Always wanted to visit this place as I am a world war II buff. First thing on entering the first floor is seen a t-34/85 tank on the floor in immaculate condition. Notice the smooth lines of the sloped armor in the front and sides of both the hull and the rotating turret large enough to hold three men, a feature of later world war II tanks.. Other features of interest include a world war II m4 Sherman American tank which was of inferior design to the t-34/85 and a higher silhouette due to its large aircraft engine in the rear. Just made it an easier Target for enemy gunners. Bovington Tank Museum has dozens of WW2 tanks on display, but is a 3 hour+ train trip from London. Various airplanes including ww2 Battle of Britain Spitfire, its German counterpart the Messerschmidt 109, long range bomber escort the north american mustang, front end of a british lancaster heavy nighttime bomber and vertical landing hawker harrier jet fighter used in the Falkland wars with Argentina. Other exhibits include a holocaust section, Victoria Cross section, the Ashcroft gallery, world war I trenches, various artillery pieces, and debris from an Afghanistan car bomb. read more

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5/5. Really incredible museum and sooo cool. Exhibits are interactive, engaging, and something new at every twist and turn. The cafe is reasonably priced and the gift shop is incredible! Will for sure be back. I think even the grounds outside are beautiful and calming. A nice easy brake from the hustle and bustle of the city. read more

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We planned on a half day but we used that up on the first two floors. Many many things about WW1 i didn't know. Next time floor 3&4. read more

Imperial War Museum - Museums Near Me - London, XGL

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Plan to spend a few hours here. The WWI exhibits will take more than an hour. So many personal items to read, admire, ponder, and imagine the impacts of the Great War. The other wars and conflicts have a few items in ear of the exhibits. The snack bar is a good one. Well worth the time and cost. read more

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The Imperial War Museum offers a journey through the history of warfare, with a particular focus on the two World Wars and their impacts on England. Exploring the vast collection of military artifacts, personal accounts, and many immersive exhibits at your fingertips. Highlights include weaponry, uniforms, and vehicles, and moving displays about the human cost of war. The museum also highlights worldwide social and cultural shifts caused by war and an area dedicated to the horrors of the holocaust. It was well worth visiting and spending a couple of hours touring. The museum offers free admission and has several shops with more reading materials. Make sure you add this museum to your list of spots to visit. Enjoy. read more

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This was a great museum. We only had an hour or so before they closed for the day as we were tight on time having moved in my sister to her dorm in Waterloo. We asked the information booth how they recommended maximising our time and the woman working was super helpful. The first floor is on WWI, second floor is WWII, and third floor is dedicated to the Holocaust. There was also a fourth floor with a temporary exhibition on Northern Ireland but we skipped that. Being a Jew whose family was directly impacted by WWII (grandmother fled Germany) I was mostly interested in the third floor which is where we spent the majority of our time. The museum is just really well done - it's a great mix of mediums in terms of videos/objects/informational plaques etc. As far as "Holocaust museums" go it was incredibly tasteful and I loved how it told the story over time (the rise of Hitler in post-depression Germany, the beginnings of Jewish ghettos, the Holocaust, post-war Germany & the Nuremberg trials etc). It was very tastefully done and I loved how it highlighted individual stories as well. Collection of antiquities/war memorabilia is thorough and well-documented. In particular I liked how the captions had in bold the key details of each item. Overall wish we had more time to explore. This is a must-see when in London. read more

Imperial War Museum - Museums Near Me - London, XGL

I reccomend 10/10 Very fun I liked the History of the museum and I like the hanging spitfire and the sea harrier Very cool place. read more

Imperial War Museum - Harrier - Museums Near Me - London, XGL

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Stopping here was part of our river cruise before it got started in Paris. We had a panoramic tour of London earlier and this was final stop. Suggest go to top floor first and walk down to view other exhibits. See photo of museum layout and what is on which floor. Each floor is focused on one aspect of UK and Commonwealth wars over many decades. We only had two hours but one can spend much more time there or come back for later visit. read more

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Excellent exhibition. Very nicely laid out and curated. Great for kids as well, even though the content can be morbid. read more

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What a hidden gem! Although the entrance may be underwhelming, don't be dissuaded. Press on! The curators do a magnificent job telling the international and human stories of both World Wars and the UK after. They have an incredible collection of military hardware, housewares and textiles, all used with pictures and film to bring to life these wars. I went with my teenage godson and he had a delightful time learning--by his own admission! Definitely worth the trip and better than paid museums I have gone to, for sure. read more

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tons of museum stuff - very informative as well about both world wars and lots of artifacts

If you enjoy History this museum has done a wonderful job of explaining, the who, the why, the way, and the waste a war creates This Classic building has large 15" battleship barrels and a slice of the Berlin wall greet you. There are several gift shops and a cafe inside the impressive building. Admission is free and donations shouldn't be a question so drop a few quid to help out. We we're focused on WW1 events with about three hours of time, Just enough. If you want to follow other wars expect to take a day in the five story labyrinth of displays, actual artifacts, video, and message boards with and without photos. The static displays we're very cool and I won't spoil it by telling you what is there or my favorites Learn the history they never told us of in school, see it for yourself Especially good for teaching our kids these days, nobody wins a war. We need to love our neighbor. Thanks for a Great day Foodguy-martin read more

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I had visited the imperial war museum when I was 11 nearly 30 years ago and it had a massive impact on me. I had always wanted to go back and finally that moment came and I was so excited about it. However I was so disappointed. I know a lot of time has passed since I last visited but it was so different, so dull and uninspiring and tame. Perhaps it's due to the times we live in where everything is deemed offensive that they have had to tone down the graphics but now it's just not genuine or impactful and it's such a shame. read more

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Came here to get my son some souvenirs because he loves history. Very nicely laid out. Entrance is free but you can make a donation. read more

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Most definitely a 5 star museum all the way, especially if you are a military history nerd and intrigued by WWI and WW2 and the Holocaust. The best thing about this museum is the ease and flow of it from the beginning of WW1 to the end of WWI on the first floor. Then the second floor with the beginning of WW2 to the end of WW2. The next floor up is the Holocaust. (A very heart piercing and heavy hearted floor) There's so much information and amazing displays of weaponry, what life was like, real artifacts, and insightful information. There's obviously a heavy emphasis on Britain's role in both wars as opposed to other countries and there version of the war (example is the War Museum in Tokyo Japan). If you take your time and soak in and absorb the information you will learn a lot. Things like what started the wars, how did the political leaders deal with it, what role did the other "minor" countries play? How did Hitler come to power and what events led to the eventual collapse of the Nazi regime. SO MUCH INFORMATION. But the Holocaust floor is hard to take in. But I was prepared for it since I visited Auschwitz last year. I knew what to expect. This museum did not have nowhere near what Auschwitz had, nevertheless it was an informative and educational section. This museum I needed 6 hours to see everything. It's a lot bigger and longer than what it looks from the outside. read more

I'm writing this review a bit late but it must be written. This was one of my must go to sites on my visit to London. I felt as of a kid going to the toy store as I am sure my wife felt the same as any parent dreading it. The museum is incredibly impressive from the outside and even more so inside. The museum is great for all who have interest in both World Wars. The first floor was full of all sorts of World War One items that I've only seen in books and some that I've never seen before. I was "running" around the museum pointing out and explaining different items to my wife's annoyance but I absolutely loved it (not annoying my wife). The second floor was just as impressive and very humbling. The areas around the war and it's effects on the population were very informative. The Holocaust section was incredibly humbling and sad but important to remember as to prevent such an act from ever happening again. I couldn't recommend a better museum. Looking forward to my next visit. read more

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They did a good job of making exhibitions interactive. I wish they had a list of key items to see like how the British museum does. There is definitely a lot to see. We spent several hours here. read more

A must for folks interested in 20th century military history. A large number of interesting displays with copious informational signs and interactive elements. It confines itself to the 20th century conflicts. There are a few mock-ups (like Little Boy...there was only one, and it was vaporized over Hiroshima). But most displays are the genuine article. Well worth the investment of time. read more

I found the IWM to be one of the best museums in London, and a must visit for history buffs! Between the artifacts, audio and video footage, and interactive elements of the museum, the exhibits were amazing. The museum consists of a five-level immersive experience. The first two floors' exhibits provide artifacts from the First and Second World Wars, the third-floor exhibits relate to the Holocaust, and the fourth floor holds rotating exhibits. When I visited, there were two special exhibits, one in honor of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, and the other an exhibition on war in video games. My favorite part of the museums were the occasional blue signs that provided insight into the lives of soldiers and citizens of the time. There is a cafe on the ground floor, and a gift shop on the first floor. The gift shop is small and doesn't have many options but is worth a stop. I spent about two hours here and wish I had more time to explore! read more

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This is a fascinating museum. We came across it by chance, but I feel very fortunate that we did. Admission is free, as with many of London's museums, so it's defintiely a great bonus if you have the time to stop by When you enter the museum, you'll be blown away by all of the wartime artifacts and exhibits. There are exhibits on WWI and WWII, as well as a moving memorial/exhibit to those lost in the Holocaust. I didn't get to spend a lot of time here, as we had somewhere else we needed to be, but I could have easily spent a few hours exploring each floor. Its incredibly informational and well organized, and I highly recommend if you're into history. read more

Imperial War Museum - Front of museum - Museums Near Me - London, XGL

I'm not into military history, my son is. So we took him and he loved this place. What I did not expect is that I, too, would be totally captivated by this museum offering an extensive display of remarkable wartime items. Several things really made an impression on me. A large metal eagle taken from the Reich Chancellery building where Adolf Hitler had an office is a stark reminder of the German Reich. A mural of Saddam Hussein taken from the town of Umm Qsar, and reassembled in the museum, is both artistically appealing and a terrifying reflection of the Iraqi dictatorship. The condition of a media jeep driven into war is simply shocking, as is the nearby vehicle destroyed by a car bomb. This is the most surprising museum in all of London and begs a visit! Tip: They have lockers to store your stuff, but there were no instructions. A local showed us how to enter a coin to turn the lock and secure our belongings. Have a coin ready! read more

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I was very impressed at the way they integrated the narratives of the Second World War with the Holocaust -- in fact, better than any other museum does. And I've been to a lot of them. I did not expect a whole floor devoted to the Holocaust itself, but they have one, very well done, and it tells the story of the Holocaust in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, including the so-called "Holocaust by bullets." I saw artifacts I've never seen before -- and again, I've seen a lot of this stuff. And I thought I was just going to indulge my Battle of Britain and Battle of the Atlantic fantasies. They beat expectations in an outstanding way. If they wanted to improve, they could face the history of Oswald Mosley and British Fascism square on. But it was a great experience. read more

Wonderful, free museum, cover so much important history. So many artifacts that were fascinating, and could have spent a whole day there if I had the time. Plan on going again. read more

Great museum if you want to get some culture on WW1 especially. They have exhibits for other wars as well but the WW1 stuff was obviously the main event. Free admission too and the area around it is very nice to sit and eat a sandwich etc. Cafe inside was very reasonable read more

Imperial War Museum - Museums Near Me - London, XGL

Free. Fantastic. Well done exhibits. Appreciated the WWI exhibit. The Holocaust exhibit is powerful but you must be prepared for it. It's heartbreaking. read more

Very knowledgeable, beautiful setting. We went at a slow time so it wasn't crowded. Learned a lot. read more

Imperial War Museum - Museums Near Me - London, XGL

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Okay I don't like history that much, but my husband does! This place was incredible, so much to see and we spent a few hours in this museum! Entrance is free too!!! Highly recommend coming here for those history lovers. They had a great cafe for lunch with a few pastries scones!l read more

This museum is excellent! If you go here, you will definitely learn more than you expected. The flow couldn't be better. There's WWI, then after that WWII and so on. It clearly shows what started the wars, the interactive display regarding WWI is brilliant. The Holocaust part is also very well done. A few years ago it showed the victims, as other holocaust memorials do, but also some of Nazis who were in charge of the death camps. There were their photos and a description of their crimes. Later on, after learning of the atrocities they participated in, there was a follow up with these individuals and what happened to them after the war. Didn't see that part this last year but it was very educational. The museums with the great paintings are very popular as well they should be, but a visit to this museum will stay with you for a long while. read more

Another worthwhile museum in London that is free to the public. At the entrance, visitors are by a pair of massive 15-inch guns that were first used in the Royal Navy back in the early 1900s. An absolute marvel to think that these guns can fire at a range of 16+ miles! Wander inside the museum and you'll find 6 floors of impressive array of different weaponry and artifacts from 20th century conflicts. One of the exhibits features a human torpedo used by the Italians during WWII. You definitely can't be claustrophobic and operate one of those at the same time. Another exhibit features a bronze eagle made for the Reich Chancellery in Berlin. It signifies the pitiful fate of the Germans during the last world war and the power of what can be achieved when nations come together toward a higher goal. read more

I was walking by this museum with my wife on our vacation and we decided to go in and check it out. I am glad that we did because this was the best museum that I have ever been to in my life. They had so many interesting things to check out and I learned a ton about World War 2 that I didn't know. I also was able to see and take pictures of some very interesting objects. This was a very pleasant surprise and I would highly recommend it to anyone and everyone. read more

Visiting London and my teenage son wanted to go to this museum. I love history myself, but the thought of visiting a museum centered on WWI and WWII wasn't totally enthralling. I could not have more wrong! From the moment you walk up to the beautiful grounds, with a cannon and warheads exhibit (both ominous and intriguing) to the museum itself, you appreciate the great tribute to educating the public this museum provides. The museum layout and contents are stellar. We were fortunate enough to be there on a day when there happened to be a book signing event for The Last Heroes by Gary Brinson-Daley. He was accompanied by one of the WWII veterans interviewed for the book. What a thrill it was to meet one of these heroes, as well as the author. Icing on the cake for our visit. This museum is beautifully and thoughtfully done. I highly recommend it. We were there only two hours and needed another two. Whether you're a history buff or not, you may find you need more time here. There were people of all ages here as well, so don't hesitate to take younger kids. Finally, entrance is free! read more

The museum itself is great - so many details and photos and stories from the wars. It's very interactive and a lot to see. I would recommend going on a weekend day if you do go to possible avoid the school groups. read more

Imperial War Museum - Museums Near Me - London, XGL

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Living a moment in History! Been several times as my Inlaws both have childhood memories of the War. My Pop-inlaw stated "we were told every day, WHEN the Germans come, ------" Not if, when. Thank you for your hard work preserving History! #templemastery read more

What a great little museum! It was a great way to spend a couple of hours. The museum is wonderfully laid out (props to the flow designer) and the technology used is fantastic. They made great use of sound, space, and projection. They even provided simulated experiences (cooling of areas, heightened sounds) to heighten the experience. We spent the most time in the heavy World War I first floor than followed up with some lighter walks through the next two floors before being guided Back through the Holocaust floor and then moved through survival and finally heroes. All together, very well out together in terms of content and flow. Of all the museums I went on during my two trips to London, this was by far my favorite. Also the most educational. Definitely recommend! read more

The Imperial War Museum is a must do if you are in London. It documents conflicts which the U K has been involved in from World War 1 forward. If you have ever watched a documentary on WW 1 or WW 2 it no doubt included archival material from the Imperial War Museum. The exhibits are exceptionally well done. There is an outstanding section on World War 1 which provides a lot of insight not only into the war itself but also the world of that era. There is also a section on the violence in Ireland about we in the US typically know little. There is also a section on the holocaust. The museum is designed to educate rather than simply display a lot of artifacts. I was there with my grand children who were 9 and 6. They seemed to enjoy the museum; however, some of the sound effects in the WW 1 exhibit frightened my 6 year old granddaughter. There is an excellent bookstore/gift shop and an acceptable cafeteria. Be prepared to spend some time here. read more

Imperial War Museum - The 15 inch guns in front of the Museum - Museums Near Me - London, XGL

This museum was amazing. Well put together and is being updated. Some of the exhibits we very moving. So much history and was just amazed of the things they brought back from all over the world. I 100 percent recommend visiting this museum even if you're not from the U.K. read more

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Really enjoyed checking out the Imperial War Museum on our recent trip to London. Lots of information about WWI and WWII, as well as a special exhibit on the Holocaust among other displays. My brother is a big history buff and was in heaven looking at all the planes, tanks, and exhibits here. The cafe downstairs was also very good. All the staff members we encountered were friendly, helpful and extremely knowledgeable when it came to the exhibits and British history. read more

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Wasn't expecting to enjoy it as much as I did. There is nothing fun about war, but it's important for everyone to learn and the setup of this museum was impressive. GREAT displays and detail. And can't beat the price! £0! read more

Winston and is cabinet is all assembled and I'm just standing behind a two way mirror listening in to the machination of WW 2. Wow, amazing. A must see. read more

Very nice WWI presentation brings it up to a 4-star experience, but the rest was mostly 3-star. Still worth your time, after you've seen the other top-notch museums. Not overcrowded; so that's a plus. read more