1. © Michelle Grant / Time Out
    © Michelle Grant / Time Out
  2. Ministry of Food poster © Imperial War Museum
    Ministry of Food poster © Imperial War Museum
  3. © Jonathan Perugia / Time Out
    © Jonathan Perugia / Time Out
  4. © Imperial War Museum
    © Imperial War Museum
  5. ©Michelle Grant / Time Out
    ©Michelle Grant / Time Out
  6. © Roman Halter
    © Roman Halter
  • Museums | Military and maritime
  • Lambeth
  • Recommended

Imperial War Museum

Alex Sims
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Time Out says

What is it?

The IWM London was given a major, £30 million refit in recent years, with new 3000 square metre Holocaust and World War II galleries opening in autumn 2021 after six years of renovations. In its new, modern guise it has devoted a lot of attention to making sure the exhibits and temporary exhibitions tell a well-rounded, big picture of war, looking at the human side of conflict with a rich programme that takes in everything from war and its impact on mental health to the role soldiers from across the world played in WWI and WWII. 

Visitors to the Lambeth landmark arrive in the Central Hall, an attention- grabbing repository of major artefacts: guns, tanks and aircraft, including a Spitfire used by West Riding RAF Squadron on 57 missions, to the wreckage of a Land Rover operated by press agency Reuters on the Gaza Strip.

Extensive World War I galleries occupy the rest of the ground floor, and feature over 1300 objects encompassing weapons, uniforms, diaries, keepsakes, film and art. The new World War II galleries are even larger, displaying 1500 items, while the first floor leads into new World War II galleries. 

The museum’s third floor space is dedicated to temporary exhibitions, while the fifth floor Lord Ashcroft galleries display the world’s largest collection of Victoria Crosses alongside accounts of the individuals who earned them in a permanent display called ‘Extraordinary Heroes’.

Why go?

To get a full and rich picture of the conflicts that have shaped our world. 

Don’t miss:

On the second floor, the harrowing Holocaust galleries (not recommended from under-14s) tell the individual stories of some of the six million Jews murdered during the deadliest genocide in history via 2,000 photos, books, artworks, letters and personal objects. It‘s hard-hitting, but an essential visit. 

When to visit:

Daily 10am-6pm, peak times at weekends. 

Ticketing info:

Free, some temporary exhibitions may be ticketed.

Time Out tip:

Look out for the museum’s brilliant programme of festivals and talks. They delve into a whole rage of topics from ‘Britain’s Black Airmen’ to the ‘Ethics of Drone Warfare’. 

See more of London's best museums and discover our guide to the very best things to do in London.

Details

Address
Lambeth Rd
London
SE1 6HZ
Transport:
Tube: Lambeth North
Price:
Free
Opening hours:
Daily 10am-6pm
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What’s on

War and the Mind

‘War and the Mind’ is a major investigation into how devastating the mental consequences of war can be. It will take visitors on a journey which looks at war from a psychological perspective, how conflicts thrive on solidarity and division, and how going into battle can feel terrifying yet thrilling. It’ll all be informed by UK Research and Innovation’s projects, it promises to be moving and insightful. More details will be announced on the Imperial War Museum’s website. 

  • Military and maritime
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