Those with deep pockets and a passion for the world of aviation have been presented a rare opportunity to own a piece of flight history, with the entire contents of Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 1 about to go under the hammer in London.

Lots up for grabs include airport furniture, working baggage carousels, check-in desks, the terminal’s signage and clocks, and a series of large murals created in the 1950s by artist Stefan Knapp.

Auction firm CA Global Partners has described the sale as “unprecedented” and suggested that owners and designers of bars, clubs, hotels and other leisure destinations could be particularly interested in joining the bidding.

Aviation enthusiasts, collectors, former Heathrow staff and new airports in need of equipment are also expected to participate in the auction, which will take place on 21 April at the Thistle London Heathrow Terminal 5 Hotel. A six-figure sum is expected to be raised.

Rope barriers, toilet signs, lounge chairs, benches, arrivals and departures boards, an arcade gaming machine and an emergency phone are also among the items on sale, as are architectural walkways, LES lighting, security cameras, iris scanning gates, working escalators and travellators. Some lots are available to buy in a private treaty sale.

Opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1969, Terminal 1 was once the largest in Europe and cemented its place in the popular imagination during the glamorous early days of Britain’s commercial air travel boom However, its role diminished as the airport expanded, and it closed for good in June 2015 to allow for the second stage of Terminal 2's expansion.

Speaking about the forthcoming auction, CA Global's European managing partner, Daniel Gray, said: “A sale such as this, comprising the entire contents and infrastructure of an entire major airport terminal, is unprecedented, to say the least.

"Not only does this represent a rare opportunity for a young airport to fully equip a new terminal, but many of the items in this sale could be refurbished or repurposed for a variety of uses in other industries, let alone some of the historical value to many of the items.

“Some of the contents has significant historic value and there may even be elements of the furnishing that would appeal to nightclubs or other entertainment venues.”

Hospitality operators have no shortage of inspiration when it comes to planning an aviation-themed hotel.

Construction is underway on a 505-room hotel and museum at the Trans World Airlines (TWA) Flight Center at JFK International Airport, originally designed by Eero Saarinen, which will preserve its most famous interior features – including electronic schedule boards, red-carpeted departures lounge and food court.

Meanwhile, a 150-room Felix Hotel will open this year at Sydney Domestic Airport themed around the golden era of air travel.

Creative twists on the concept also include the 27-room Jumbo Stay Hotel in Stockholm, which has been built inside a 1976 Boeing 747.