Museums & Galleries · Cumbria
Solway Aviation Museum
📍 CA6 4NW
Photo: Oliver Dixon (CC BY-SA 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons
- See the cockpit of an Avro Vulcan
- Sit in cockpits of several different planes
- View the Canberra, Sea Prince and Trident aircraft
- Restoration project for the Blackburn Beverley XB259
- Museum display van available for outdoor events
Solway Aviation Museum, at Carlisle Airport in Irthington, Cumberland, is a volunteer-run aviation museum where you can explore historic aircraft and climb into cockpits, including the Avro Vulcan. The collection also features the Canberra, Sea Prince and Trident, and there is an ongoing restoration project for the Blackburn Beverley XB259. It suits families and aviation enthusiasts alike, with knowledgeable staff on hand to bring the exhibits to life. The museum opens seasonally from spring to autumn, with reduced winter Sunday opening and earlier closing times. If you're staying nearby, Brampton (Cumbria) station is 4.1 miles away, and there are 53 bookable places to stay within five miles, making it an easy addition to a short break in the area.
Practical details
- Open
- Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays across the season, with extra Monday openings in summer
- Time needed
- Last entry is well before closing, allowing a few hours to explore
- Booking
- Open seasonally from late March to late November, with winter Sunday-only opening
- Best for
- Families and aviation enthusiasts
From the attraction's own website on 10 Oct 2026 — check before you travel.
Facilities
- ✓ Guided Tours
Visitor reviews
No reviews yet — been here? Be the first to share what it's like.
Log in or create a free account to write a review.
Do you own or manage Solway Aviation Museum?
Claim this listing to respond to reviews and keep your information up to date. Verification is free — see why owners claim their listing.
Create a free account to claimPlaces to stay near Solway Aviation Museum
Make a proper break of it — these stays are all within 25 miles.
0.9 mi
1 mi
1 mi
1 mi
1 mi
1 mi
🎪 What's on near Solway Aviation Museum
Events from
Skiddle
Fri 13 Nov · 18:00
An Evening With - Michael Bridges & Dean Walling
Box Arena, Carlisle · 6.1 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Fri 13 Nov · 19:30
Death of Guitar Pop
Old Fire Station, Carlisle · 6.1 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Fri 4 Dec · 12:00
Carlisle Audio Tour: An Acoustic Journey Through History
St Martin's College, Carlisle · 5.9 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Fri 4 Dec · 19:30
Glass Bridges + echochamber
The Source Collective, Carlisle · 6.7 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
🗓️ Make a break of it
Turn a visit to Solway Aviation Museum into a proper getaway — ready-made plans, and the drive worked out with fuel, EV charging and the best stops.
A weekend in Keswick →
A weekend in Keswick with the kids →
A weekend in Keswick with older parents →
🗺️ Plan the drive to Solway Aviation Museum
🚆 Or come by train
- Brampton (Cumbria) 4.1 miles
- Wetheral 4.3 miles
- Carlisle 6.3 miles
Straight-line distances · live departures on each station page