Join us for one of our events, from tours and talks to immersive challenges, online and on site. On sale now. From the First World War to the present day, explore our articles and videos on war and conflict, and its impact on servicemen and civilians. From spies to submarines and life on the Home Front, access unique and personal stories from our extraordinary collections through curriculum based learning videos and downloadable activities.
Explore around 800,000 items that tell the story of modern war and conflict, collected by the museum since 1917. As a charity, now more than ever IWM needs your support to ensure we can continue to tell personal stories and experiences of conflict for current and future generations to come. At IWM we are extremely proud to be a volunteer involving organisation with over 1000 volunteers across our five sites.
Explore around 800,000 items that tell the story of modern war and conflict, collected by the museum since 1917. As a charity, now more than ever IWM needs your support to ensure we can continue to tell personal stories and experiences of conflict for current and future generations to come. At IWM we are extremely proud to be a volunteer involving organisation with over 1000 volunteers across our five sites.
Services
IWM is a global authority on conflict and its impact on people's lives. We collect objects and stories that give an insight into people's experiences of war, preserve them for future generations, and bring them to today's audiences in the most powerful way possible. Our family of five museums uncover the causes, course and consequences of war, from the First World War through to present-day conflict.
The intention was to collect and display material as a record of everyone's experiences during that war - civilian and military - and to commemorate the sacrifices of all sections of society. The interest taken by the Dominion governments led to the renaming of the National War Museum to Imperial War Museum later in 1917.
IWM Volunteer Bernie served on HMS Belfast as a Radio Operator and now regularly volunteers on board, bringing the history of the ship to life by sharing his stories with visitors. Volunteers like Bernie make an essential contribution to IWM's work - and the support of our members helps ensure we can continue to tell these important stories for generations to come.
As a thank you for your support, you will enjoy free admission to our charging branches including IWM Duxford, Churchill War Rooms and HMS Belfast. See war through the eyes of the people who lived it. Be moved. Be inspired. Be transformed. Imperial War Museums is the world's leading museum of war and conflict.
Purpose-built to tell the powerful stories of over a century of war, IWM North makes full use of its extraordinary exhibition space to deliver an award-winning immersive experience. As a thank you for your support, you will enjoy free admission to our charging branches including IWM Duxford, Churchill War Rooms and HMS Belfast (when reopened).
Reviews (25)
Andrew H.
Jan 23, 2022
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Kaya Bingham
Jan 12, 2022
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This was my third visit to the Imperial War Museum in last 16 years, and as much as I kept loving it, something is not right there any more. The museum is slowly losing its authenticity in my opinion. I have seen this happening in other big museums as well. Too many gimmicks and not enough artifacts. The first World War still carries the good old, the Holocaust has lost it (and this was the main purpose of visiting the museum today - so quite disappointed).
Things to love:
- free entry
- easy access using the public transport
- beautiful entrance
- lovely staff, friendly and helpful
- lovely
Things to love:
- free entry
- easy access using the public transport
- beautiful entrance
- lovely staff, friendly and helpful
- lovely
Christopher Witt
Dec 31, 2021
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Both WW1 & WW2 exhibitions are well layed out with a broad range of items displayed. A lot of personal accounts have been included so you can understand what occurred on a human
level and not just the global changing events. Canteen not bad, bit squashed. More than enough to see in a day.... Holocaust exhibition updated to give a very human based explanation of the terrors that occurred.... Recommended.
level and not just the global changing events. Canteen not bad, bit squashed. More than enough to see in a day.... Holocaust exhibition updated to give a very human based explanation of the terrors that occurred.... Recommended.
Attila Nagy
Dec 25, 2021
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Richard L.
Nov 26, 2021
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What a great museum: the presentations were fresh and thought provoking with a nice balance between the big picture and story telling down to the personal level.
The lower level galleries (WW1, WW2 and The Holocaust) were absorbing and comprehensive - I spent at least an hour in each and could have spent a day on each level and still be unfinished.
The Peace and Security gallery was a bit thin and disconnected in my mind, with some interesting items but not a great deal of flow or context.
Unfortunately I did not have time to visit Wim Wenders' gallery or the additional space dedicated
The lower level galleries (WW1, WW2 and The Holocaust) were absorbing and comprehensive - I spent at least an hour in each and could have spent a day on each level and still be unfinished.
The Peace and Security gallery was a bit thin and disconnected in my mind, with some interesting items but not a great deal of flow or context.
Unfortunately I did not have time to visit Wim Wenders' gallery or the additional space dedicated
Alfie Hobbs
Nov 21, 2021
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Very good place. Great as always. When first getting there it was busy but then died down after a while. On entering there was no queue and entry was easy but we were advised to get tickets for the new venue and had to book a time. The new venue had a queue but it went down quickly, inside they looked lovely especially the WW2 one. Visiting the new holocaust zone was something different!
Peter Fellows
Oct 16, 2021
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Nick Gent
Sep 09, 2021
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Samantha Smithers
Aug 26, 2021
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Kevin B.
Aug 05, 2021
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The Imperial War Museum is an impressive (and free!) museum with educational exhibitions on WWI, WWII, the Cold War, and a special emphasis on the horrors of the Holocaust. The museum is spread over multiple floors and includes informational content to read, little videos, wartime machines, and more for you to browse and explore. Depending on how much you want to read, you could spend as little as 30 minutes or as much as a couple hours here.
The museum is also surrounded by a lovely garden and park, if you just want to stroll through some greenery. Overall a fun activity in Southwark if you have
The museum is also surrounded by a lovely garden and park, if you just want to stroll through some greenery. Overall a fun activity in Southwark if you have
Mark
Jul 31, 2021
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If you enjoy post first world war history, this is the museum for you! Containing various military inventions, weapons and vehicles the main hall stands tall with a German V2 missile, as well as a spitfire and Harrier Jump Jet.
Various military vehicles such as tanks, jeeps, missiles, artillery, etc are all scattered around each floor, all themed after periods in history.
A great visit for any history enthusiasts
Various military vehicles such as tanks, jeeps, missiles, artillery, etc are all scattered around each floor, all themed after periods in history.
A great visit for any history enthusiasts
Simon Rose
Jul 13, 2021
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Almost too much to see in a single visit, quite a bit of it is very depressing/ sombre/ sad, but it's very worth a visit. We booked free tickets but they didn't check, highlights were WWI and some of the uniforms from wounded soldiers, the missiles were also utterly huge. And a big collection of shells and a very depressing burnt our car rom Iraq. Nice cafe and gift shop for some memories too if you didn't take pictures. None permitted in holocaust section which was a very depressing, but very necessary part of this.
Sean M.
Nov 07, 2019
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We just happened upon this museum walking around the neighborhood our hotel was located. The massive guns in the the courtyard caught my attention so we decided to give it a look. Awesome displays of British military equipment from the modern era (WWI and up). They have a floor dedicated to the holocaust that will leave you speechless. I highly recommend visiting.
Doctor G.
Oct 20, 2019
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Opens at 10a, not 9a. Pretty good museum with a focus on WWII and the post war eras. What makes the Imperial War Museum the best is their fantastic floor wide exhibit on World War I. They did a fabulous job explaining this war that many of us have forgotten about or never learned. It's such a great exhibit, that you really don't need a guide of any sort. Just read as many of the exhibits about WWI as you can.
Stephen P.
Aug 03, 2019
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Outstanding modern museum with a range of exhibits focused on either an event or theme. A visitor doesn't need to be a military history nut -- or even know much coming in -- to thoroughly enjoy this museum. Many exhibits are interactive and engaging enough for children to enjoy, and they have additional activities at specified times.
It's in a wonderful historic building in a lovely park. And, though a donation is requested, it's free.
It's in a wonderful historic building in a lovely park. And, though a donation is requested, it's free.
Denis S.
Nov 21, 2018
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If you overlook the bus-loads of school children on field trips, this museum is really good. Well-thought-out exhibits paint a human and horrifying picture of how war has evolved since the early 20th Century.
The museum was simultaneously able to convey a sense of national pride while providing a fairly unbiased a non-machismo view of history. A line that most war museums rarely even attempt, let alone accomplish.
Worth a visit!
The museum was simultaneously able to convey a sense of national pride while providing a fairly unbiased a non-machismo view of history. A line that most war museums rarely even attempt, let alone accomplish.
Worth a visit!
Sean G.
Aug 15, 2018
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Loralye E.
May 14, 2018
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This museum was very well done and over all super cool. It had information on both world wars and the holocaust. The information was very elaborate and detailed with real ruminants of war and accurate dates. It was very cool is learn some new things and see the uniforms, cars, missed launchers,and other things solider actually used.
The information was so extensive each war got an entire floor of display space. WW1 was on floor 0, WW2 was on floor 1, I don't recall what was on floor 2 as I did not get to actually go through it. But the holocaust took up both floors 3 and 4.
There were live
The information was so extensive each war got an entire floor of display space. WW1 was on floor 0, WW2 was on floor 1, I don't recall what was on floor 2 as I did not get to actually go through it. But the holocaust took up both floors 3 and 4.
There were live
Michelle N.
May 13, 2018
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Becky T.
Apr 02, 2018
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Quentin T.
Nov 12, 2017
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A beautiful well curated museum that is a must see for anybody visiting London. I had a week to explore London while traveling abroad for my graduate program and I made it s point to check out the imperial war museum. The only comparable museum I have been to is the national ww2 museum in New Orleans, which isn't free.
A must visit for all ages and interests
A must visit for all ages and interests
Robert R.
May 17, 2017
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This was a very well done museum. The displays were very well explained and engaging. I had hoped for a bit WW II stuff, but I am a bit of a nerd for that. I wish i have a bit more time, but this can take a full day or good portion of the day.
its situated in a neighborhood with some nice grounds around it. Good place for a picnic. Its a bit off the beaten path, so a nice respite from the crowds of big ben and westminster area. I walked from Big Ben to this location, which was a bit of a haul, but manageable if you don't mind walking. Took the subway back to kensington.
its situated in a neighborhood with some nice grounds around it. Good place for a picnic. Its a bit off the beaten path, so a nice respite from the crowds of big ben and westminster area. I walked from Big Ben to this location, which was a bit of a haul, but manageable if you don't mind walking. Took the subway back to kensington.
Emily C.
Nov 30, 2016
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Simply WOW! I was blown away by this museum. The museum includes personal and official documents, photographs, film and video material, and oral history recordings; an extensive library, a large art collection, and examples of military vehicles and aircraft, equipment and other artifacts. It's a very interactive experience which engages you and helps draw you in.
There is so much to see and learn about WWI and WWII that you could spend an entire day at the museum. I was there for three hours with my parents and could have stayed longer. It's one of the best museums I've ever been
There is so much to see and learn about WWI and WWII that you could spend an entire day at the museum. I was there for three hours with my parents and could have stayed longer. It's one of the best museums I've ever been
Laura P.
Jul 17, 2016
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An AMAZING collection of artifacts arranged in evocative displays, telling the
stories of British and Imperial troop engagements from WWI-present.
We have been to many war and military museums, but few tell the stories of war with such impact as this one. The WWI exhibit impressed us the most, especially the posters and photographs. The quotes and diaries and movies from those who were there and fought in the trenches were scattered throughout the areas, evoking the terror and emotion of that awful war.
In the Blitz exhibit we got to sit in a real Anderson shelter -- they looked much bigger
stories of British and Imperial troop engagements from WWI-present.
We have been to many war and military museums, but few tell the stories of war with such impact as this one. The WWI exhibit impressed us the most, especially the posters and photographs. The quotes and diaries and movies from those who were there and fought in the trenches were scattered throughout the areas, evoking the terror and emotion of that awful war.
In the Blitz exhibit we got to sit in a real Anderson shelter -- they looked much bigger
Nicola H.
Mar 07, 2016
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As a massive ww2 geek this was on my must visit list when recently in London.
The museum is clearly signposted when you come out of the tube station and is only a short walk away.
Entry is free and there are toilets dotted all around.
Housekeeping over ... this museum is fantastic!!
We spent an hr and a half in here and only had to leave because it was closing time. I could have spent hours in here.
The ww1 exhibition is brilliant and there is a full sized trench you can wander through. I learned so much about the great war as its commonly known and the interactive displays are really easy
The museum is clearly signposted when you come out of the tube station and is only a short walk away.
Entry is free and there are toilets dotted all around.
Housekeeping over ... this museum is fantastic!!
We spent an hr and a half in here and only had to leave because it was closing time. I could have spent hours in here.
The ww1 exhibition is brilliant and there is a full sized trench you can wander through. I learned so much about the great war as its commonly known and the interactive displays are really easy
