Yorkshire Air Museum

Is it right for my child?

• Aircraft fans of any age: the museum says it has over 45 aircraft on display, from before the First World War to modern drones. Several have explorable interiors, and it holds scheduled open cockpit days.
• Younger children: there is an aircraft themed playground for younger children, plus kids’ woodland trails and lots of space to explore.
• The big story: the site was RAF Elvington, a Second World War heavy bomber base. Operation Halifax, the museum’s display for the year, marks 30 years since its rebuilt Halifax bomber was rolled out.
• Older children: the Astra Cinema shows archive newsreel footage alongside stories of the people and aircraft.
• A place of remembrance: there are memorials around the site, including a Women’s Memorial, the 77 Squadron Memorial and a chapel.
• Sensory notes: the 2021 accessibility statement says several rooms play recorded audio and period music is played in the centre of the site.

Plan your visit: a parent’s checklist

• Avoid Wednesdays in winter, when the museum says it is closed, and arrive by 3pm for last admission.
• Book online to pay £1 less on each paid ticket, or £4 less on a family ticket.
• Keep your ticket and sign it. Most standard tickets give free re-entry for 12 months, with ID on each return visit.
• Bring coats. The site covers 20 acres, and the 2021 accessibility statement says walking is needed between exhibits.
• Pack a picnic if you like. Café 77 serves hot food until 3pm.

Prices and tickets

Booking online is not required, but it costs less and the museum advises it at busy times. Prices online, then at the gate:

• Adult: £17 online, £18 at the gate.
• Child aged 4 to 17: £7 online, £8 at the gate.
• Under 4s: free.
• Family (2 adults and 2 children): £44 online, £48 at the gate.
• Student, or military veteran: £13 online, £14 at the gate. The ticket shop asks for proof of student ID or veteran status.
• Carers: free online and at the gate. The ticket shop says one carer ticket is free with the person they support.

Return visits: standard tickets give free re-entry for 12 months from your first visit, except on some event days. Sign the ticket and bring ID each time. There are no refunds, but the museum can change your booking date. Groups of 10 or more should contact the museum.

Pushchairs, babies and toilets

• Getting around: the museum says it is 90% accessible, with ramps. Its 2021 accessibility statement says the site is on one level, apart from the Control Tower, whose first floor has no lift.
• Baby changing: the 2021 accessibility statement places it in the entrance corridor to the café, with the toilets.
• Woodland walk: the 2021 statement describes a level grass track of about 15 minutes. It can waterlog and may close after heavy rain.
• The official pages do not mention breastfeeding facilities or pushchair rules.

Food and drink

Café 77 is in the old NAAFI building and is open 10am to 4pm, with hot food served until 3pm. It serves coffee, bacon sandwiches, lunches and afternoon tea, with daily specials and a kids’ menu. The café is only open to museum visitors.

Picnics are welcome. Bring your own food and drink to the picnic tables outside, or to the seating and grassy areas around the grounds.

Getting there and parking

• Address: Halifax Way, Elvington, York YO41 4AU. The what3words address parked.grove.learns takes you to the gate.
• By car: from the A64 York bypass, follow the brown Air Museum signs towards the A1079 (Hull) junction. Take Elvington Lane off that roundabout, and the museum is two miles along on the right.
• Parking: free, and the museum says there is ample space. It also has easy access parking spaces.
• By bus: York Pullman runs a service from York city centre and the railway station, Monday to Saturday. Check its website for times.

When to visit

• Winter hours: the home page says that from November the museum closes at 4pm, with last admission at 3pm, and shuts on Wednesdays. The site does not say when winter hours end.
• Conflicting times: the FAQ page, and a box higher up the home page, still give 10am to 5pm, 7 days a week. We follow the winter times on the home page note and the Plan Your Visit page.
• Christmas closures: closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
• Booking calendar: when we checked the museum’s online ticket calendar on 12 November 2026, it offered Wednesday 30 December but not 11 to 20 January 2027. The site explains neither, so phone 01904 608595 before visiting on those dates.
• Santa: on 12 November 2026 the Christmas page still described the 2025 Santa grotto. When we checked the museum’s own ticket shop that day, it listed no 2026 Santa tickets. We could not confirm a 2026 Santa event.
• Events: most need no special ticket, but check each event’s page.

Additional needs and disability support

The museum offers this official support for disabled visitors and carers.

Frequently asked questions

How much does the Yorkshire Air Museum cost?

Online, adults pay £17 and children aged 4 to 17 pay £7, and under 4s are free. A family ticket for 2 adults and 2 children is £44. Gate prices are higher.

Is the Yorkshire Air Museum open in winter?

Yes, from 10am to 4pm, with last admission at 3pm. The museum says it is closed on Wednesdays, and on 24, 25 and 26 December and 1 January.

Is the Yorkshire Air Museum good on a rainy day?

The museum says yes, pointing to its two hangars of aircraft and several exhibition buildings. Bring coats, as the 2021 accessibility statement says walking is needed between exhibits.

Is the Yorkshire Air Museum good for toddlers?

It has an aircraft themed playground for younger children, woodland trails and space to explore. Under 4s go free.

Can you take a dog to the Yorkshire Air Museum?

Yes. Its current pages welcome well behaved dogs on leads, including in the café, though the home page says “most of the museum”. The 2021 accessibility statement kept dogs out of the café, cinema and shop, except dogs for the blind, so ask on arrival.

Does the Yorkshire Air Museum have a Santa grotto in 2026?

We could not confirm one. On 12 November 2026 the Christmas page still showed the 2025 event, and the ticket shop listed no 2026 Santa tickets.

Checked on 12 November 2026 against the official Yorkshire Air Museum pages for home, plan your visit, FAQs, tickets, families, explore, Café 77, find us, events, Christmas and the 2021 accessibility statement. Prices and times can change, so check before you travel.