GREENHAM CONTROL TOWER: A fascinating autism friendly family attraction

Greenham Control Tower is a fascinating attraction for adventurous families and autistic kids who love all things planes!

View of Greenham Control tower

Mu autistic plane loving son enjoying the control tower's display of period aircraft

At the top of the tower in the control room

My eldest enjoying the real time feed of aircraft positions in the sky

Time to make an urgent call!

The restored control room inside Greenham Tower

GREENHAM CONTROL TOWER & CAFE

Greenham Common, Thatcham in Berkshire, England

We visited the Greenham Control Tower with our two autistic children. It was only a 10minute drive from East Ilsey - where we were staying for a long weekend.

For more information on autism and sensory friendly activities around Berkshire read my blog post Autism friendly activities for Families in Berkshire.

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WERE THE STAFF / VOLUNTEERS AT GREENHAM CONTROL TOWER FRIENDLY and WELCOMING TO OUR AUTISTIC CHILDREN?

The Greenham Control Tower site is run by a community group, and staffed largely by volunteers; the people present on the day we visited were a mixed bunch! In the display rooms there were a couple of fairly crusty volunteers from the older generation who were a bit bah humbug towards the boys. There was also another who was trying to put a new display together and seemed pretty stressed.

However the two ladies in charge of the visitor talk in control tower itself were great - very friendly and pretty relaxed about my eldest trying out the console phone and using the flight radar app on the screens. (although when he pulled up a chair and made himself comfortable in front of the computer decks she did have to call time!). To be honest I was relieved, I think he would have happily sat in that control tower, looking at the runway and watching real time plane data all day. Our youngest had already had gone off with J to have a run around outside and even I was starting to get a bit twitchy - by this point all I could think of was having a nice cup of tea and a large slice of cake in the café!

HOW ACCESSIBLE WAS GREENHAM CONTROL TOWER?

DID IT CONSIDER THE NEEDS OF AUTISTIC CHILDREN SPECIFICALLY?

The ground floor of the control tower and the café are both wheelchair accessible and they have wide doors and ramps and a wheelchair accessible toilet. Disabled parking is available, however although float it is a somewhat bumpy walk across from the car park.

They note on their website that they are a Grade 2 listed military building and they do not have a lift to the upper floor or observation desk. It is a climb of approx. 60 steps.

It has the feel of a museum that has been designed for adults by adults, and few if any concessions are made towards the child experience. However this is a bit of a niche destination, and our older son Fred LOVED the exhibits of model planes and military craft, enjoyed the maps and other displays. When planes are your special interest then obviously no 'kiddy concessions' are required.

WHAT WERE THE FACILITIES LIKE AT GREENHAM CONTROL TOWER? WERE THE FACILITIES AUTISM / ADHD / SENSORY FRIENDLY?

It is run as a community enterprise and the facilities suggest that money is thin on the ground. The interior décor and café set up is basic but functional. The tables and chairs were silver bistro in style and the noise of their clanging did reverberate through the room a bit but the boys were fine to eat their snacks inside. The cafe also had a screen showing a 360 degree view from the control tower for visitors unable to manage the stairs.

Whatever the café lacked in comfy furnishings it more than made up for with its home cooked menu. I was hugely impressed that the café sold a range of dietary inclusive products, including slices of an absolutely delicious homemade gluten free carrot cake. It is so nice when you don't have to buy one of the now ubiquitous plastic wrapped chocolate brownies!

DID WE HAVE TO QUEUE? WAS GREENHAM CONTROL TOWER BUSY?

We visited the Greenham Control Tower late in the morning on a school holiday weekend. While the common itself was pretty busy with families and dog walkers the control tower itself did not feel crowded. There were plenty of people wandering in to look around but it was all very calm and fairly peaceful (except for our youngest's loud and excitable exclamations from the outside upper observation which showed everyone else just how much fun could be had in an old military tower!).

DOES THE GREENHAM CONTROL TOWER OFFER A DISABLED CONCESSION OR FREE CARER TICKET?

The Greenham Control Tower, observation deck and café are all free to enter. It is not possible to book in advance.

Please note that their website indicates that they are currently closed on Monday and Tuesdays. Visit this page for more information.