Croydon Airport, once the UK's main international airport, has reopened to the public after being abandoned for 67 years. The site, which closed permanently in 1959, now operates as a museum, allowing visitors to explore the original terminal on the first Sunday of every month.
First opened in 1920, Croydon Airport played a crucial role in aviation after World War I. It is historically significant as the birthplace of the 'Mayday' distress call, created in 1923 by Senior Radio Officer F.S. Mockford. The phrase, derived from the French 'm'aidez' (help me), was later adopted internationally.
The airport closed due to expansion constraints, as it could not accommodate larger aircraft. Its final flight departed in September 1959. Recent visitors on Tripadvisor praised the museum, with one calling it a 'fascinating trip through the history of passenger aviation' and another noting the building's preservation and control tower.
