tried & tested

In June, we were invited along to celebrate 60 years of Shuttleworth air shows at their first Festival of Flight Airshow, and to write a review for the website.

We're huge fans of Shuttleworth and take the boys there regularly as we have membership through the Shuttleworth Veteran Aeroplane Society.

On Airshow days, you can expect a packed agenda of entertainment and full access to everything Shuttleworth has to offer, including their huge outdoor park (we go there just for this sometimes- on non airshows days, it's free even for non members!), the hangars, beautiful Swiss Gardens, House and extensive grounds to walk around. 

The Festival of Flight was the first time this particular Airshow has been on at Shuttleworth. Across three days of entertainment, there were activities, and displays to celebrate the wonderful achievements of aviation; from the very first flight, to the astonishing technology we see today.

The Shuttleworth Collection is the proud home of a variety of airworthy aircraft, including the world's oldest aircraft and oldest British aircraft still flying today, and is just 20 minutes from where we live in Ickleford.

It is also home to a great collection of iconic racers, warbirds, civilian aircraft, and gliders that were on display for you to get up close to, explore, and in some cases, go on them.

And of course, there were amazing airshows throughout the day, with fabulous displays from visiting acts, including the Red Arrows...but more about that later!

Gates opened at 9am on the Saturday when we went along, with discovery zones, a large funfair and trade stalls all opening from 11am, so you can make a real day of it, as the event didn't close until 9pm!

Setting up camp

We arrived around 11am and went straight to the viewing area by the runway to set up our base for the day. It gets very busy as people want a good spot to see the flights, so it's a good idea to set up there first. It was a really hot day and there's not a lot of shade, so do bear this in mind- we took a pop up tent for the kids and umbrellas for the adults, as well as plenty of reusable water bottles (these can be refilled from jugs of water in the café). Camping chairs, a picnic blanket and a few toys for the kids are also a good idea- not forgetting the all-important picnic. There were plenty of food and drinks options at the airshow though- from food stalls to the café, you won't go hungry!

Time to explore

After setting down our things, we went for a wander to explore the trade stalls and hangars. In the first hangar we entered, the boys got to ride on handmade pedal planes, constructed by members of The Joystick Club. Older children could pedal independently, or for younger children there was the option to add a steering pole to the back, so you could push them round. The boys loved riding round on there and it was lovely to see the makers of the planes getting so much joy from seeing the children enjoy them. The Joystick Club also had a flight simulator, where you could pre-book a session to experience flying your very own simulator plane.

In the next hangar, we were able to enter Mark Rutherford School's portable planetarium, which the boys found amazing as they were able to explore planets and stars within.

So much to see and do

It feels like everywhere you turn, there's more to see and do, we definitely didn't get to see everything during our day there. Amongst the many activities and attractions, it was lovely to see all the vintage vehicles on display, some of which you could pay for a ride on.

Many of the smaller planes and gliders were also being moved between areas, so you could see them up close, plus there were hands-on activities like traversing an AA gun and a Discovery Zone. 

Airshow time!

At 1pm we made sure we were back at our picnic area on the viewing strip to see the Red Arrows. It was the first time I've ever seen them fly and it was honestly amazing! My pictures don't do them justice, do make sure you watch my Reel on Instagram to see them in action!

We stayed and watched many of the breath-taking displays from Shuttleworth-owned and visiting aircraft, including a Catalina, which the boys had been able to go on and explore while it was near the hangars. To see the actual plane then flying blew their minds.

All the fun of the fair

The boys had spotted the fairground as soon as we arrived and were desperate to go, so after watching some displays we headed to the fairgound. We were thrilled to discover that all the rides and attractions were included in the entry price- it was so nice to let them go on everything without trying to limit them to not bankrupting us at a normal fairground.

There was a great selection, including a Ferris Wheel, Carousel, Climbing Wall, flying planes and the usual prize-winning games- yes you could even win a prize for free. Sadly we didn't have the skills, but we had great fun trying. 

The boys get behind the wheel

At the edge of the fairground kids also had the opportunity to drive mini Landrovers round a circuit, which the boys absolutely loved!

Outdoor Cinema

Another great find was the outdoor cinema. It was getting to about 5pm now and time for a rest and some food. Between the fairground and the rear entrance to the Swiss Gardens was a beautiful outdoor cinema area with colourful deckchairs. There were showings throughout the day and we arrived just in time for Dambusters- the perfect end to the day for my husband and his dad! So the boys and I had a quick bite to end and headed in to the Swiss Garden for a wander and to cool down.

The Swiss Gardens

One of our favourite parts of Shuttleworth is the Swiss Gardens. As part of our membership, we always have access, but on airshows days everyone can enjoy the beauty of these delightful Regency and Victorian layered secluded gardens, so it's well worth having a wander round. As well as being home to resident peacocks, ducks and other wildlife, the garden contains many examples of beautifully carved animals and birds, as well as open spaces to run around (and if you're my boys- a hill to roll down!). One of the most beautiful times to see the Swiss Gardens is during the 'Shuttleworth in Lights' event that runs in November and December. You can see a Reel from our visit last year- it's well worth adding to your Christmas outings. .

Shuttleworth House

Another great inclusion in your Airshow ticket is being able to go and see Shuttleworth House. We didn't have time to go unfortunately and it was only open for part of the day, so do check timings if you want to include it in your day. Here you can explore the grand rooms of this former family home and learn about the rich history of the House through the decades since it was first built 149 years ago! 

 
Time for home

We ended our day with a portion of chips for the boys and a quick go on some more fairground rides, before we meandered back to the car.

We were kindly gifted our tickets to review Shuttleworth's Festival of Flight, but had we paid, it would have cost us £64 for 2 adults and 2 children (kids go free!), which considering so much of the entertainment was included in the price (particularly the Airshow, fairground, activities, gardens and cinema!) and the fact you can bring your own food and drink, was exceptional value for a family day out with so much entertainment, in my opinion. 

Shuttleworth has plenty more airshows to enjoy this summer, so check out the schedule- they're all on the website here.

Don't forget to watch my Reel on Instagram of our day at Festival of Flight.

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Don't forget to check out all my other Tried and Tested reviews here.

You'll also find Reels from our various days out on my Instagram page here.