RAF Manston History Museum is an aviation heritage site located on the historic airfield in Ramsgate, ranking as one of the best things to do with kids in Ramsgate. Operating as an engaging interactive aviation museum, it presents the rich military and civilian history of RAF Manston from its First World War origins through the Cold War.

Prices start from £0.00 for infants under 5 years old, while standard adult admission is £6.00 and child entry (ages 5–15) is £3.50. With budget-friendly rates and free parking available on-site, it offers an exceptionally affordable educational day out for families.

If you are looking for the best place for a day out with family and kids, this museum delivers a hands-on journey through aviation history. Children can get close to jet fighters, explore cockpit flight control displays, inspect wartime airfield artifacts, and discover heroic rescue mission stories. It makes for an exciting, educational outing in Thanet.

What are the key features for families?

• Interactive Exhibits: Touchscreen displays, open cockpit viewings, and real flight equipment let kids step into pilot roles.
• Educational Day Out: Families explore World War I airship history, the Battle of Britain, Cold War jet development, and airfield search and rescue teams.
• Sensory Play and Nature: Sound recordings of aircraft engines, tactile aircraft panels, vintage radio sets, and spacious hangar halls spark young imaginations.
• Outdoor Exploration: Outdoor display aprons feature static jet aircraft and ground vehicles set against the expansive Manston airfield backdrop.

What are the main highlights kids will love?

• English Electric Canberra B.2: Standing beside a classic Cold War jet bomber to see its sleek design and twin-jet engine layout up close.
• Gloster Meteor T.7: Viewing Britain's pioneer dual-control jet trainer to see how early fighter pilots learned to fly at high speeds.
• Handley Page Victor Cockpit Section: Inspecting the preserved nose section of a famous RAF V-bomber aircraft.
• Airfield Emergency & Crash Tenders: Examining historic airport fire engines and rescue vehicles used to protect airfield runways.
• Wartime Artifacts & Uniform Display: Looking through collection cabinets containing genuine pilot equipment, medals, flight logs, and wartime gear.

Specific Named Objects and Sub-Exhibits Within the Collection:

• English Electric Canberra B.2 Aircraft
• Gloster Meteor T.7 Twin-Seat Jet Trainer
• Handley Page Victor Nose & Cockpit Section
• De Havilland Chipmunk T.10 Flight Trainer
• Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.3 VTOL Cockpit Display
• Slingsby Cadet TX.3 Glider
• Thor IRBM Missile Control Console Display
• Alvis Salamander Airport Crash Tender Fire Engine
• World War II RAF Manston Operations Room Table
• Barnes Wallis Bouncing Bomb Test Model Relic