Imperial War Museum

Museums

History and culture museums

Lambeth Rd

Imperial War Museum

Michelle Grant / Time Out
Gas mask and guns

Michelle Grant / Time Out
Imperial War Museum

Jonathan Perugia / Time Out
Tank

Jonathan Perugia / Time Out

Imperial War Museum

Michelle Grant / Time Out

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Time Out says

Fri Jan 4 2013

Located in the stately 1815 building that once housed the Bethlem Royal Hospital for the insane (aka Bedlam), the London branch of the IWM covers the history of twentieth-century conflict. The museum holds an important art collection, much of it officially commissioned during WWI and WWII, examples of the machinery of war, official communications, manuscripts of war literature and other, more personal artefacts. 'The Holocaust Exhibition' is a permanent exhibition that uses objects, film, documents, photographs and survivors' testimony to bear witness to the Nazi persecution of the Jews and other groups before and during WWII (not recommended for under-14s). The family exhibition 'A Family in Wartime' tells the story of how ordinary people braved the challenges of life at home during WWII through the eyes of the Allpress family, who lived in Stockwell, London. Visitors can explore the inside of an Anderson shelter and walk through a re-created 1940s house interior, and there are hands-on features on gas attacks, air raid precautions and wartime entertainment. Also likely to appeal to the youngsters is 'Secret War', which looks at the development of MI5 and MI6 before WWI, Cold War intelligence work, and contemporary surveillance and spying techniques and technology. There are also WWII portraits in 'People's War' and the world's largest collection of VCs, together with the stories of people who won them, in 'The Lord Ashcroft Gallery: Extraordinary Heroes'.

The museum's partial reopening in July won't include the 'large objects' (tanks, big guns and planes), but it will see the launch of three temporary exhibitions: for families, 'Horrible Histories: Spies'; war art exhibition 'The Architecture of War' (until May 5 2014); and, with a film about drones, the first instalment of a new art programme IWM Contemporary (until Sept 29 2013).

Please note: IWM London is entirely closed until July 29 2013. It then reopens in two phases, with the new WWI galleries, shops and cafe, and reconfigured atrium and large objects joining the rest of the displays in summer 2014 in time to commemorate the centenary of the Great War.

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Venue location

Address:
Imperial War Museum Lambeth Rd
London
SE1 6HZ

Phone:
020 7416 5000
Website:
www.iwm.org.uk
Opening hours:
10am-6pm daily; last admission 5.45pm
Transport:
Tube: Lambeth North
Price:
Free
Map
1. Imperial War Museum
  - Lambeth Rd
    London
    SE1 6HZ
  - 020 7416 5000
  - www.iwm.org.uk
  - 51.496009,-0.108328

Categories:
Attractions and museums. History. Military and maritime. Art. Painting. Things to do. Families
Facilities:
Eating and drinking facilities. Café. Accessible facilities. Wheelchair access. Devices for the hearing-impaired

What's on at Imperial War Museum

Horrible Histories: Spies

Children, History, Military and maritime, Things to do, Holiday activities

The museum's major exhibition for families is based on the children's book series written by Terry Deary, which is celebrating its twentieth anniversary in 2013. Visitors are immersed in a world of WWII spy-craft, including codes and cyphers, disguises,...

Mon Jul 29
– Sun Jan 4 2015
Imperial War Museum Lambeth Rd, SE1 6HZ
£6.20, £4.40 concs, £3.30 children

More info

Architecture of War

History, Military and maritime, Art, Things to do

Free

This exhibition explores how modern war has influenced and impacted on the spaces people inhabit, bringing together a selection of art from the museum's collection that ranging across the century since WWI. Highlights include work by William Orpen, Ronald...

Mon Jul 29
– Sun Apr 20 2014
Imperial War Museum Lambeth Rd, SE1 6HZ

More info

Omer Fast: Five Thousand Feet is the Best

Military and maritime, Things to do

Free

The first instalment of IWM Contemporary - the Imperial War Museum's new arts programme - this is the London première of Omer Fast's film about drone warfare. In a Las Vegas hotel, Fast interviews an operator about his experience flying predator drones...

Mon Jul 29
– Sun Sep 29
Imperial War Museum Lambeth Rd, SE1 6HZ

More info

Horrible Histories with Terry Deary

Things to do, Families, Children's books

As his best-selling series of Horrible Histories books reaches its twentieth birthday, Terry Deary comes to IWM London to talk about ghastly goings-on and foul facts. After the first event, he will be signing the latest Horrible Histories title.

Thu Aug 1
Imperial War Museum Lambeth Rd, Areas, SE1 6HZ
£8

More info

Horrible Histories with Terry Deary

Things to do, Families, Children's books

Thu Aug 1
Imperial War Museum Lambeth Rd, Areas, SE1 6HZ
£8

More info

Donovan Wylie

Photography, Things to do

Free

As part of its Contemporary Arts Programme, the museum shows work by the Belfast-born photographer Donovan Wylie, whose images explore the impact of modern military observation on the landscape and its inhabitants.

Thu Oct 10
– Sun Apr 20 2014
Imperial War Museum Lambeth Rd, SE1 6HZ

More info

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Comments & ratings

(6 ratings)

I would wait until the refurbishments are finished, all the big things are gone from the main attrium and the down stairs is closed. The holocoust exhibition is excellent and the medals gallery in the loft are both excellent. My previous visit would have been 5 star, but my kids were disappionted by the missing stuff.

Mr D Foster Wed Jan 2
Rated as: 1/5
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Excellent display and layout

Ashley Thu Dec 27 2012
Rated as: 5/5
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Amazing for anyone with the slightest hint of interest in WWI & II. The cannons and shells out front are enough to make it worth stopping by. Also has a memorable section dedicated to the Holocaust. "The Blitz Experience" is a bit dated, but the museum would be fine without it. Couldn't of been happier to spend about 4 hours there.

Nathan Fri Sep 14 2012
Rated as: 5/5
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a great afternoon out

samuel Thu Nov 3 2011
Rated as: 4/5
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Imperial War Museum

Imperial War Museum

Gas mask and guns

Imperial War Museum

Tank

Imperial War Museum

User ratings:

Time Out says

Venue location

Map

What's on at Imperial War Museum

Filter

Horrible Histories: Spies

Architecture of War

Omer Fast: Five Thousand Feet is the Best

Horrible Histories with Terry Deary

Horrible Histories with Terry Deary

Donovan Wylie

Comments & ratings

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