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Imperial War Museum London

Imperial War Museum

Discover the story of those who have lived, fought and died in conflict from the First World War to the present day. Learn about the conditions endured by First World War troops in The Trench Experience, explore the role of espionage in The Secret War, and find out about children who lived through evacuation and the Blitz in The Children’s War. Interactive displays and a changing programme of temporary exhibitions make this a fascinating and absorbing day out. The Museum also houses the acclaimed Holocaust Exhibition, and art galleries holding some of the twentieth century’s best known paintings.

Imperial War Museum London is one of five Imperial War Museum branches.

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Parking & transportCar parking
Audio commentary in foreign languagesFrench audio guide
German audio guide
Spanish audio guide
CateringFood shop
On-site café/restaurant
Provider facilitiesAudio commentary in foreign languages
Conference facilities
Toilets
Tours and demonstrationsEducational visits accepted
Booking and payment detailsGroups accepted
Solo accepted
Solo accepted
Maestro accepted
Maestro accepted
AccessibilityGuide dogs permitted
Ramp/level access
Ramp/level access
Toilets for disabled visitors

review of Imperial War Museum London

Reviewed by:

A museum dedicated to remembering the efforts and atrocities of wartimes past and present. Good stuff and very well done.


Trip Advisor ®

Traveller Rating:

4.5
Based on 35 reviews
Ranked #3

 Latest 5 reviews of Imperial War Museum London

Incredible

I made several trips to the Imperial War Museum during my ten days in London. This is an amazing museum. My thoughts: First, the presentation of vehicles and airplanes upon entry into the museum...

I made several trips to the Imperial War Museum during my ten days in London. This is an amazing museum. My thoughts:

First, the presentation of vehicles and airplanes upon entry into the museum itself (The "Large Exhibits" Gallery) is worth the price of admission alone. They range from a Sherman tank to a German V-2 rocket to a British Spitfire. As someone who used to build plastic models of many of these, I was on Cloud Nine for the first fifteen minutes of the visit.

Second, from the initial room one can branch off to several permanent displays including Galleries on the First and Second World Wars, Conflicts Since 1945, the Holocaust Exhibit, and The Secret War, which deals with espionage and covert operations. There are "walk through" displays of the Trenches in WWI and the Blitz along with countless static displays of both Wars and many other topics. Younger and older audiences alike will find something enjoyable here.

Third, if the exhibit on "Animals in War" is any indication, the folks who run this museum are perfectionsts and I can assume that any current or future exhibits would be equally as engaging.

I will be making many return visits here on future visits to London. Thanks for putting together a great museum.

P.S. My "personal story" comes from going through the interactive exhibit on the Blitz. After the virtual "bombing" was over and the school kids had stopped giggling, I noticed an elderly lady walk very slowly out of the exhibit, pausing against a wall with tears in her eyes. She told myself and the tour guide that she was a child in Glasgow during the War and that the exhibit brought back "too many memories."

 
5.0
21 November 2008
by midway42, Minnesota, USA
 

Well worth a visit!

Very interesting and informative. Great for families with free entrance and many interactive activities. I particularly enjoyed the Children's war exhibition - it was like being transported back to...

Very interesting and informative. Great for families with free entrance and many interactive activities. I particularly enjoyed the Children's war exhibition - it was like being transported back to 1942. We spent an entire afternoon here and still did not see it all.

 
5.0
5 November 2008
by Travelstar007, Co Antrim
 

Well worth a visit

Visited the IWM primarily for the "In Memorium" exhibit and could have spent the whole day here. Very impressive. The Holocaust display was very thought provoking but briliiantly done.

Visited the IWM primarily for the "In Memorium" exhibit and could have spent the whole day here. Very impressive. The Holocaust display was very thought provoking but briliiantly done.

 
5.0
3 November 2008
by KeithMajor, Bristol, England
 

Simp[ly Impressive

This museum is amazing. I wish we had budgeted more time because we simply browsed in three hours and hadly put a dent in the first two floors. If you are in to military history, plan to spend the...

This museum is amazing. I wish we had budgeted more time because we simply browsed in three hours and hadly put a dent in the first two floors. If you are in to military history, plan to spend the day. If the topic is mildly interesting to you, I would plan at least 4 hours to see the floors. We also visited the Ian Flemming collection special exhibit, which we also found fascinating (we're Bond fans though). Admission is free, but the special exhibits have entrance fees, but I also gladly donated to the museum on the way out.

 
5.0
3 September 2008
by generok, Alaska
 

A must

I had thought about visiting Madam Tussaud, but after reading the reviews I gave up. I came across this museum reading the reviews on London Attractions and I must say have not been disappointed at...

I had thought about visiting Madam Tussaud, but after reading the reviews I gave up. I came across this museum reading the reviews on London Attractions and I must say have not been disappointed at all. This museum is great and most interesting. I took my two daughters, 13 and 10, and after three hours they were so amused and found everything so interesting that they refused to take a rest at the cafe (which for them is rather unusual) and preferred to keep on enjoying the exhibition. The Holocaust section is second to none.

A must.

 
5.0
29 August 2008
by kepa, spain
 

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  1. The Childrens War Exhibition

     

    18 Mar 2005 to 1 Jan 2010

    Major display marking the 60th anniversary of VE Day showing the impact of war through the eyes of the children who lived through it.

     
  2. Imperial War Museum Exhibition

     

    Recurring event

    The Imperial War Museum has collections covering all aspects of twentieth and twenty-first century conflict involving Britain and the Commonwealth. It is also a major national art gallery, a national records archive and a research centre.

     
  3. Breakthrough Exhibition

     

    4 Mar 2008 to 31 Dec 2008

    Breakthrough is a major re-hang of the Imperial War Museum's collection of British art. The display will incorporate outstanding artworks from the official art schemes of both world wars and significant non-official and contemporary works.

     
  4. 17 Apr 2008 to 1 Mar 2009

    Delve into the mind of Ian Fleming, the man behind James Bond, at the Imperial War Museum. 17 Apr-1 Mar 09
    Video Watch the Video

     

Location Information Imperial War Museum London

Address:
Lambeth Road, London
London
SE1 6HZ
Telephone:+44 (0)20 7416 5000
Fax:+44 (0)20 7416 5374
Email:
Website:www.iwm.org.uk
Public transport:
Tube - Elephant and Castle (Bakerloo or Northern Line), Lambeth North (Bakerloo), Waterloo (Bakerloo, Jubilee or Northern Line).
Train Station – Waterloo
Bus - 1, 3, 12, 45, 53, 59, 63, 68, 100, 159, 168, 171, 172, 176,188, 344, C10.
By road:
Please follow the signs from the station.
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