Historic UK airport opens to public 67 years after closure is a 'must-see'
The airport was once Britain's main international airport, but has been closed since 1959 - it has now reopened as a museum after 67 years.
After lying dormant for 67 years, Croydon Airport has thrown open its doors to the public again. Once the nation's principal international airport, it shut down permanently in 1959 and has remained vacant ever since.
Earlier this year, the airport admitted visitors for the first time as a heritage attraction. Now converted into a museum, the site enables people to discover the original terminal building on the first Sunday of each month, reports Surrey Live.. Having initially opened in 1920, Croydon Airport played a pivotal role in the advancement of aviation in the aftermath of World War 1.
The location is celebrated as the birthplace of the "Mayday" emergency call. In 1923, F.S. Mockford, Croydon's Senior Radio Officer, devised the distress signal "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday", taken from the French expression "m'aidez" ("help me").
Historic Croydon Airport stated: "'Mayday, Mayday, Mayday' was subsequently approved by the Air Ministry as the required radio procedure to be used in an emergency. In 1924, the UK promulgated its approval and use through the publication of The Air Pilot: Great Britain.
"Adopted by the International Radiotelegraph Convention of Washington in 1927, 'Mayday' became the international standard distress phrase. The 'Mayday' distress call still saves lives today."
The airport shut its doors owing to constraints that prevented it from accommodating larger planes, with its last departure taking off from the historic terminal in September 1959.
The Croydon Airport Visitor Centre has an impressive 4.6 Google rating at the time of writing.
On Tripadvisor, recent guests at the museum have been sharing their impressions, with one remarking: "Fascinating trip through the history of passenger aviation!"
Another visitor commented: "I have lived in the area all my life and even used to go to Purley Way Lido across the way from the airport as a child, and didn't know the significance of Croydon Airport.
"I was amazed how well preserved the building was, and didn't even know it had a control tower. If you are into aviation or history, it is a must-see."
Another added: "Very nice and detailed tour, highly recommended. But you will have to keep checking for the tour date as it's not year round function."
One person commented: "This local gem has great volunteers and interesting history (such As being the world’s first control tower and carrying almost half of the UK’s air passengers in 1935). The tour, photos, and signage do give an interesting view as to what it was like in the 1920s and 1930."
Finally, another said: "Great place to visit. Tour guide Micheal in the museum gave a great talk and overview. Would recommend for all ages. Visually great with so much so see. Definitely a must see for anyone who loves aviation."
