Inside the abandoned airport that only opens to the public once a month

It’s a joke that Croydon is so far away, you have to take a flight to get there. And back in the day, that might have been an option.

That’s because the area had one of the most iconic airports in the UK, full of history and record firsts.

Clearly no longer in use, Croydon Airport was one of the biggest flight hubs in its heyday.

London’s Croydon Airport played a major role in the development of global air travel after the First World War and has a significant place in early 20th century British history – in fact it launched the first international flights from the UK.

Despite its record beginnings, the airport is now defunct and no longer in operation.

Built in 1920, the airport was particularly relevant during the Second World War before being bombed in 1940 in one of the first raids on London.

The hub has continued to operate ever since, but closed for good in 1958 after the launch of Heathrow and Gatwick.

However, there is still a chance to look inside the former flight terminals, as it has since opened as a museum.

However, it only opens to the public once a month and places to book the museum go very quickly, so you’ll want to act fast.

Croydon Airport Visitor Center is free to enter with the option of giving an £8 donation.

The next available date is July 7 and tickets are available from June 23, which you can book online.

Airports now have a lot to thank Croydon Airport for, with the facility making some historic achievements.

Significantly, the airport introduced two types of specialist airport technical buildings to the world, including an airport terminal and an air traffic control tower, according to Historic Croydon.

In 1928 it had the largest airport terminal in the world and was the departure point for cutting-edge pilots such as Amy Johnson, who was the first woman to fly solo from London to Australia.

It also hosted other pioneering aviators including Jim Mollison, Mary Bailey and Arthur Clouston with Betty Kirby-Green.

Before the days of British Airways, Croydon Airport carried Britain’s first national airline, Imperial Airways, and had some of the first routes through Europe, Asia and Australia.

You might not be an aviation buff, but you’ll appreciate this – the invention of ‘Mayday’ as an international emergency call was first established at Croydon Airport.

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