Essex WW1 Museum Reopens with Improved Family Pricing and a Packed Events Schedule
View/Download Full Press Release (PDF)
After a short winter closure, Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome will reopen to the public on Friday 13 February, right on time for a half-term family visit. And thanks to the Museum's improved new pricing structure for 2026, taking the whole family to this fascinating World War One site is more accessible than ever before.
For the first time, Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome has extended its free child entry to cover all children under the age of 11 – more than halving the cost of entry for parents with three primary school aged children. Adult admission and concessions have also been frozen for 2026.
Ian Flint, Chief Executive Officer of Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome, comments: "As the best-preserved World War One aerodrome in Europe, our unique Museum supports Key Stage 1 and 2 learning in a number of important areas, including history, science, and design and technology. Our new pricing structure for 2026 makes our Museum much more affordable for families – and at a time when price rises have impacted almost every area of life, we are delighted to be able to offer even better value to our visitors in 2026."
Free entry for accompanied children aged 0 to 10 is available on all non-event opening days throughout the year, as well as for the Museum's packed programme of "added value" events, when standard pricing also applies. These include all family nature days, living history weekends and fly-ins. Standard pricing is also valid for a brand-new event for 2026 – The Stow Maries Motorbike Show on Saturday 16 May, as well as for Armed Forces Day: Back to WW2 on Saturday 27 June. For full details of included events, as well as pricing and booking information for our major air events – Wings and Wheels on Sunday 24 May and The Stow Maries Air Show on Sunday 16 August – see www.stowmaries.org.uk/events.
The first event of the season at Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome is also brand new for 2026. Dawn Patrol offers an early morning opportunity to visit the site's carefully managed wildlife areas, not usually open to the public. A small group of visitors can join a nature walk led by our wildlife experts, enjoying the sights and sounds of the bird and animal life awakening. Afterwards, breakfast is served in The Airmen's Mess café. Dawn Patrol will be held on Sundays 12 & 26 April and 10 May. Booking is essential.
The Museum is usually open Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 4pm, with private bookings available on other days. For more information about the site and the exciting 2026 events schedule, visitwww.stowmaries.org.uk.
