available on site are:

• Accessible Toilets.
• Baby Changing Facilities.
• FREE Wifi (registration required).
• Internal Picnic Area.
• Café (Warnefords – Hall One).
• Mini Internal Soft Play and External Play Area.

We regret that there is no access to internal facilities to non-ticket holders, this includes Warnefords Café and toilets.

Warnefords Café  

Located in Hall One inside the Museum, Warnefords Café serves a variety of sandwiches, hot pasties and sausages rolls, delicious cakes and other tasty treats alongside a wide range of hot and cold drinks. With children’s lunch boxes, vegan and gluten free options available daily, it’s the perfect spot to recharge and refuel for a light lunch or snack during your visit.

We are proud to serve a variety of items sourced from local Somerset suppliers including:

• Sandwiches and Danishes from Mortimers Bakery, Yeovil  
• Cake and Flapjacks from Victoria’s Cakes, Wincanton
• Flapjacks from Honeybuns, Sherborne
• Ice Cream from Marshfields
• Lemonade from Hullabaloos, Axbridge 
• Phat Pasties, made in Cornwall

You are welcome to bring your own picnic. During summer months picnic benches are available on the designated grassed area in front of the Museum or you are welcome to utilise table space within the Warneford’s Café in the museum.

Find out more information on our dedicated school visits page.

For information on group visits please email your requirements to groups@nmrn.org.uk.

Want to come back and experience the thrills of the Fleet Air Arm Museum again?

Book your return visit today!

Guidelines for visitors (2024)

To ensure all visitors to Fleet Air Arm Museum have a safe and rewarding experience we have compiled these brief safety notes.

All buildings and exhibits are assessed regularly and maintained to a high standard, as are equipment and procedures (e.g. fire evacuation). Due to the nature of our attractions, some hazards cannot be avoided but they can be mitigated. They all may have raised artefacts, sharp edges, electrical hazards, fire hazards, trip/fall/slip hazards and rusty/dusty artefacts. First aid trained staff are available at all sites. Please approach the nearest members of staff if any assistance is required or an emergency occurs.

All Front of house staff are trained in evacuation procedures; in the event of an emergency evacuation, please follow the instructions given by the staff and volunteers. Do not stop to collect your belongings. We have qualified First Aid staff available at all our sites. Please contact a member of staff if you need assistance.

The General Environment

The Fleet Air Arm Museum is part of the National Museum of the Royal Navy and houses the historic Naval aircraft element of the Collection.

The Fleet Air Arm Museum welcomes all visitors. However, the site is a working Naval Air Station and certain areas may present difficulties to visitors who use wheelchairs, with restricted mobility or who are visually impaired. Access to the Museum is either via a large staircase (situated around 40 metres from the car park) or via a pedestrian gate on the ground floor.

The Museum is spread out over four large exhibition halls, with a mixture of lifts and stair access linking the ground and first floor areas.

We recommend you wear sturdy shoes and dress for the outdoors i.e. layers and warm coats.

Security

The National Museum of the Royal Navy is protected by 24 hour CCTV and security. All visitors entering the Fleet Air Arm Museum are responsible for the conduct and health and safety of your group at all times. Although our staff are trained to take the highest care of the health and safety of your group, they are not legally responsible for them.

Conservation and Maintenance Work

There is always work happening across all our sites to keep our historic aircraft and related galleries safe and well maintained. You may come across areas barriered off during your visit. Please ensure that members of your group do not enter any of these areas.

Safety Information

• Display of historic aircraft, various shapes and hall orientation.
• Access via large entrance staircase (via the Shop / Ticket Desk).
• Very cold temperatures during winter months.
• Low light levels in some gallery area’s.
• Various Stairs and Lifts linking ground and first floor area’s.
• Low headroom on entering some aircraft
• Confined space onboard Concorde