Croydon Airport has opened its doors again after being closed for 67 years. The airport, which was once the UK’s main international airport, closed permanently in 1959 and has been abandoned since.

Last month, Croydon Airport opened to the public for the first time as a historical attraction. The airport has been turned into a museum, and visitors can now look inside the old terminal on the first Sunday of each month. Croydon Airport first opened in 1920 and played a major role in aviation after World War 1.

The airport is known for being the place where the ‘Mayday’ emergency call originated. In 1923, F.S. Mockford, who was Croydon’s Senior Radio Officer, conceived the distress phrase “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday”, which is the phonetic equivalent of the French word “m’aidez” (“help me”).

Historic Croydon Airport said: “'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.”

Croydon Airport shut down due to expansion issues as it could not accommodate larger aircraft, with the last flight departing from the historic terminal in September 1959.

On Tripadvisor, people who recently visited the museum shared their thoughts, with one saying: "Fascinating trip through the history of passenger aviation!"

Another one said: “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.”