The Visitor Centre is open on Wednesdays, Saturdays and
Sundays from 10.00 AM - 4.00 PM. We are not open on bank holidays.
Admission charges apply. Adults & Children (16 or older): £8. Children 13-15: £3. Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a short lead.
See our "VISITING" page for more information
Sundays from 10.00 AM - 4.00 PM. We are not open on bank holidays.
Admission charges apply. Adults & Children (16 or older): £8. Children 13-15: £3. Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a short lead.
See our "VISITING" page for more information
LATEST NEWS....
Léon's Lancaster: Official Launch Event - Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th September 2026
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Léon's Lancaster Opens to the General Public - Official Launch Weekend
We are delighted to announce a special event at Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre. As many of you are aware, we now have a full-size replica of an Avro Lancaster front section including the Pilot, Flight Engineer, Navigator and Wireless Operator positions. This incredible Lancaster replica was built by Léon Ellison (see below for full story) and since it arrived in May we have been at hard work making preparations to open it for visitors. We are now able to offer access to the Lancaster for the general public on an exclusive one to one basis. This will comprise a guided tour by one of our guides and will take 10-15 minutes. The formal opening of this fantastic new exhibit will take place over the weekend of 12th / 13th September. For a small additional fee over our normal admission price, you’ll be able to go inside the Lancaster, meet Leon’s family and learn about the real ZN-L Avro Lancaster that flew from RAF Metheringham in WW2 and what happened to it and the crew during the war. Tickets for this event are limited and available in our online store HERE. |
Lancaster Simulator moves to Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre
Léon Ellison spent over two decades first researching and then handcrafting an exact replica of the forward section of a WW2 Avro Lancaster Bomber, which was to become a fully working simulator. His vision was to be able to “fly” the famous Dambusters Raid of 16-17 May 1943.
Sadly, after he had completed the actual aircraft front section, Léon died suddenly in June 2024 before he could turn it in to a working simulator. After Léon’s passing, the family looked to donate the simulator to an organisation that would both nurture it, make it available to a much wider audience and ultimately try and complete it as a working simulator, in order to realise Léon’s vision.
We are delighted to announce that Léon’s Lancaster has been donated to Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre (MAVC), who will take on the completion of the project. Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre will be an appropriate home to Léon’s Lancaster as RAF Metheringham was home to the Avro Lancasters of 106 Squadron from November 1943 until the end of WW2.
The Ellison family held a “Farewell Event” on Saturday 11 April 2026 ahead of moving the simulator from Berkshire to Lincolnshire. With public help, they aimed to raise at least £5,000 to contribute to the cost of the move, which has required MAVC to engage a specialist haulage company. With your further help and support, Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre will create a purpose-built exhibition to house the Lancaster. It will include a feature about its creator, and the Engineering Team at MAVC will look to make it "fly" as a fully-working simulator over the coming years. This new annex will cost in the region of £50,000 so fundraising will be ongoing. The move was scheduled to take place on 11th May 2026 and the Lancaster will be made ready to be open to the public over the coming weeks. The move was covered by BBC South Today. You can view the feature HERE. You can read more about our latest exhibit on our dedicated Lancaster Simulator page HERE.
You can help support this project to preserve Léon’s Lancaster by donating via our online store HERE.
Donating through JustGiving or via the MAVC online store is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving and MAVC - we'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Thank you so much for your support!
Sadly, after he had completed the actual aircraft front section, Léon died suddenly in June 2024 before he could turn it in to a working simulator. After Léon’s passing, the family looked to donate the simulator to an organisation that would both nurture it, make it available to a much wider audience and ultimately try and complete it as a working simulator, in order to realise Léon’s vision.
We are delighted to announce that Léon’s Lancaster has been donated to Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre (MAVC), who will take on the completion of the project. Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre will be an appropriate home to Léon’s Lancaster as RAF Metheringham was home to the Avro Lancasters of 106 Squadron from November 1943 until the end of WW2.
The Ellison family held a “Farewell Event” on Saturday 11 April 2026 ahead of moving the simulator from Berkshire to Lincolnshire. With public help, they aimed to raise at least £5,000 to contribute to the cost of the move, which has required MAVC to engage a specialist haulage company. With your further help and support, Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre will create a purpose-built exhibition to house the Lancaster. It will include a feature about its creator, and the Engineering Team at MAVC will look to make it "fly" as a fully-working simulator over the coming years. This new annex will cost in the region of £50,000 so fundraising will be ongoing. The move was scheduled to take place on 11th May 2026 and the Lancaster will be made ready to be open to the public over the coming weeks. The move was covered by BBC South Today. You can view the feature HERE. You can read more about our latest exhibit on our dedicated Lancaster Simulator page HERE.
You can help support this project to preserve Léon’s Lancaster by donating via our online store HERE.
Donating through JustGiving or via the MAVC online store is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving and MAVC - we'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Thank you so much for your support!
Tickets now on sale for the Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre 40s Event: Sunday 30th August 2026.
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Step back in time to the 1940s with a day of 40s music, re-enactors, military and other historic vehicles, food stalls and much, much more. Additionally, the museum will be open as normal. That means you can access all of our stunning exhibitions rooms, enjoy a coffee in our “Coffeestall Café” and explore our fabulous Douglas Dakota hangar. You can even access the aircraft and sit in the cockpit!
Event Includes:
Gates open at 10.00 AM. Event closes at 4.00 PM. Tickets can now be purchased through our online store HERE Current members receive a 50% discount. To purchase a discounted ticket as a member, you must provide a valid, current membership number at checkout. |
Tickets for our August lecture are now available online. The History, Heritage and Engineering of Rolls-Royce Aero Engines by Neil G Chattle BEng (Hons) FRAeS
Become a member of Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre. 2026 Memberships now available.
The easiest way to support us is to become a MAVC member. Single Adult Membership is £28.50 per annum . Family membership (2 adults & 2 children under 16) is £33.50 per annum. Membership runs from 1st Jan to 31 Dec. For more information go to the Membership page HERE.
Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre working with Museum Development Midlands and Lincoln University to enhance our displays and improve collection care.
This short film showcases MAVC's Collections team's work with Museum Development Midlands (MDM) and the University of Lincoln. It describes how the grants received from MDM have helped MAVC to improve the collection's care, develop a comprehensive digitisation project and provide new displays. Thank you Copper Crayon (www.coppercrayon.co.uk) and to all who took part. For more information visit https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/hh/research/conservationresearch/ and https://www.mdmidlands.org.uk/case-studies
We are currently recruiting new volunteers to fill various posts including "Treasurer"
We are currently recruiting for volunteers in several areas and in particular, we are seeking a volunteer to take over the important role of Treasurer. This is a key role at the centre and the successful applicant will be responsible for managing MAVC's finances as well as becoming a Trustee. For a full role description and instructions on how to apply, see our Volunteering and Vacancies pages HERE.
You can catch up with previous new stories in our News Archive HERE
Find out more about our exciting new attraction, a full scale replica of an Avro Lancaster forward section that will be completed as a working flight simulator by the MAVC engineering team. You can explore the cockpit of this legendary bomber (charges apply).
You can support us by visiting our online shop HERE.
There you can buy products, membership passes and make donations
There you can buy products, membership passes and make donations
Volunteering at Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre
Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre is run by a dedicated team of volunteers. There are lots of different volunteer roles including stewarding, catering, curatorial and even engineering with the Dakota team. If you would like to become part of our team, please check out our volunteering opportunities on the volunteering page HERE. To see our current vacancies for volunteer roles, please see our Vacancies page HERE.
