Shuttleworth

Shuttleworth is an attraction that presents a house and gardens with an important collection of early aircraft. It was begun in the 1930s by the owner of the Old Warden Park estate, Richard Shuttleworth, who was a pilot, racing driver and mechanic. He rescued many old aircraft and vehicles. He died in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, but his mother Dorothy Shuttleworth continued to develop the collection. All the aircraft are kept in flying condition and the maintenance and restoration workshops are open to visitors. Hangers contain many exhibits that show the evolution of aircraft through the first half of the 20th century. The museum’s Blériot XI biplane from 1909 is the world's oldest aeroplane that still flies. Among other aircraft are an Avro 504K from 1918 and a 1941 Spitfire. Cars, motorbikes, steam engines and farm machinery of the same era are presented alongside the aircraft and kept in working order. Visitors can take rides on vintage buses.