Museums · East of England
RAF Bawdsey
In or near Alderton.
RAF Bawdsey — a museum in england-east, United Kingdom.
Patrick Mackie — CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 1.5 h–3 h
- Best time of year
- Year-round
- Nearest railway station
- Felixstowe · 4.6 km
- Paid entry
- Family-friendly
- Limited wheelchair access
About
RAF Bawdsey is a museum in england-east, United Kingdom, listed in the Wikipedia register of British heritage and tourism sites. See the linked Wikipedia article for full details.
Photo gallery
Official information
RAF Bawdsey is home to the world's first radar station, now a museum that showcases the history and development of radar technology. Visitors can explore interactive exhibits, a timeline of radar's evolution, and simulations related to World War II radar operations.
Protected designations
- Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: Suffolk Coast & Heaths
Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.
Place summary
RAF Bawdsey is a museum located in the East of England. It is situated on the site of the former RAF Bawdsey, which played a significant role in the development of radar technology during World War II. The museum showcases the history of the station and its contributions to aviation and defence.
AI-generated from the structured facts on this page (operator, designation, listing, era). Not a substitute for visiting.
Background
History
Bawdsey Manor, dating from 1886, was taken over in March 1936 by the Air Ministry for developing the Chain Home (CH) RDF (radar) system. The station's Superintendent was initially Robert Watson-Watt, later followed by A.P. Rowe. The experimental radar station was located just northeast of the Manor, about 200 yards distant. When war was declared in September 1939, fears of a possible commando raid on the group led to the development activities being relocated, first to Dundee, Scotland, and later to Worth Matravers near Swanage in Dorset on the southern coast of England, where they became the Telecommunications Research Establishment (TRE). In the 1950s, the Bawdsey CH station was upgraded…
Visiting
The remains of the site are still fairly well preserved and will undergo restoration in 2017 due to a £1.4 million Lottery Grant.
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 51.9922, 1.4028
- County
- Suffolk
- District
- East Suffolk
- Parish
- Bawdsey
- Postcode
- IP12 3BH
- Parliamentary constituency
- Suffolk Coastal
- Phone
- 07821 162879
- Established
- 1936
- Nearest railway station
- Felixstowe — 4.6 km
- Opening
- Open April - November, 11am - 4pm (last admission 3pm)
- Official site
- www.bawdseyradar.org.uk
Sources
- wikipedia: RAF Bawdsey (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Other places nearby
Bawdsey Manor
Manor houses · 0.4 km
Bawdsey Transmitter Block Radar Museum
Museums · 0.4 km
Felixstowe Ferry Village Sign
Public art & sculpture · 1.0 km
Woodbridge Haven
Marinas · 1.0 km
Martello Tower T
Historic houses · 1.8 km
Walton Castle
Castles · 1.8 km
Bawdsey War Memorial
Memorials & monuments · 2.2 km
Felixstowe Beacon and Town Sign
Public art & sculpture · 2.3 km
Bawdsey
Museums · 2.3 km
Walton Castle
Literary houses · 2.7 km
Old Felixstowe Village Sign
Public art & sculpture · 3.4 km
Alderton Village Sign
Public art & sculpture · 3.6 km
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is RAF Bawdsey?
- RAF Bawdsey is in Suffolk, East of England, United Kingdom (postcode IP12 3BH), in the parish of Bawdsey.
- What is RAF Bawdsey?
- RAF Bawdsey — a museum in england-east, United Kingdom.
- How do I get to RAF Bawdsey?
- The nearest railway station is Felixstowe, about 4.6 km away. Drivers can use postcode IP12 3BH.
- When was RAF Bawdsey built?
- Built or established in 1936.
- Who owns RAF Bawdsey?
- RAF Bawdsey is owned by Royal Air Force.
- Is RAF Bawdsey a protected site?
- Yes — RAF Bawdsey is part of the Suffolk Coast & Heaths National Landscape (AONB).
- How do I get to RAF Bawdsey?
- The nearest railway station is Felixstowe, about 4.6 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode IP12 3BH.