June 22nd 2024.
Croydon Airport holds a special place in history, with its renowned reputation and notable achievements. There's a popular joke that suggests it's so far away, one must take a flight just to get there. And believe it or not, back in the day, that was actually an option.
You see, this particular area was home to one of the most iconic airports in the UK, with a rich history filled with record-breaking firsts. However, it's no longer in use, with its glory days now a distant memory. But that doesn't take away from its significant role in the development of global air travel after World War One, making it a crucial part of early 20th century British history. In fact, it was responsible for launching the UK's very first international flights.
Despite its impressive beginnings, the airport has since been decommissioned and is no longer operational. It was built in 1920 and played a vital role during World War II, until it was unfortunately bombed in 1940 in one of the first raids in London. However, visitors now have the opportunity to explore the former airport, as it has been transformed into a museum.
This museum, known as the Croydon Airport Visitor Centre, offers free entry with the option of giving a donation of £8. It's only open to the public once a month and tickets tend to sell out quickly, so it's best to plan ahead. The next available date is July 7th, and tickets can be booked online starting from June 23rd.
Croydon Airport has much to be credited for, as it has made some remarkable achievements that have paved the way for modern airports. Notably, it introduced the concept of specialized airport technical buildings, such as the airport terminal and air traffic control tower. In fact, in 1928, it had the world's largest airport terminal and served as a departure point for groundbreaking pilots like Amy Johnson, who was the first woman to fly solo from London to Australia. It also welcomed other pioneering aviators, including Jim Mollison, Mary Bailey, and Arthur Clouston with Betty Kirby-Green.
Before British Airways, Croydon Airport was home to Britain's first national airline, Imperial Airways, and had some of the earliest routes across Europe, Asia, and Australia. And for those who aren't aviation enthusiasts, you'll still appreciate the fact that the distress call "Mayday" was established here as an international standard.
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