RAF Cosford Museum hosts families' first day out in months

The free entry air force museum at RAF Cosford is one of the high-profile attractions finally given the green light to reopen this week as part of the Government's ongoing relaxing of Covid restrictions.

Monday, the first day under the new rules, couldn't come soon enough for some families who made Cosford top of their lists for a family day out.

Though the spectre of Covid still looms large – pre-booking is essential to allow space, walking routes are one-way and hand sanitiser stations are ubiquitous – the familiar attractions including the impressive aircraft, the fascinating Cold War exhibition and the new Battle of Britain display still delight fans young and old.

One of the youngest enthusiasts to enjoy her visit was two-year-old Bea Barber, a plane-mad toddler who had been promised a day out by her parents Kat and Sean.

The Shrewsbury family, which also includes Bea's younger brother Fox, had never been to the museum before coronavirus, but they weren't going to miss the chance to explore and see the wide variety of planes.

"It's nice to be able to come and do normal parenting things," said a visibly-relieved Kat.

"I think it's just normal to wear masks now, we would feel weird not doing it. It's not a big deal wearing them.

"It's nice that the kids' group have started again, that's what has made the most difference to us."

Next on their wishlist is the cinema – they haven't had a chance to see a film on the big screen since Fox was born six months ago.

One of the most popular attractions is the new playground outside the museum's visitor centre. It was extensively tested before the reopening date by children from Albrighton.

On Monday, Roxann and Edward Swift took 22-month-old Charlie for a play on the airfield-inspired playing equipment.

Roxann said: "It's been great to have a bit of normality back.

"We came here just before they locked down the first time, the little one was very little then.

"We've spent so long trying to find somewhere outdoors to go, I don't mind spending some time indoors again!"

Mark and Eva Dyson came all the way from their home in Yorkshire to admire the Cold War exhibition, with Eva on a retreat in nearby Herefordshire.

Mark said: "We've never been before, it's our first time.

"It's been on our list for a long time.

"It's well-organised, I don't think the overall experience has been lessened by the restrictions. I don't feel that we've been cheated in any way!"

Barry Smith, the museum's commercial director, said: "We've been closed for five months, we're a visitor attraction– it's not the same when there's no visitors here.

"It's been busier than we expected it to be. We've had just under 500 visitors [on Monday]. Around this time of year we expect that to be around the 200 mark."

Asked whether he expects the visitor numbers to stay high, he said: "It's very difficult to predict. One thing I can say is we've got half-term coming up and it's already almost booked out.

"Certainly the family periods are very busy, kids have been locked up and it's time to get out again, and they want to make use of that.

"We expect to have a really good summer."