We are delighted to be taking part in Heritage Open Days again in September this year. As part of this fantastic, England-wide celebration of culture and history, we’re opening the doors to our Wood Road stores for a limited number of pre-booked guided tours.

This is a rare opportunity to step behind the scenes and explore some of the most remarkable artefacts in our historic collection — housed in Europe’s oldest surviving aircraft hangars, located on the site of Britain’s first military airfield.

Behind the Scenes at Wood Road

Our guided tours will take visitors inside our stores at Larkhill, offering a chance to:

  • Explore unique and fascinating artefacts from our small objects store
  • See rare and historic field guns, ranging from the 17th century to the early 20th century
  • Discover our conservation workshop and the latest projects our team is working on
  • Learn about the Grade II* listed 1910 aircraft hangars that now house part of our collection

These historic sheds were originally built as part of Larkhill’s early airfield — Britain’s first — and are among the last surviving structures from a key moment in British military aviation. In 1910, pilots flew from here as part of major exercises that convinced the Army of the aircraft’s potential in warfare. The airfield itself was only operational until 1914, but the hangars remain a powerful link to this pioneering era.

Until recently used for military storage, the buildings have now been made available to the Royal Artillery Museum, providing space for storage, workshops and offices — and a rare glimpse into an extraordinary collection.

One of the Oldest Military Collections in the World

The Royal Artillery Museum’s collection was established in 1778 as a training resource and is one of the oldest and most significant military collections anywhere in the world. It first opened to the public in 1820 at the Rotunda on Woolwich Common, later relocating to Firepower in 2001. Firepower closed in 2016 in preparation for a new museum near Larkhill, the modern home of the Royal Artillery. That project is ongoing, and in the meantime, most of the collection remains in storage and is not usually accessible to the public — making these open days a special opportunity.

Special Talks and Events

This year, in addition to our store tours, we’re also offering dedicated talks covering key themes:

Thursday 18 September
10:00 & 14:00 – Talk: Researching Gunner Family History

Friday 19 September
10:00 & 14:00 – Guided Tours of the Stores

Saturday 20 September
10:00 & 14:00 – Guided Tours of the Stores

Sunday 21 September
10:00 & 14:00 – Talk: Larkhill – The Birthplace of Military Aviation

Limited places are available, and booking is essential. You can book your place here 

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to explore a fascinating collection and discover a unique part of military and aviation history.

Bookings open on 20 August. More information on our Events page.