Reviews of Solent Sky. (Museum) in Southampton (Hampshire).

Solent Sky

990 Reviews

397 Comments

Museum

Museum

Albert Rd S, Southampton SO14 3FR, United Kingdom

Description

Information of Solent Sky, Museum in Southampton (Hampshire)

On this page you’ll find the address, open hours, more popular times, the contact, photos and real reviews of this business.

This business has received very good reviews from their customers, so probably it’s a place you should try if you are looking for this kind of services.

Map

Open hours of Solent Sky

Popular times

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Reviews of Solent Sky

V. S.

The true journey of flying boat from the origin to the end...It also shows the war history and many unknown facts and reality of Southampton. I really amazed about this City as it's much more to explore from this museum. Must to visit once with family and children's. It's really a best place which takes you to the root of Southampton city, Flying boat history and about the world war. If you find it really informative just thumbsup plz....

A. G.

Absolutely loved it. Very interesting great aircraft exhibits. Good display of firepersons and equipment in a separate section.also a small police section. Trent even opened up the tram shed for me. Result. Everyone was really helpful a number of hands on exhibits as well. In the pipeline a cafe and another undercover area for more aircraft exhibits. Must go back

W. T.

Bigger than expected. Lots to see! Free entry to the Police & Fire museum included too. Can be a bit dark in some places, needs more lights. Also a lot of exhibits are "work in progress".

A. M.

Super Museum. Jam packed with items incl. a Spitfire and an entire Boat Plane that you can climb aboard. Some interesting history videos re: the Solent and it's connection to the Spitfire . Highly recommended!

R. M.

Lovely museum that packs in a lot of interesting exhibits. The staff were very attentive to my 5 year old and we both enjoyed our time there. Highly recommended.

J. D.

Very enjoyable visit with my father on Saturday looking at the cars. Vast variety to look at at and car owners willing to answer questions. The museum itself has so many aircraft and again a very knowledgeable group of volunteers. Came back again on the Sunday with my grand children. so much for them to do and be involved in. Fantastic museum and equally fantastic staff. Highly recommended

L. M.

Great place to visit for a couple of hours. Friendly, knowledgeable staff and really quite reasonable for a family (£20). Loved going onboard the huge boat plane and the services through the ages display was great too. Will return next year as they are improving some areas more. Only thing I'd add would be a cafe.

C. C.

Amazing museum with lots of interactions, even a cinema with a selection of titles for your own choice! Guides were friendly and approachable. So much to see about ww plane replicas, police, firemen, Southampton history, few set ups like an old bar, little air raid shelter and much more! It's a must see and great place to support😊

D. E.

My second visit today (Saturday), bringing my grandchildren this time. Warm welcome from the gentleman on the till. The grandchildren had a wonderful time in the plane cockpits and excellent interaction with the staff on the museum floor. Very interesting museum with wonderful Supermarine aircraft. Well worth a visit. Will definitely be back.

D.

Amazing air museum with so much smashed into a small space!

W. M.

Saturday was my second visit to your outstanding museum, this time bring the family with me. As always there was a very friendly welcome from the two volunteers and they were more than willing to explain and answer questions. Very attentive to the grandchildren ensuring they took advantage of all the experience the museum had to offer. Will be back!!

S. G.

Following some useful information about this museum being delivered to my father's residential home, we decided to visit for our weekly day out. We were not disappointed. The aircraft are outstanding and the home front exhibition bought back many memories for my father as a young boy. The volunteer staff were on hand for any questions and were extremely knowledgeable. We reported back to my father's residential home that this a highly recommended place to visit.

G. O.

Fantastic visit so much to see and information in every part of the building ,good to see the trams too .there's even an astronauts suit. Very very informative

A. D.

We had a great time. There are so many interesting planes and they have laid out the information in an interesting/ informative way. You can even go inside a Beach Comber plane. There is a lot of local history and it was fascinating to learn about Southampton in ww2 times. The police and fire section are great too. You get to see an old police telephone box and the uniforms throughout the years. The staff are really helpful and friendly and have lots of knowledge. One let us go into the cockpit of the beach comber. Another took the time to get me information on how to get my dad and grandads military service records to find out where exactly they'd served.

M. H.

Interesting museum, loads of aviation stuff with friendly staff. Well worth a visit.

V. V.

A museum that takes you back in history. There are all kinds of planes, in some of them you can get on.It's very interesting place for people who love history.

R.

Very nice museum for those who love aviation and models. They have entire planes in the exposition and hundreds of models. Also it is a nice opportunity to know more about the police and fire man history in the UK. Highly recommend this place! It saved my trip to Southampton

S. K.

We were left without our expected entertainment this afternoon after driving from Essex and the I remembered Solent Sky. Any museum is a bit of a risk with a 3 year old and a one year old, but this was perfect. The children loved going into the sea plane and sitting in the cockpits. There was plenty for all of us to see, with a surprising amount of fire brigade history and many more planes than I remembered. The staff (volunteers?) were kind and informative, I was grateful for a sit down and a cup of tea and the little ones were more than welcomed. As we left the one year old was turning the pages of a souvenir book saying, "Once upon a time was planes."

D. R.

A wonderful museum. The staff were attentive and very knowledgeable. Able to physically touch the exhibits. Visited with my 4 year old and she was enchanted.

M. D.

Very lovely little museum, we definetly enjoyed our visit. It seems near impossible how many planes and plane components they managed to fit in the relatively small space. True plane Jenga! We enjoyed the exhibit, with being able to peek in on the inside of the big plane or a fighter jet cockpit, all the engines etc, but I also liked the small insights into the lives of people back in the day with old photographs, and all the small details like plane tickets and food menu's - which by the way looked way more appetising than on modern flights! One small part of the exhibit on the 2nd floor isn't accessible any other way than stairs wouldn't be possible for a person in a wheelchair to see, and may be difficult if you have little ones in a pram, but it's just a very small part of the whole exhibit. There is a lift to the 1st floor though were you get a great view on the planes from a different perspective. All the staff/caretakers of the museum were lovely. It isn't specified on their website but children under 5 get free entry and a disabled person can also have their carer with them for free like in many museums.

S. H.

The dedicated volunteers are absolutely committed to keep the museum an enjoyable experience.

H. O.

Brilliant small museum Desperately underfunded and not promoted by council sufficiently. Well worth a visit. Poor local parking with highly attentive traffic wardens. Museum staff very knowledgeable and happy to impart same. Highly recommended.

A. C.

Lovely gem of a museum. Some really interesting facts about the history and origin of the Supermarine Spitfire alongside the Schnieder trophy races. Amazing aircraft on exhibition and you can have a good look around the inside of the flying boat too. Plenty of things to keep you interested Young or old. The police and fire brigade museum is definitely worth a look.

M. B. W.

Amazing little aviation museum in the heart of Southampton! Good job on all the restoratins so far, can't wait to see the Sandringham in all its glory!

T. T.

hidden gem in the heart of Southampton excellent place for historical airplane nerds, with really great staff, enjoyed with the family 😊

P. C.

So much crammed into such a small space! Worth the £10 admission fee for the first 10 steps alone!

B. H.

What a Fabulous place. Sooo much packed in to the building, arranged brilliantly so as to present a comprehensive yet uncluttered display. Given also that this is an independent museum, I take my hat off to the quality of the exhibits. The old shop front displays in the entrance area really make you want to buy something and yet, actual merchandising is minimal and much money could be raised by expanding this. As would a café, but prohibited by available space. Noting previous reviews, street parking on a council meter was easy and inexpensive. The 4 star rating I have given doesn't quite fit, it's a 4.8 for me.

S. H. P.

£20 for adult flat rate with no student discount. Staffs were kind and attentive.

I. P.

Great air museum that packs a lot in a relatively small space. Of particular interest if you like the old seaplanes of the mid 20th century and of course the Spitfire. Lots of other interesting stuff too. The volunteers are especially helpful.

J. S.

I honestly can't express how amazing this place is. I took my 2 year old there for his birthday and all of the staff were brilliant. They were really friendly and let us know where everything was and when we had missed a bit. He could sit in a few cockpits and play with the controls and we loved going in the big see plane. We will 100% be returning and I would recomend it to anyone with kids. My little man loved it and it held his attention for an hour and a half!

j. f. t.

Lovely museum specialising in the Spitfire and seaplanes

J. B.

Don’t be put off by the £10 ticket/pp( May 2021, totally worth it! Inside are actual aircrafts and related displays as well a wealth of other memorabilia. The staff are super knowledgeable and keen to answer questions. You can even go inside a decommissioned Short S.25 Sandringham as well sit inside a couple of jet cockpits and live your Fighter Jet Pilot fantasies! A great way to spend a couple of hours and would come here again!

B. T.

Interesting museum full of fascinating historical information. Excellent collection of planes. Friendly, knowledgeable staff. Very enjoyable few hours out.

h. p.

Great museum. Got to sit in lots of cockpits. Knowledgeable staff. Kids enjoyed it and it was very educational. There was also a police and firefighting exhibition.

L. K.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed myself here..the curators were lovely, and they had an aviation-themed quiz that engaged the kids throughout our time there. I will be visiting again.

N. D.

Let me just start by saying, do not underestimate this place by its kerb appeal! I genuinely don't believe they can fit any more planes in the place! Very helpful and knowledgeable staff - would recommend to anyone who likes planes!

B. c.

Really interesting hour spent looking around

K. B.

What a fantastic gem of a museum! Not only is there a unique collection of Saunders-Roe seaplanes, including the unique apes plane fighter jet SR.A/1, but there’s also the Hampshire Police and Fire Heritage Collection. A must visit for anyone in the Southampton area.

O. N.

Excellent selection of aircrafts. There is no need for advanced bookings as you can pay the £10 at the entrance. Highly recommend visiting the museum!

C. B. (.

There is a lot there to see and do. Informative with video and photos. Awesome collections and exhibitions well displayed, with helpful and polite staff.

a. b.

Lots of interesting aircrafts to see up close. Plenty of information to read and learn about everything on show.

N. R.

What a wonderful collection of aircraft with lots of other very interesting things to see, the staff were friendly a great place to visit at a reasonable price we stayed for over two hours and could have spent more time ,

G. S.

What an amazing find...staff are great and you can get up close with the exhibits...ticket last a year if you're a UK tax payer. Amazing local museum, great afternoon out 😎

S. M.

This is one of these places where you go to and think that was great. Not because it is the most technologically advanced museum or that it has the most amazing stuff but because it is quirky, the staff are committed and so knowledgeable and you go that was a great memory and fun. As Australians touring in the UK we were amazed to find the Aussie connection with the Ansett flying boat, never seen one back home but get to see one in Southampton of all places. I kind of enjoyed talking to the staff more than the actual place!

E. T.

Wonderful museum, with a fantastic amount of aerospace history crammed in. Lots to see for the price!

J. L.

Fantastic aviation museum.

N. H.

Considering the building is not massive, it is incredible just how much they have in there. On top of the aircraft, they have a section on the police force and the fire service. There is a competition for the younger visitors with a little prize at the end. Parking is on street and not overly expensive

G. H.

A very pleasant hour spent here, plenty of things to see, the member of staff on reception was very helpful, this museum is self funding and the admission price is £8 for adults. Still an enjoyable visit though!

S. J.

A hidden little gem! This place is like the Tardis, it goes on forever once your inside! A truly wonderful collection of aircraft from across the ages and an excellent collection of exhibits on the Spitfire, the Fire and Police service and some local history. The staff can not do enough and they are happy to pass on their vast knowledge. A brilliant afternoon out and at £9 for a family ticket (current Groupon deal) it's well worth a visit!

R. S.

Really recommend to visit if you are in Southampton, must see. The building is literally full of enormous number of unique airplanes and related technical items....an on the top of it The Spitfire in its full glory.

M. M.

Solent Sky museum was interesting indeed. It had large and small planes. I would recommend this place for any aircraft and world war enthusiasts.

B. J.

Great Museum. Got a good deal on groupon. Amazing how many planes they have in the building. Really friendly staff a kids quiz with prize and having a number of things the kids could get in or touch was big hit.

D. W.

Had two tickets given to my son (7 years old) for Christmas, and we finally got out to use them this weekend just gone. The museum was clean, well laid out, and adequately staffed, which ensured that we were always able to find a member of staff if we had any questions. I thought it would take no more than an hour and a half tops before my boy decided he had had enough (short attention span) but we only left because our parking ticket was about to expire. We stayed the full 2 hours and he had no sign of wanting to leave! He said to me, completely unprompted - both during and afterwards - that it was the best day out we had been on in ages and that he had had a fantastic time. Highly recommended this place if you have even a passing interest in the history of the Solent, boat planes, and aviation history. Excellent day out!

R. A.

this place was amazing it's run by volunteers of relatively inexpensive to get in I think it was about £10 or so I'll be off with student discount as long as discounts for groups this place was really informative there's so much to see you really could spend half a day here just looking at all the amazing exhibits they have lots going on lots to see and do would highly recommend if you're in the area to go and check this place out well worth a visit and worth every single penny highly recommend

A. P.

Agree with the other reviews, and the new ww2 exhibit looks great, really like how much they have done with a small space, max 1.5 hours visit. Themed really well with interesting look at how Southampton was impacted by the war. Under appreciated tourist attraction imo, if there was more investment would provide a huge boost to Southamptons cultural interest outside of simply the Titanic. Free year return when gift aided so as my boy is under 5 only cost £10 for a years entry!! Pretty good value.

K. W.

We decided to stop for a visit here with our two young boys, we'd heard parking can be a problem but managed to park at the Ocean Village a few minutes away (would be nicer if there were spaces closer though). The staff went out of their way to make it entertaining for the kids, giving them a quiz to do, coming back often to ask how they were getting on and letting them jump into some cockpits to play with the controls. Whilst it's only a small museum, it was very enjoyable with some interesting exhibits and enthusiastic staff.

S. S.

Brilliant collection in a fairly confined area. Would definitely recommend a visit. Would suggest taking some change as Tea and Coffee are by using a honesty box

B. B.

We visited the museum today for the first time and we loved it. Lots of very impressive exhibits abd described well. Every single member of staff was very welcoming, friendly and helpful.I would definitely recommend.

M. C.

Didn't expect much, but the museum really surprised me. So much to see, so well presented and preserved. We had a lot of fun. They gave my daughter an activity sheet which kept her busy and happy. The staff was very kind and helpful. Loved it and will definitively come back again.

N. R.

Like an old style museum with exhibits crammed into every available space. Give yourself more time than you'd expect to see it all

J. G.

This museum is a credit to the town. It contains a fascinating collection of everything linking Southampton and the surrounding area to the earliest days of aviation in the UK. The Police and Fire Brigade section gives the visitor an insight to their contribution to the safety and well being of the entire community.

T. J.

Fascinating if you like planes and history. The museum is located in a large hanger with every nook and cranny filled with airplanes and engines. There is a lot of reading material about the wars and you could easily pass a few hours in here. We received a friendly welcome from the volunteer staff and we even got to go in rhe cockpit of an old plane. Awesome.

A. W.

This gem is tucked out of the way but well worth the trip, the amount of work that has gone into setting up the displays and the extensive items they have make it a must see if you're in the area.

J. C.

Well worth looking around plenty of historic planes and their history. Like a TARDIS ..small on the outside but plenty of room and lots to see inside...complete with lots of information from very helpful and willing staff members.

k. e.

Great museum, a very interesting collection (also applies to the the included Hampshire Police and Fire museum). Staff/volunteers absolutely brilliant.

A. W.

Great welcome by a very happy lady when we walked through the door today(Monday). The staff on the floor were knowledgeable and very helpful in answering questions about the numerous aircraft. Stunning museum, stunning aircraft, highly recommended and well worth the visit.

G. K.

Very good museum,fantastic aircraft and aviation history of the Solent.Well thought out and presented.

J. P.

Lovely museum, great way to spend 2 hours. Really nice volunteers. Thanks.

V. L.

This was really good and very fantasy 😃😃 my dad liked it and so did I because I am history girl 😃😀

N. D.

Great place to learn about the spitfire and aviation around Southampton, and also a good price. Lots of hidden areas...went for an hour, stayed for 3hrs!

A. M.

This is amazing place full of history. I recommending Solent Sky Museum for everyone who living or visiting Southampton

F. N.

Lovely historical place.... worth visiting...the tickets once you buyed it will last for a year...you can go again....had a good time in cockpit 😍

A. W.

Sweet little Air Museum tucked away in the backstreets of Southampton but really worth a visit. Not at all nerdy, so it is interesting to look around even if planes, jets and the War aren't your thing. Definitely a family friendly outing. The staff are quite happy to fill you in on facts about various aircraft but you are also left alone to wander at your leisure. Lovely to see real planes up close. Quite fascinating.

J. F.

Found this place on TripAdvisor. Came to Southampton for long weekend and went here on Sunday, very interesting place and things to explore, spent an hour here with a 4 year old, could of been longer

J. C.

From the outside you wouldn't think much of this place, though inside it is packed to the brim with airplanes & aerospace history. Lots of information on the spirtefires and their creation in the Southapton area.

R. D.

Amazing museum and awesome to see the history of the incredible Flying boats and other local aircraft.

B.

Very good aviation museum, with excellent and knowledgeable staff around. The only slight downside was the ticket purchase area where the staff member seemed more engaged in other things but all in all well done, my boys thoroughly enjoyed getting in the cockpits and flight deck of the aircraft that were open.

A. D.

The place is very nice, a lot of history, a lot of interesting stuff, not so busy place, helpful staff!

v. t.

Silent sky was a good experience. We get to sit in the flying boat, the passenger aircraft version of it. We saw some spitfires which I have also seen in other museums too. It was great to learn that these aircrafts flew to Kanpur 80 years back

C. H.

So much to see. Wonderful history of Southampton and surrounding areas.

W. K. (.

Lots of old different planes and accessories.Me and my Son really enjoyed visit in the museum.

A. S.

We loved it! Definitely a must when in Southampton

F. L.

Amazing exhibition. I saw here things I never saw at any other places.

J. C.

A fab museum for a half day visit. Really enthusiastic staff. Very informative and fun for kids too. You need to take your own food and drink though as the cafe is a small self service tea/coffee machine with biscuits for sale only. Well worth a visit.

M.

Silent sky has many original exhibits and a wealth of information. Very knowledgeable staff who are happy to talk to you and is very easy to walk around. Go and sit in the Sandringham flying boat and soak up the atmosphere of a bygone era. So many exhibits cleverly placed in what is a relatively small space. I rate this museum very highly and they need on going support .

K. L.

It's a good collection of historic aircraft because Southampton was home to our world beating Spitfire. The museum is small but packed with planes big and small and there are some displays of engines. Well worth a visit.

J. H.

Fascinating exhibits, some that you won't see anywhere else. Recommended.

m. w.

Awesome place with friendly helpful staff with lots of knowledge. Do yourself a favour and bring yourself and your kids here! Interesting heritage

L. B.

Various aircraft to see, people on hand to answer any questions. Couple of hours to see everything. Very good.

J. B.

Great little museum some real historic items and some great local history

J. E.

Small but very good and interesting place to visit. Guides very helpful and friendly. A chance to see something different if you like planes.

A. J. P.

I spent an enjoyable few hours at the solent sky museum very interesting & informative. Including the police & fire service display on the top floor. The staff were friendly and helpful.

A. G.

Some great exhibits and videos about the iconic Spitfire. Huge boat plane well worth a visit.

g. t.

Great place, so many things to see in a small area, really interesting place, fantastic exhibits

J. B.

Great place full of interesting planes and memorabilia. Worth every penny to see. And they are expanding in the near future.

S. H.

An absolute gem of a museum, so much to see with incredibly helpful and friendly staff.

M. B.

We love it! They treated our 4 year old like royalty when we visited for his birthday today - he sat in a couple of cockpits and was allowed to look inside the Spitfire cockpit. ALL the staff were amazing, will definitely be back.

S. L.

We enjoyed the talk about trams, then we went and stood under the Bargate arch!

M. A.

A small museum with an upper gallery. Describes the history of Southampton as a centre of aviation manufacture, notably, the Supermarine factory famous for the production of the Spitfire. Many very good examples of historic aircraft, including a Short Sandringham flying boat. A short film describes the bombing of Southampton in 1940 and knowledgeable volunteers are on hand to explain every aspect of the museum. This was well worth a visit and the entrance fee entitles free access to the museum for one year.

C. S.

Was nice to go back here for the first time in twenty years. Building could do with some TLC but thats not really important. Make sure you check out the space suit and the cockpit simulator

T. M.

Very enjoyable museum with many aircraft on display and lots of bits and pieces including timetables, maps, uniforms, models etc. The centrepiece of the museum is a Shorts Sandringham that flew for Ansett Flying Boat Services in Australia; it is rare to find any Ansett aircraft on display let alone one from their Flying Boat Services arm. This museum is also combined with a Police and Fire museum with an amazingly varied range items on display. All in all a great museum at a great price with friendly and helpful staff

s. c.

I have been to many museums around the world large and small good bad . If I could have given this more stars I would have. The layout the information given the whole collection is just brilliant. Like all museums you get out what you put in so take your time and read and enjoy. I'm already looking forward to going back.

K. N.

Really enjoyed visiting the solent sky museum with my 2 boys (7 years and 9 years) who absolutely loved it. The staff/volunteers were amazing at chatting to us, sharing information and including the boys, showing them what they could do and where they could go - which included sitting in a fighter plane cockpit and being put in a jail!! There was a quiz for the boys to do with a little prize at the end (which obviously went down very well). I've lived in Southampton all my life and this was the first time I've ever visited - was amazed at everything that was inside. Even found some family history on the Southampton roll of honour from the first world War!

A. D. R.

A very interesting place to visit. Take the opportunity to have a guide, like Steve, who can tell you a lot of history.

M. N.

A Nice collection of plains with lots of enthousiaste people working for the museum

P. C.

The admission price is spent on the first 30 seconds in a place like this!

S. J.

This little place is great with some very informative volunteers. We were there last week loads to see and some very impressive plans for the future. My son has talked about it none stop since we got back great place to visit for a few hours.

M. S.

Solent Sky fits a lot of (Solent) aviation history into not that big a space, including several airplanes of various sizes. The staff is friendly and knowledgable. If your at all interested in aviation, it's well worth a visit!

R. E.

Great museum telling the history of aviation in the Solent.

J. E.

Had a great time. A little small but jam packed with exhibits. If you like planes you will love this place.

S. S.

A lot of interesting exhibits skilfully mounted within a comparatively small space; each time I looked from a different angle there was more to see and more to learn. The information was presented using a number of different methodologies, and was engaging for both adults and children alike.

C. E.

Very nice museum to bring the kids

S. G.

Brilliant museum, had a great time! My 7 year old really loved it too. Well recommended.

S. Q.

Great museum with some unique exhibits. Easy parking outside.

S. W.

Fascinating place which deserves a lot more support. Living history.

E. W.

A great place to learn about early flight especially the development of flying boats in Southampton and the Solent. Along with the development of the Supermarine Spitfire from its record breaking flyboat predecessor. Also the story of the Southampton Blitz in the Second World War brings home the horror of that war. Well worth a visit, but could do with expansion into large premises with better facilities (toilets and cafe).

A. t.

Nice place to see with all the amazing air plane models and original engines

m. J.

Amazing display considering the size. Very knowledgeable guides.

C. P.

Great museum, quite small but very interesting. Very informative staff all very willing to answer any questions you might have. Also a fire and police museum upstairs which was very interesting too. No I site parking, on street parking available with charges by the hour. Plenty of spaces outside today (weds) not sure about at the weekend. No cafe on site but tea, coffee and squash, a d biscuits available to buy donations into a honesty box. All in all we had a lovely day. Would highly recommended for an afternoon.

S. S.

The museum is certainly tired from many points of view but it really is an interesting place to visit. It's easy to navigate and isn't overwhelming. Has some very interesting exhibits and information relevant to the local area. Well worth a visit. Costs £10.00 per person for adults.

M. S.

Great little museum full of interesting stories about Southampton's place in aviation history particularly flying boats and the Spitfire. Some other interesting exhibts there too like Southampton university's man powered flight aircraft from 1961

B. A.

What a wonderful place. Sunderland flying boat you can board is unique. Spitfire story unlike any other museum. Designed and built within yards of the museum. Welcoming and very knowledgeable volunteer staff. You get a one year pass for your entrance price. We will gladly pay again to visit. Excellent. Please support. BTW secondhand aviation books for sale. Massive choice.

S. B.

Every local should go only a tenner takes up a couple of hours too very helpful knowledgeable kind staff

E. G.

An excellent time for all of the family. We really enjoyed being able to get close to the planes and exhibit. The kids loved going into the old flying boat, and were surprised at the lack of TV and entertainment options in the seats... must send them on more budget flights !!! Overall an interesting and educational time l, well maintained and presented in an engaging and enjoyable fashion.

t. d.

Perfect place to spend time with friends and family

M. J. (. D. 3. R. U.

Fantastic visit with informative friendly staff. Plenty of superbly maintained aircraft and exhibits. So much to see and read about the local aviation history. Local council could better to promote and aid this unique collection of aircraft than they currently are. I was not disappointed with my visit and would gladly revisit many more times.

W. W.

Absolutely Brilliant, great exhibits, great staff.

P. C. S.

Loved it. The people who worked there were great

A. F.

Great little museum with very friendly staff. Some very rare aircraft and you can go on board the Shorts Sandringham. Well worth a visit.

S. C.

Fantastic. Came here as a second choice as our first choice was fully booked. What luck plenty of aircraft history for the local area and more. Take your time and you won't be disappointed. Great for a half day experience 2 - 3 hours max.

D. R.

This museum is so much bigger than you think from the outside! There's basically a second one inside it too and my favourite part is that you can go inside one of the old planes! The people working there were super friendly and informative and you could tell they had a true passion! I used a Groupon voucher that made the trip feel very worth it :)

G. H.

Absolutely awesome. Some of the staff were technicians who actually maintained the aircraft during their working lives. So knowledgeable. The Beachcomber (Sunderland aircraft) was a fantastic throwback to how folk used to travel. You could even explore inside.

I. M.

Great place to go out with the kids

k. l.

We really enjoyed our visit

J. M.

Very very interesting. A range of aircraft to look at and a wealth of information about aviation history for the local area and south coast. The kids had a great time, and the chaps running the place on the day were very engaging.

T. G.

Super

D. B.

Very knowledgeable if you love airplanes you would love it great for kids as you can go in a Sunderland flying boat or sit in the cockpit of a harrier or a swift it's small but is due to add an extension on soon it's on 3 floors but there is lifts provided very clean some one was sanitizing everything as we was there

M. W.

Small museum crammed with planes, helicopters, and information about aviation in the Southampton area.

L. R.

Lovely experience, enjoyed by all ages. Staff are very informative, kind and obviously enjoy their job a lot! We had a great time here and passed a few hours, lots to see and do, including the wonderful sea plane that you can venture inside.

J. R. B.

Lovely museum with very friendly staff. Two kids aged 7 and 3 both really enjoyed looking at the planes and the quiz. They loved sitting in the Swift and Harrier cockpits. The police and fire museum is a nice addition too. Would recommend for anyone with an interest in aviation or engineering.

T. H.

An amazing place to visit with some of the nicest and most knowledgeable staff.

s. k.

So many interesting aircraft in a small area.

L. R.

I visited with my daughter and 3 young grandsons. We had a fab day exploring the museum. The exhibits were extremely interesting and my grandsons loved being able to board the skyboat. The staff were very helpful and keen to share their knowledge. All in all a very enjoyable visit.

C. R.

Nice time spent here. Both kids enjoyed it, especially sitting in the cockpits of various aircraft. My 10 year old enjoyed the history of war-time Southampton and tried to understand what it might feel like being a child in the war! Spent about hour and a half there and none of us are into aviation, so it was a nice surprise that we all enjoyed it.

M. C.

Great way to spend a few hours learning about our flying history. Make sure to ask the employees for details as their a treasure trove of information

S. A.

Surprisingly good. Very informative. You can go inside planes and cockpits, and it's sufficiently interesting for kids too. Information about Southampton's role during the second world war was an eye-opener as well. Recommend 2 hours to see everything.

L. W.

Great value for money and some excellent exhibits you can get up close too. Very low cost too.

F.

Well worth a visit if you're looking for something to do in Southampton. You can easily kill a few hours looking around the aircraft and aviation history exhibits. There's also a small police/fire museum upstairs. The museum was pretty cold as we visited first thing in the morning but other than that it was very enjoyable.

M. C.

Much more to see inside than you would imagine. Very interesting history of flying boats and Spitfire development. Liked the extra police and fire service museum. Basic drinks and biscuits available. Shop mostly books and models. Overall very good value.

W. M.

A great museum, run by passionate people. The big flying boat is very interesting, and the tour of the flight deck by Tom was informative. There is a lot to see, certainly allow 3 hours to wander about. The Police & Fire exhibition is worth a look at too. One tip if parking outside is to pay by the hour, as it is £1 p/h, or £2.50 for 2 hours.

L. B.

Volunteers were amazing and very informative, it's easy to spend 2 hours here. I learned so much about the city I live in, thanks!

S. C.

Fascinating stuff especially about the Schneider Trophy which is a particular interest. Social distancing of the volunteers left a bit to be desired in the upstairs area but the volunteer on the front desk was excellent and went the extra mile to be helpful. Well worth a visit.

N. H.

Not that good very small museum for ticket price

J. K.

Brilliant museum, friendly, enthusiastic, knowledgeable staff. Many exhibits, some it is possible to go inside, including a converted Sunderland sea plane and two jet planes. We spent several hours there, so much to see. Really worth visit.

T. B.

Although fairly small compared to some museums/exhibitions, it's PACKED FULL of history, stories, all types of significant aircrafts,jets and vehicles...plus more! What makes it even more special is you're greeted and taken round by pilots, enthusiasts, engineers and people who love what they do. I wish I planned to be here for a couple more hours, well worth the visit!! One place where I don't want to give away too much of what is there just so you feel the same excitement and surprise as I did. The Blitz exhibit was very interesting and I had a lot of fun listening to real life stories, meeting the team and touring the Beachcomber!

U.

Great place to visit for anyone that is at all interested in aviation or the RAF as a whole. Staff are exactly how you'd hope with everyone very knowledgeable and super friendly to chat with

J. B.

Great little museum and friendly staff. It kept my large boy, also known as husband, very happy for an hour or 2. I have fond memories of here from when it first opened and was not disappointed. I do love the flying boat. Visions of a bygone era and you can go into it and look around. I own up.tl stroking both the spitfire and the beautiful Merlin engine as well. We had a great time here.

S. Y. L.

There are numerous airplane displays and it is quite informative

T. Y.

Decent selection of planes especially the flying boats and to see a Spitfire up close. Good little museum to explore and learn about the history of aviation in the area. We got our tickets via Groupon which meant it was half price for 2 adults. A good way to spend 60-90 minutes but I think a lick of paint, cleaner windows and more interactive features would make it better.

B. S.

A brilliant little museum. There are interesting sections on the Hampshire Fire and Police services, but the majority of the museum is dedicated to aviation in and around the Solent, so it covers Supermarine's Spitfire of course, but also the romance and luxury of the Flying Boats, the fastest long distance travel between the wars. The people are friendly and very knowledgeable, so you can spend a rewarding couple of hours here.

J. G.

Friendly staff, loads of info about Hampshire and Southampton involvement in aircraft industry, history. Exhibits grip your imagination into pre cheap airline era. Good place to visit for parents and kids.

M. J.

historic attraction beholding planes and vehicles from the past wars and involves a generous amount of information back up the evidence. Very interesting and you are able to explore inside some of the vehicles. More off a one off visit to here but definitely worth the visit!

P. B.

A top quality museum. How they've managed to get so many aircraft into the building is a miracle. Staff are extremely knowledgeable and helpful. We visited as part of the RAF Baton Relay and they couldn't have been more welcoming and helpful. If you're in the area make sure you visit. There's a Police & & Fire. Service museum too.

L. E.

Very small but packed with wonderful history and has that touch and feel access not common in museums now a days.It's lovely to talk to staff of a certain generation who have a passion for the knowledge this museum holds. Very enjoyable for all ages especially for my 2 year old.

S. W.

An amazing museum focusing on the flying boats associated with Southampton and the Solent. The main exhibit is the complete Sunderland flying boat that you can go inside, amazing. Friendly and very well informed staff add to the experience. I found this a much more interesting museum than the Sea City Museum which was rather clinical and disappointing

R. T. (. W.

Lots of interesting exhibits, with some nice aircraft and supporting Fire, Police and wartime Southampton galleries. The building is a few decades old now and looking rather shabby in places, but otherwise it is a good experience. Plenty of on-street car-parking available outside & nearby

N. R.

A fantastic museum well worth visiting from near or far! Steve and his team are lovely and a great source of knowledge on their subjects. He was also very kind to both me and my son when we visited early last month! Thank you again Steve.

I. C.

A brilliant visit! I'd been looking at visiting for a long time, and regret not coming sooner. There's so much more to it than I imagined. Visited with my 2 young children and, despite the obvious older target audience, there was plenty of interactive displays to keep them entertained (you can sit in Harrier Jump jet cockpits and press all the buttons!) The whole experience was made so much better by the enthusiastic team of experts around the place. Their passion for the aeronautics shone through and they engaged everyone around them at just the right pitch; young and old. Definitely worth a trip.

R. B.

A tad on the small size, but was it worth the asking price, when you can go to duxford for 19.00 pounds, a little bit overpriced I think, but I support any aviation museum.

A. F.

As this came top of the suggested list for 'things to do in Southampton', we thought we'd give it a go and it certainly didn't disappoint! It's a huge, old hangar hidden off the beaten track and not looking like too much from the outside. However, step inside and it's like stepping into the Tardis! We were amazed at how many airplanes they could fit inside. It is steeped with history and fascinating facts over 3 tiers (there is a lift). There is so much to see, we didn't realise we would be there for over 2 hours! Definitely worth a visit, especially for the price.

D. U.

A cute little museum. Someone managed to park a load of planes in one room. Amazing. Not much interaction for children but that's not really the intention. You can go inside the sea plane and sit in a couple of cockpits. It tells an interesting history of the Southampton production of the Spitfire and has a lot on Southampton during the war - this itself would make a good solo exhibit. I'd say an hour to visit, more if you're an enthusiast and want to study everything.

M. B.

This is an amazing place considering all the funds are from charitable sources. The building that house the exhibits is starting to show signs of age and the building next door is in need of demolition but inside the Museum itself is fascinating. If you want to experience the history of various aircraft that were designed and built in and around Southampton then this place is a must. My only comment would be that there could be more material to help those who are not already familiar with the Museum's subject matter.

N. Y.

I call it simple The Spitfire Museum. It is kinda hidden away, but you will be surprised by what it has to offer !!! Highly recommended !

M. G.

Some real nice exhibits and super helpful and genuinely keen staff. Had a nice few hours here.

G. L.

Great morning, very welcoming volunteers and plenty to keep the kids occupied. No cafe but went to lunch lounge nearby.

C. R.

A bit of a hidden gem of a museum. Lots of aviation exhibits and very detailed history of flying boats in the solent. In addition to the aviation displays there are also detailed displays covering the police force and the fire service. An excellent location to spend a few hours immersing yourself in local history. Apart from a coffee machine at reception there are no catering facilities, but there are adequate toilet facilities.

b.

Nice little museum, very helpful staff and a wonderful way to spend the afternoon.

W. M.

Lots of very interesting things to see. Staff very friendly and informative of all the planes etc. Well worth a visit

S. M.

Great little museum with interesting flying boats and informative staff

M. J. V.

Its not as big as I hoped, but it's not a bad museum. If this was relocated down by the airport and combined it with a really good viewing and picnics park this could be a real winner for all, and people could get access to the country park too. So if the council's and maybe the airport people invested some cash, I think you could get more business all round. Think about it.

M. W.

Fantastic museum! I wish I had gone earlier. Very friendly and knowledgeable team and exciting planes housed inside. I particularly enjoyed sitting in the cockpit of two fighter jets. Also, Maureen O'Hara's sea plane is open for exploring. Bring a camera!

G. C.

A specialist and slightly old fashioned museum with not much in the way of multimedia exhibits which feature so much these days. I found the flying boat feature fascinating. A much more gracious way to travel than the modern long haul sardine can experience.

S.

A wonderful and greatly underrated museum and memorial to the people of Southampton in wartime. Flying boat, spitfire, vintage and modern planes, and detailed story of Southampton during intense bombing. Finally, friendly and very heloful staff. Thank you!

L. C.

Really great museum, with bags of history and character, relevant to the area It kept a 12yr,10yr, and a 6 year old engaged long enough for the grown ups to have a good look round. Very approachable staff Definitely recommend it well worth a visit. I think southampton council and the airport should be investing more in this important part of the city's past ..

D. L.

A very nice place to visit. Helpful staff with good information With lots of planes and other items to see.

R. K.

As a family we really enjoyed it here. I didn't even know if existed until recently and have lived in the area for a long time. Theres a brilliant sea plane toy can wander around in and lots of history to read about. We got some discounted tickets which made it very reasonable. Good way to spend a rainy afternoon

K.

Great little museum and good to finally get out the house after lockdown. Nice touch to have picnic tables and a coffee machine. Lots of parking 4 minutes walk away in Ocean Village.

G. M.

Great place with alot of knowledge and history about aviation, the British police, the fire brigade, etc. It also give you an insight of behond the scenes of the two world wars, the birth of the aviation industry in Britain and the risks many men and women took to see this industry where it is. A place worth spending your time in for an entry fee of only £6.50. You will all love it.

F. M.

Great place to see for any plane and flight lovers

P. E.

A really fantastic aircraft museum. There are military aircraft and civil ones as well. One of the highlights is the old flying boat airliner that you can actually go in to. Made for a really great experience, children seem to be fascinated by the aircraft exhibits.

T. T.

Had a lovely afternoon at solent sky was really good plenty of planes and exhibits like a tardis looks small outside but massive array of things to explore really enjoyed ourselves and the people that work there are very helpful and friendly and full of knowledge about the displays we will differently go back

A. M.

Wonderful museum! Really informative, and quite how they manage to put so much into a small area is amazing! Great way to spend a few hours and I'd recommend it to anyone, young and old. A+++

A. K.

A small museum, but packed with planes and history. Loved being able to go on board the flying boat!

J. C.

A large shed crammed with so many planes it's hard to imagine how they got them all in! Nice enough but the planes are too crowed.

P. B.

Lovely museum really well laid out, easy to park outside and lots to see inside. Well worth the entrance fee.

J. h. F. f. t.

Love it, the people there are passionate, nice and you get to get up close and into the exhibits!

J. D.

Excellent small museum! ! Fascinating planes telling us about the social history of the area. .Worthy of a lottery grant to expand facilities. I enjoy ed very much and enthusiastic guides.

g. b.

Very nice compact museum on 2: floors with lift, very child friendly, Easy parking and if you're lucky like me you may get chance to use some else's parking ticket Very interesting and very informative volunteer staff who are a mine of information

D. F. (.

So many aeroplanes and information is such a small place, that they are looking to expand. We will be returning as we are think we must have missed a bit.

D. M.

What an excellent museum of aviation!!!! So much in the space...wow!!! I loved it all. The museum staff are all afficianados ...so helpful and friendly. The aeroplane collection is awesome!! The Spitfire is a newer 5 prop essential but the Short Sandringham is just wonderful. You must visit!!!!

J. D.

A great place to visit for young and old. Plenty to see and do. Myself and grandson enjoyed our time there. Highly recommend it. You can loose hours...Well worth the entrance fee with plenty of parking. You won’t regret it.

R. B.

Great exhibits and experience, will highly recommend to everyone.

J. S.

Lovely museum, the volunteers are very informative and a pleasure to listen to. Being able to sit in some of the cockpits, and the Maureen O'Hara plane is lovely. And there are not many museums where you are encouraged to use your camera.

G. R.

Great little treasure. They even have the actual Schneider Trophy on display

K. E.

Fantastic place really down to earth museum with people who know the right info

R. S.

Lovely little museum. Several hands-on exhibits and lots of planes. Kids can sit in a cockpit and ejector seat. You can go onto the massive passenger plane in the middle of the museum -fascinating. Several areas where you can sit and watch educational videos. There's also a police and fire service museum on the upper floor full of artifacts. You can even lock your kids in the prison cell!

A. L.

If you are interested in aviation, go and do this. Good value for a family and you can climb in cockpits and the sit in the Sandringham flying boat that spans the entire indoors! Really enjoyed it as it covered a lot of local aviation history.

G. K.

Amazing value for money, so much to see in such small space. Great photo opportunities. Child friendly.

R. B.

A perfect place for boys big and small and of any age from 3 to 90! Helpful and enthusiastic (volunteer) staff who genuinely appreciate visitors interest in the rich and innovative heritage of UK aviation. Just be sure to gift aid you entrance fee. A real hands on, feel good experience.

S. H.

Great museum & very helpful staff members. The museum is very deceiving from the outside, so much to see when you start walking around, well worth a visit if you have a few hours to spare.

M. W.

Very interesting museum with a number of very knowledgeable volunteers to answer any questions

m. j.

This place is a little treasure. So much history and plenty of interesting exhibits. It's a pity their funding isn't is good as it could be because this place has such potential. A little cafe is also on site which works on an honesty box system. They had crisps, biscuits and bars there and a fridge with water, sprite, Fanta orange and Dr. Pepper inside. Nothing fancy, by they're all very cheap so you can't complain! Good way to kill a few hours and explore some cool planes

J. D.

A must for all aviation enthusiasts. The staff really know their stuff. There is a lot of information here about the history of aviation in Hampshire. The Short Sandringham flying boat is very impressive. The museum also has a section dedicated to Hampshire police, ambulance and fire service. I really enjoyed my time here. Only downside was car parking. I wasn't sure where to go. In the end I just paid for the on street car parking just outside the museum.

E. A.

Small venue, runned by some nice old pensioners. If you're into planes, this certainly is a good place to visit. The exhibition of the twenty-something planes is quite nice. We started the tour with a short film on how in the old days the 'flying boats' were built and flown from the Solent. Then there were seceral more planes to look at. Up away in the attic was also a small exhibition by the police and fire brigade, and in another corner we saw some impressive images of Southampton in wartime. For me, the flying boat at the end was the most fun: we could enter it and get a feel of how it would have been to fly with it to Egypt, Hong Kong, or even Australia!

C. P.

Great museum, excellent exhibits, staff very knowledgeable and helpful. Well worth a visit.

S. A.

Very much enjoyed the police section with a history showing the development of the tools of the trade - speed cameras, hand cuffs, radios and especially the batons. The old batons were beautifully painted and much nicer than the modern ones which flick out a metal rod from a plastic casing. Focused on Hampshire Constabulary.

A. W.

This super museum is a bit tucked away but when you find it WOW! A superb collection of old aeroplanes and plane engines. Where else do you find a Tiger Moth and a Spitfire? And so much else.

T. E.

This musium is a lot bigger than you expect. It has exibits that you can go/climb into, my grandson loved the harrier cockpit. The staff are very helpful and informative. Great place

M. S.

A well arranged exhibition of well known and forgotten aircraft that were world beaters in their day. I was delighted by the Sandringham, a civil version of the Sunderland that my father used to fly in the RAF in the 1950s. The display of the Spitfire production facilities, dispersed around the country was a real eye opener. We should be very proud of the people who made it all work and keep the Luftwaffe at bay.

N. C.

Loved it, hadn't been there since 1985ish, so much more to see. Great afternoon out,

G. C.

A fantastic range of planes to see. Staff were incredibly welcoming and enthusiastic.

M. 1.

So nice to be so close and my kids loved sitting in the cockpits

M. R.

Lovely little museum - some of the displays are rather dated.

M. W.

My son & husband had a great time and found it very interesting. The thing that let's Solent Sky down is the fact it looks closed with the front doors locked up. We were about to leave when we saw the side door was open. When you pay you get a year ticket.

M. V.

Very nice maintained, small space but lots to see there. I was surprised how many planes and other stuff hey were able to fit within the building :)

J.

Great little museum so glad I went and visited after all these years

C.

Super informative and well put together. What made our trip especially worthwhile was that we made it just before seeing Shadow Factory at Nuffield Theatre. Worth the visit and more. We'll be back again in a few years' time.

C. B.

My boys love this place! Great that there's a couple of planes they can venture into. Staff always friendly and on hand to answer my eldests questions about the exhibit aswell 😊

A.

A brilliant insight into the local areas contribution to aviation

A. G.

Worth the money by far, If you're interested in Southampton's Aviation History, World War II, Spitfires, Jets, Airliners, RC and so much more. Didn't know what to expect when we went, Massively exceeded my expectations

K. B.

It was fascinating to learn Southampton was the early centre of international air travel

C. B.

My Grandfather did all of the copper work on the Super marine s6!This museum is a must visit, so many interesting and local aircraft to see.Also very interesting local model aircraft kits.Jet ex ect.

G. C.

Very helpful staff ,lots to see.

C. T.

Compact but with wonderful displays. Brought back many memories. Some unique aircraft. Well worth a visit.

A. B.

On the small side but a good time kill

d. b.

Amazing visit. The staff were so friendly and helpful. The children really enjoyed themselves. Would definitely recommend Solent Sky. We will be back.

Z. B.

Amazing place with lots of aircrafts and information about them. Learnt some interesting facts on our visit. Lovely staff.

M. E.

Whilst this might not be the largest aviation museum in the south, it does have a few very interesting exhibits. Being that Southampton is the birthplace of the Spitfire, there is a lot of elements about the heritage of Supermarine aviation. The centrepiece though is their awesome Sandrigham flying boat and exhibits that provide a wonderful insight into the airlines that used to fly them to exotic destinations from Southampton docks.

P. D.

Great as a museum. Absolutely appalling for parking. Car park to the rear could hold 20 + cars, but for staff only. 3 cars in there. I'm paying my taxes to run this place, get your act together.

J. H.

I struggle to understand the negative reviews for this hidden gem of an aviation museum.I hadn't visited for a number of years and wasn't disappointed to return.For a paltry entry fee of £8 (Season Ticket!) you are rewarded with some very unique aircraft.The museum has a large focus around flying boats for which the Solent was famous.Being able to explore a Sandringham including the flight deck is a fairly unique experience not to be missed.You can also see the only SR/A.1 in the world amongst many other aircraft and exhibitions.For anyone with a genuine interest in aviation you would be hard pushed to be disappointed.The volunteers who run the museum are knowledgeable and friendly.There is some on street metered parking immediately outside and more a couple of minutes away.

S. R.

Really interesting, kids enjoyed it (7 & 12) and good value for money. Loads packed into the space.

N. R.

Great little Musium with a massive amount of history packed into it.

j. w.

Amazing museum lots to look at and some amazing planes and history stuff very and happy to be asked question's from my son and daughter.

J. O.

Great museum which is the size for younger kids. Friendly and knowledgeable staff.

M. E.

An absolute gem of a place, hidden down a side street in an anonymous building that would be ever so easy to overlook. On display are some unique items with special prominence given to flying boats and Supermarine. It's not large so an hour or so will allow you to cover everything. A display of police memoribilia is at the back of the museum.

K. M. (.

Great place with lots of interesting exhibits. Bigger than it looks from the outside and really nice and friendly staff who will make it even more worthwhile with their stories! 👍

S. B.

Nice heritage site, hidden gem of Southampton

S. F.

A great little gem hidden in Southampton. Well worth visiting for aviation enthusiasts. Great to learn about the south's aviation history: the Schneider Trophy & the birth of the Spitfire.

A. W.

The story of famous Aircraft manufacturing companies in an around Southampton is amazing and captured in this one place for all to see. With a bit more organisation it will be the must see exhibition for all in this wonderful town. I wish you much luck.

M. W.

Very nice museum. Much bigger than I first thought. You may also be able to go to Beachcomber's flight deck and try out two cockpits if you ask the staff.

I. G.

A worthwhile visit. Lots of local all history associated with flying too.

N. C.

So much history in such a small place. You can get inside one of the "flying boats" or hop into an air superiority fighter cockpit. Includes emergency services history as well.

M. P.

Amazing what is crammed in a relatively small museum. Some great pieces of aviation history to be found inside. Very enthusiastic informed staff.

M. D.

Slightly quirky but very interesting museum with great exhibits including large flying boat which you can go inside

H. G.

How did they fit so many aeroplanes into the building? Helpful, friendly and approachable staff who really know their stuff and go over and above to make sure you enjoy the time there.

S. G.

A great museum, which caters for visitors of all ages & levels of prior knowledge. We loved the interactive nature of many exhibits & the fantastically knowledgeable staff.

D. H.

Very interesting and informative, especially about Spitfire development. Amazing how much they have in there. Very knowledgeable volunteers to answer your questions. Hoping to return soon.

J. A.

This museum is wonderful for all aircraft enthusiasts. The staff know all there is to know about their exhibitions and the range of aircraft is impressive.

J. D.

Well presented..again not that big...staff a little hard to talk to...did enjoy our visit

T. R.

Fantastic museum, I was amazed by just how many different aircraft manufacturers were based around the Solent and how many great aircraft were built locally. Friendly and knowledgeable curators, highly recommended.

O. S.

If you enjoy seeing aeroplanes and are in the area you really must visit! It is full of aviation history. I walked away hoping that one day some billionaire would restore the Beachcomber. If you ask nicely they will let you into the cockpit. You can, of course, see a Spitfire! Australians: you can read about Bert Hinkler here - his Southampton house was moved brick by brick from Southampton to Bundaberg!

1.

Great museum! Staff are are very friendly and informative.

I. N.

A hidden gem, staffed by enthusiasts, and crammed full of aircraft celebrating Southampton and the Solent area's considerable early days of flight heritage, with a focus on flying boats and the Spitfire.

s. m.

Very interesting aviation museum but with super knowledgeable staff. Tip: ask for a special viewing of the Sandringham sea plane cockpit.

S. P.

Very interesting with lots of exhibits, didplays and memorabilia. Very enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff on hand too.

A.

Not a very big display but quite interesting. No café when I went (Dec 2016) which was a bit disappointing - always nice to grab a cuppa when you're out and about!

N. V.

Got lost in the museum for over and hour! Loads of local history of flight around the Area. Plus at olny £8 to enter, plus if you gift aid it makes it a bargain

G. W.

Fabulous Air museum in tight quarters.

S. N.

Excellent museum more tha you would expect helpful staff, interactive exhibits, all in all a great place to visit bit of a hidden gem

V. B.

A must see venue filled with real airplanes and so much information you could spend a week there. There's a Sunderland flying boat you can go in which takes pride is place!

I. B. (.

The staff is kind. But the exhibits should be better lit. Great Spitfire! Great Seaplane.

T. B.

Compact museum, but crammed full of interesting exhibits. High spot is being able to go inside the Short Beachcomber. Well worth a visit.

M. B.

Small and friendly museum with some great planes but there is quite a lot of junk as well which I suspect were well meant donations / gifts. Needs some firm curating!

D. H.

Great visit. The BIG flying boat needs to go, takes up so much room that could be used for interesting smaller exhibits.

J. S.

The Solent Sky museum, situated minutes away from Southampton's waterfront is well worth a visit. The museum displays exhibits that chart the vital devlopment of the Spitfire, that had its genesis in the Southampton area, There are other diplays, aircraft, models and information that would be of interest not only to aviation buffs, including a flying boat with an extra seat installed specially for the 50s Hollywood star Maureen O Hara!

D. C.

fantastic bit of history here, something for all ages if you like learning about southampton and planes, really lovely place

M. P.

What a hidden gem. So much to see. Well worth a visit.

D. W.

Great exhibits and friendly volunteers. Could do with a bit of modernisation, but it's a great way to spend a few hours.

T. B.

A great exhibition of aircraft and other parts of Southampton and Solent life. Lots to see and do and a lot more hands on than most places nowadays. Highly recommended

K. P.

Really interesting little museum with helpful and incredibly knowledgeable volunteers. Well worth a visit.

m. b.

Compact museum with lots to see.

Ł.

Very nice and interesting museum. You should reserve at least 2 hours for the visit.

F.

Really good local museum with friendly staff if you get a free afternoon in the area and are interested in the history of planes in the solent I'm sure you'll love it

B. C.

Great little museum stuffed full of aviation and police exhibits.

m.

Very interesting not large but very well laid out,

A. S.

Nice museum for intrested in aviation. Very friendly staff, willing to help and tell a lot about exhibit. Worth seeing.

J. B.

Small museum but with so much squeezed in. Staff and volunteers were very knowledgeable and happy to answer any questions. Free return within a year if gift aid.

C. R.

I cant believe they have packed so much into the building! Something for everybody, very interesting for aviation enthusiasts and a great insight into the recent history of Southampton

M. B.

Visited this museum a few weeks ago, and they have a really good selection of vintage aircraft on display.

J. W.

A museum which reflects the contributions made by the Southampton area (Spitfire factory at Eastleigh airfield, aircraft manufacturers, flying boats at Calshot and several landing grounds) to more than 100 years of aviation history.

K. M.

Private own museum, however it's worth it! The staff is amazing!

L. B.

Really interesting museum, surprisingly unknown to most people.

C. P.

Fantastic place to visit. Highly recommended!! Staff extremely helpful and knowledgeable. 👍👍👍👍

P. K.

Excellently displayed exhibits. Friendly and knowledgeable staff , worth supporting with a trip down.

K. F.

Good place to spend a couple of hours if you're at all interested in the local history of aircraft, also new exhibitions for the fire service and police add to the experience

R. A.

We went there with my wife and our Dog as we were having breakfast near by, popped in as no website info saying about dogs not allowed, or signs at the entrance, bit disappointed. They said no pets allowed. So we couldnt go in :/

c. b.

Tbh not a bad place bit of a tardis job..me and my son enjoyed it (50% off with Groupon) ... all these places seem to have a gem or 2..

A. H.

A little gem tucked away where you'd least expect it. The staff were amazing, even taking us up to the cockpit of the Sandringham. The kids loved it! Thanks Solent Sky team.

N. C.

Small museum but quite impressive. An hour is probably more than enough to walk around . Staff not too friendly which was a pity.

M. B.

Amazing place wasn't expecting it to be so big and with so much information what an incredible place

R.

Great experience, its worth to go and visit them.nice stuff there.

J. F.

Lovely museum and the staff are willing to talk about any if the aircraft on display

R. W.

Interesting museum with lots of Schneider Trophy coverage not found elsewhere. Unfortunately cramped into too small a building, plus very disorganised when I visited.

R. W.

If you love planes and history of your going to love this place and able to park right outside and very helpful staff who are happy to answer any questions you may have and not expensive either.

K. M.

Decent way to spend a couple of hours max. However most of the exhibitions were either under maintenance or being refurbished so it was slightly disappointing.

B. K.

A hidden Gem of local aviation history! Didn't have enough time to read about all the history. Will be visiting again and highly recommend.

M. W.

A very interesting museum with some very rare aircraft. Extremely freindly staff but could do with larger premises.

t. C.

Great staff. Enjoyable afternoon. Lots of aircraft and equipment to view backed up with local videos.

N. G.

Jam packed full of fascinating are rare if not unique aircraft. Allow at least 2hrs especially if you pay to park.

N. G.

Shame about the poor facade. Once inside it is brilliant. Worth a visit

L. C.

Great experience!

C. C.

Don't be put off by the exterior, this is a fantastic museum which Southampton should be proud of! The Spitfire is worth the entrance fee alone.

J. F.

Great collection of airplanes and artefacts from the area. Could use more space for the collection though. Also interesting little exhibition about local police and fire services.

J. K.

If you love history and planes it's a perfect place to visit. Fantastic for the whole family.

G. M.

Great little museum

G. i.

Very nice and interesting. I recommend visiting

D. L.

Impressive museum full of aviation history. Genesis of the Spitfire and actual 1929 Trophy winning S6a.

S. M.

Very helpful staff a must view if in Southampton especially plane spotters. Flying boat you can go in

T. G.

Fantastic place, knowledgeable and friendly staff (volunteers), spent hours there

M. S.

Its small museum but I like it and have every thing inside

A. M.

Even for a non-obsessive, this is an amazing place. So much to see in a small place with plenty of history shown. Very helpful and knowledgeable custodians.

J. M.

Fascinating to discover the significance of Southampton in the aircraft industry. Inside tour of flying boat amazing!

M. M.

Perfect place for anyone who love aircrafts, engines, or simply the history of a city who catch me. Next time I will try to get more time available.

J.

Amazingly detailed, unique museum of British and more specifically, Southampton-based flying history and how it shaped the world (really). A must-visit!

d. r.

Very good attraction ,don't let the outside of the building Fool you , there is lots to see inside ,very knowledgeable staff who are all volunteers

M. O.

Amazing place, Also tells the story of Supermarine airplanes and the war effort during World War 2. Make this place on your to visit list.

J. B.

Took my boys (10, 11, 13) and we all loved it. Immense amount to explore and learn about with very helpful staff.

N. B.

Loved it. Don't be put off by the outside. There's loads of planes squeezed in. Very interesting and very informative staff.

J. C.

Great bit of local history.

A. F.

What an amazing little find! Plenty to look at and staff very informative and friendly.

G. W.

Very interesting and the staff are only to happy to answer any questions. Learnt a lot about the history of aviation in the area.

C. H.

Brilliant museum.

J. N.

Fantastic museum, so much packed under one roof, excellent exhibits and friendly knowledgeable staff.

m. r.

Absolutely fantastic. A real insight into Southampton's aviation history.

C. L.

AWESOME Place for anyone who is even slightly interested into aviation, Very informative and friendly staff. Highly recommend a visit.

M. C.

Very knowledgeable staff. Price to enter was very reasonable for the quality. Top notch.

K. C.

Great exhibition of Flying Boats. WW2 display well worth seeing. All the staff are very knowledgeable.

D. W.

Literally packed to the rafters with exhibits

k. a.

It's a welcome place always some one on hand to answer your questions. Lots to see police museum and fire crews. Also the raf.

f. W.

Stunning museum with great guides.

D. S.

Very good museum Learn all about plans on and about Southampton Plus the extra Fire & Police museum up stair

N. P.

Great place to take the kids loads to see and do and 3 floors of fun and a lot to see and take in 👍

W. T.

So interesting to see so many real old planes displayed. Slightly off the beaten track, but worth the visit.

M. L.

The staff is uper nice, and all the family enjoyed it. 2 hours stay is enough time to see everything.

T. M.

Nice small museum packed with exhibits. Great way to kill an hour or 2.

C. d.

Brilliant. The staff are great and have such a wealth of knowledge. Great few hours spent

m. w.

Very interesting, well presented with informative and friendly staff. Clean and tidy and Covid responsible.

A. L.

Great diverse range of exhibits and displays, really interesting and informative.

M. J.

A small museum with a big heart, and an impressive collection of aircraft and memorabilia. Pay a visit if you can.

G. G.

A fantastic place! Literally crammed to the ceiling with amazing exhibits. An aviation enthusiasts dream.

T. S.

It's amazing how many planes are crammed into the seemingly small space. Lots to see, but could be more interactive.

R. W.

Interesting museum, great exhibits, worth visiting to learn about the local aviation history

K. D.

Lovely place I really enjoyed it. Very interesting video and exhibit.

B. M.

This place is one of my favourites. So much to see, I plan to go back again and again. 2 visits to date and definitely more to come.

S. R.

Great place to go and see the different aircraft and other exhibits in the museum

A. W.

Small but very interesting exhibition.

S. W.

Took my scouts here there's loads of interesting local history and good exhibits

K. S.

Took my partners 10yo grandson and he really enjoyed himself was a great time

L. D. S.

Small museum packed with history of aviation in Southampton. Details history of commercial and military aircraft associated with the area.

C. T.

Great place to see the history of aeroplane.

M. C.

Some fantastic exhibits and knowledgable staff/volunteers. An absolute must visit.

a. o.

I learned more than I thought I could plus my boys both enjoyed museum plus getting in a real plane .

B. G.

A superb air museum. You'll spend a couple of hours taking in British history, lots to see.

D. W.

If you're into aviation history, this is a gem! Worth asking a guide to show you the flying boat's cockpit.

S. J.

A must see aviation museum. It also has a museum of the emergency services.

G. C. C.

I still have goosebumps. Very friendly and competent people and great exhibition.

S. R.

Good staff and lots of aircraft to see but only 2-3hours and you will be done

R. H.

Very interesting but unfortunately the day we went was very hot. This did make us uncomfortable so we didn't stay too long!

S. P.

A great museum, very helpful and knowledgeable staff. Great value for money.

B. M.

A great museum. Highly recommended for a great afternoon learning about the history of aviation.

S. T.

I didn't enjoy also being engineer. Too much written documents. There are many small aircrafts used in ww2

J. L.

Brilliant, had some unique aircraft that can't be found anywhere else in the world.

l. b.

Worth going if your into aircraft lots to see and you can go on the seaplane and explore

S. B.

So interesting, hands on. Excellent guides. Wonderful exhibits.

S. I.

Amazing. Must visit place.

M. t.

Excellent place can't fault it especially for the admission price

J. J.

Lots to see for all ages. Staff could be a bit more helpful, but apart from that, very interesting.

C. C.

Good place to visit.

G. W.

Brilliant place full of interesting aircraft and informative and helpful staff, also WW2 information

K. W.

Super place, very warm inside upstairs

o. w.

Very surprised how much there is to see inside, the building isn't massive so it was a nice treat.

M. D.

Great place full of super helpful people.

C. W.

Nice aero museum. Can get closer to the exhibits than usual.

M. N.

Well worth a visit, lots to see

C. A.

There was so much to see and read about. It was fun to be able to get into a flying boat.

P. P.

Excellent museum, fascinating items and so much to see!

S. J.

Famtastic musrum, loads to see including trams now!

D. 0.

It's an amazing place to see older airplane and their history

D. L.

Great little museum with very knowledgeable and helpful staff.

C. A.

Brilliant day with the winner of the spitefire draw

M.

Was there a year ago. Amazing stuff all around. The ppl that work there was amazing and Nice.

V. S.

Anyone with even a minor interest in planes will love this museum.

m. h.

Great place. The guides are a mine of information. Highly recommended

A. W. (.

The guides were very knowledgeable and there were so many planes to look at.

T. W.

Premises too small to fully appreciate all the exhibits.

A. C.

Lovely place to visit with my family. The staffs are very friendly and helpful.

K. G.

Really interesting place, needs better signage outside to sell it more as it really is so much better than it looks from the outside!

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