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IWM London

4.5 (192 reviews)
Closed • 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

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Recommended Reviews - IWM London

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Erica S.

Hands down one of the best museums I've ever been to. Experience was incomparable to any other museum I've ever been to. Maybe the best museum experience of my adult life. The first floor was incredible. The WW1 exhibit was laid out in an interesting and captivating way. It took us an hour plus to go through. We also got to speak with a WWII child survivor. Not knowing who he was, he was kind and informative. Then he pulled out photos of where he lived as a child that bombs had hit. Showed us photos of where his shared room with his brother was (got destroyed), where he was hiding at the time and told his experience of meeting Pres Eisenhower later on in life. The exhibits were amazing but meeting a WWII child survivor was unforgettable. Come here, learn and experience all of the history this museum has to offer.

Main entrance of the Museum, you can't miss the 15inch guns at the right.
Bruce K.

It was all fun and cool when I started, looking at all these fabulous machines. Tanks, submarines, big guns, little guns, even a Jeep. I caught one of the free walking tours which added quite a bit of interesting background and detail. And then I went through the Holocaust Exhibit. Or should I say, I tried to go through it. I was only able to make it halfway through before I had to find an exit and some fresh air, or I would have been quite sick. The Exhibit is extremely well done with lots of video and displays that clearly drive home the German industrial efficiency that was turned on the Jews and others in an attempt to exterminate an entire race. Very vivid displays, they are not kidding when they say that kids under 11 are not permitted. Even 14 year olds, unless they are very mature, probably shouldn't be permitted. Some of it's still in my head. :-( Once I escaped from that, the rest of the museum wasn't nearly as much "fun" when you realize that these machines are designed solely to kill people. On the way out, I walked through the "Remembering Fromelles" displays. Cases and displays showing the items that have been recovered from a previously unknown mass grave in Northern France from the battle in July 1916 where 250 British and Australian soldiers were buried. Pins, buttons, badges, even a page from a Bible that was found at the site, with some passages underlined. Everyone needs to see this stuff. It's a total coincidence that this is my 666th review. "War is hell" - Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman, 1820-1891.

Probably the few exhibits that are worth seeing. Suspect they were too expensive to move.
Hesseh S.

A big dissapointment. The museum used to give very clear accounts and displays of the UK roles in the conflicts it has been involved in over the years. There is now a passable exhibition but by no means comprehensive about the first world War. The other conflicts have been barely touched upon with a few out of context exhibits. The museum now seems to be practically totally devoted to the treatment of the Jews by NAZI Germany. Its good to have that included of course but we did not actually go to war and fight the Axis powers because the Jews and others were being percescuted in fact the world wasn't even aware of the plight of the Jews until very late 1943 four years after war broke out. So where are the great displays the museum once had? Frankly I think the museum has lost sight of its actual purpose of recounting UK history in conflict.

Michelle N.

Got to get a little history into our trip to London. I've always wanted to visit the Holocaust museum to learn some more history and this was very informative.

Warships and planes and tanks, oh my!
Robin Z.

After a full and often scary career in the military, it's tough to get me to cry though I think with age it get's easier and easier. That being said (no, I didn't say "sad"), I couldn't help but cry twice here. The 1st was when I saw the Holocaust Exhibition and the Auschwitz display. I was stunned and marveled at the scale model of the infamous camp and just couldn't grasp the ferocity of hate as human-beings (men, women & children) were systematically "processed" from train disembarkation to the ovens. Absolutely horrible. Absolutely necessary. Lest we forget. http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=auschwitz&source=web&cd=4&ved=0CEwQFjAD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.auschwitz.org.pl%2F&ei=78yPUZzkEuPBigK_tIDACQ&usg=AFQjCNHG74da1K-cq5sxLMw5H9pCeH9TQg&sig2=X9NVyZWVRqsM3mDh3inJ1w&bvm=bv.46340616,d.cGE The 2nd time I cried was at the John Singer Sargent Room where a huge painting of gas-blinded young soldiers hold onto each other as they make their way to the rear. http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=john%20singer%20sargent%20gassed&source=web&cd=5&ved=0CD4QFjAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FGassed_(painting)&ei=RsqPUb6LHaGCiAK0k4HYDQ&usg=AFQjCNEf2Z5XLjPezdUPnmFCRt3G8AVTaw&sig2=diEUCi-o3QKEU-BXrV64JA&bvm=bv.46340616,d.cGE We in America, protected as we are by two vast oceans, have little case for empathy with the wars besieging the rest of the world. We usually will not get involved until the last minute. But we can get a glimpse of war's effect on England with a few hours walking among all the objects of strife here. From 1913 to the present, this museum's scope is vast and comprehensive and you will gain an appreciation for America's "isolation" and safety thanks to the Pacific & Atlantic oceans. Note: IWM London is closed until 29 July 2013.

Nicola H.

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 to use and navigate. Now onto ww2 and the holocaust. There are signs up asking you to not take photographs and i can understand why. It seems disrepectful in a way. There is so much to see and video accounts of holocaust survivors to watch and a scale model of Auschwitch all laid out. What really caught my breath was the artifacts from Sobibor ... another of the german camps. There was a massive display of shoes that were collected from Sobibor which really brought tears to my eyes. Collections of items that the inmates brought to the camp as they believed they were destined for a better life. Totally heartbreaking ... if you have any spare time whilst in London you ahave to visit this museum. It really is fantastic.

Jade C.

The Imperial War Museum was an absolute gem of a find. We happened to be staying at the Days Hotel just one block away in Lambeth. Considering visiting London so much as a youngster and over the last few years exposing my mister to British culture, I was surprised that this museum had eluded me. Upon a misty London morning, we walked down to the Imperial War Museum. The front is quite striking as two huge blue/grey cannons situated in the entrance garden. It is open daily 10-6pm and free to the public. Once inside security checks all bags (as in all museums), friendly gentlemen offer guides at £4 each which are nicely embossed and would make a great keepsake. You enter at the second floor, looking into the center which is open and stretches from floor 1-5. This large space is filled with two fighter planes suspended from the ceiling, a war tank, a rocket and military vehicle. It was so amazing and well designed. As you navigate through each floor there are plans which explain the layout, time period and exhibits. There are elements of art (posters, propaganda, toys, home layouts), artillery (explanations regarding what they did, who would operate, role in war etc), short videos on loop which broke up the flow and gave a nice interactive touch. Not all items are in cases, but obviously one respects history without the need of mauling each item. The 2nd and 3rd floor have lovely gift shops containing books, trinkets, ode to the past items, wartime posters, audiobooks, postcards etc. all items were nicely displayed and prices were typical of a London museum. The 4th floor had a private exhibit which tickets could be bought for. We skipped that and went on to the 5th floor. This was the Holocaust memorial exhibit. Needless to say it was very tastefully laid out with respect to those lost, but also enough education on Hitler's rise to power, a fatigued nations embrace of a leader promising hope, an enlightening timeline of events, propaganda, Kristallnacht, survivors stories, short videos and more. Lights were dim, all was quiet, overall a very well thought out and respectful exhibit.

Phil E.

Wow... the refurb has done this place wonders. It was a great place to visit before, but now it's fantastic, especially given that it's free. I loved: - the design of the exhibits. Great layouts within each section that tell the stories very well. This is done through a gazillion rare artefacts, sequenced perfectly with thoughtful lighting/layouts and plenty of accompanying information to read. - how interactive many of the exhibits were. They even have Microsoft Kinects so you can swipe and wave your arms through digital content. That's some high tech stuff right there. - the World War One and Holocaust exhibits in particular. They are simultaneously very interesting and an assault on the emotions, because of how thoughtfully put together they are. They will suck you in and spit you out, teaching you things that even a seasoned history nerd won't know and reminding you frankly how lucky you are to have got this far without a violent death at the hands of another. Highly recommended. Set aside 5 hours to give yourself ample time to engage with everything.

Kristen R.

My 100th review! I was saving it for a special location, and I have selected London's Imperial War Museum (IWM). I first came here in 1997 and then again in 2012, and it was every bit as fantastic as I had remembered it as a ten year old. There's no cost to get in, although donations are appreciated. There are multiple stories of exhibitions and artifacts all relating to Great Britain's involvement in war, as well as their armed services. The most haunting and evocative exhibit is the Holocaust one, which includes archival footage not suited for young children. However, there's plenty for children to enjoy, and if I can remember being awed by this museum over fifteen years ago, it's a testament to the IWM's character. At this museum, you can get up close to historical airplanes, uniforms, documents, and weaponry (all safely encased in glass!). One my favorite things to do here is to walk through a simulation of trench warfare and the blitzkrieg. Also, you can test your knowledge on military history and discover something entirely new. This is the place where I discovered a passion for learning history. This is the place I began to think about humanity and society. This is, quite possibly, my favorite place in the world. Highly recommended!

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IWM London Reviews in Other Languages

Review Highlights - IWM London

“The underground is easy to use and the Imperial War Museum is an easy ten minute stroll from the station along St.”

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The British Museum - At British Museum

The British Museum

4.6(1.3k reviews)
1.7 mi•Bloomsbury

I came here during the last timeslot of the day, 3:30 PM…read more The British museum is tailor made for someone like me. The exhibits span hundreds of years. The architecture of this museum is quite unique, especially the triangular shaped windows. The gift shop in this museum spoke to me. Everything was so cute and character themed. I wished I could've booked an earlier time slot as there was not enough time to see everything by closing time.

A lovely museum with tons of choice as far as learning about history. However, when it comes to…read moreaccessibility with a pram and a small child it leaves a little to be desired due to large crowds. The elevators are full of people who are fully capable of walking, but cannot find the stairs. There is only one toilet that has capability to change a baby but be prepared to wait more than 15 minutes to use it. (I gave up and changed mine in the pram in the corridor). I would honestly hate to be a person in a wheelchair at this museum. We purchased a cup of tea and a sweet treat at the café upstairs but as soon as we paid we realized that there was nowhere to sit. All of the rooms exit to this one area and people were just sitting at the tables who did not have any food- also, really there could've been more tables It's a large area. We sat on the floor with our tea tray and ate. The flow up the museum is just off. There is no suggested route when entering or exiting the exhibits meaning that everyone is kind of entering an exiting from a variety of rooms making it a madhouse. It's also really hard to follow the flow of an exhibit because you don't know where you were supposed to start. We reserved tickets two months in advance (for myself and my baby) But I don't know what the purpose of reserving tickets was because no one checked them and it seemed like all of London was packed inside of the building. It was impossible to even turn around in many places (even in the less popular exhibits). And this was on a Wednesday! We stayed later to see if it would thin out but by 4 o'clock given the crowds decided to call it quits. I was really excited to spend the day at this historic museum. But the amount of people made it impossible to enjoy. I would've paid to come in if it meant less people.

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The British Museum - At British Museum

At British Museum

The British Museum - British Museum_Yelp_Sanju-1

British Museum_Yelp_Sanju-1

The British Museum - British Museum_Yelp_Sanju-28

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British Museum_Yelp_Sanju-28

Garden Museum

Garden Museum

4.1(13 reviews)
0.5 mi•Vauxhall, Southwark

I'm a Landscape Designer from the United States. Finding this museum was much like finding the…read moreHoly Grail to me. When I first came here, it was the dead of Winter, so I didn't get to explore the garden. However, given that the garden is in an old Church Yard, and there are crypts scattered about; it was an awesome, albeit gloomy, sight. There were some delightfully daft exhibits up the next time I came. For instance, an exhibit of garden gnomes; one of which looked disturbingly like Tony Blair. I'm not joking, look at my posted pictures! The gift shop is also amazing.

Small museum dedicated to gardening in London. The museum is housed inside an old church, so it is…read moreworth visiting just for the architecture alone. The actual exhibit about gardening, while interesting, is quite small. In the price of admission, you get access to climb their medieval tower to see views of London from above. The staircase is very, very narrow with low ceilings. I was too claustrophobic to make it up, although they do have a video of someone climbing the stairs and showing the view, so you can see what it's like. I got a student ticket which cost me £5 and that's really as much as I'd be willing to pay to come in. It's a nice place to kill about an hour, but unless you are really into gardening, this might not be the place for you.

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Garden Museum
Garden Museum - Altes Kirchenfenster "St Mary-at-Lambeth", by plainpixel.com

Altes Kirchenfenster "St Mary-at-Lambeth", by plainpixel.com

Garden Museum

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The National Gallery - A full room of Rembrandts

The National Gallery

4.7(556 reviews)
1.3 mi•Trafalgar Square

The gallery is next to the Trafalgar Square. The gallery has multiple buildings. The visit needs…read moreabout 3 hours. Love the visit because it is free to public. Don't need reservation. The chamber art collection has Picasso, Michael Angelo, Claude Monet, Van Gogh and more. The display is comfortable for the visit.

Unlike many other art museums of similar caliber and vastness, the National Gallery has free…read moreadmission. I enjoyed walking through each of the main areas because I felt like I progressed through distinct eras of art history. If you want to rest your eyes from gazing at paintings, there is a nice balcony area that provides a view of Trafalgar Square and Big Ben in the distance. You can also grab a coffee and pastry as there's a small cafe near the main entrance. One special exhibit included the reunion of two famous impressionist paintings of La Grenouillère by Claude Monet and Pierre Auguste-Renoir. I feel fortunate to have viewed these two celebrated paintings side by side as I had learned that it's been nearly 20 years since the National Gallery reunited them in a public exhibit. Because of the significant amount of art you can view here with free admission, I'd definitely recommend visiting the National Gallery.

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The National Gallery - Portrait of G.B. Cataneo Della Volta by Van Dyck at National Gallery

Portrait of G.B. Cataneo Della Volta by Van Dyck at National Gallery

The National Gallery - Portrait of Greta Moll by Matisse in National Gallery

Portrait of Greta Moll by Matisse in National Gallery

The National Gallery - Display Gallery at National Gallery

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Display Gallery at National Gallery

Tate Britain - Inside

Tate Britain

4.5(148 reviews)
0.9 mi•Westminster
•£

I picked going to the Tate Britain over the Tate Modern because I thought it would be more…read moreaccessible, more doable, and I could only choose one. Well, wrong! This place had me occupied for several hours! I went to the Whistler exhibit and was blown away by it's depth and breath. A great spot to spend the afternoon.

Tate Britain is a museum with the collection of some great Art work. I most enjoyed the display of…read moreart works of JMW Turner. The collection being called as "JMW Turner: Rise to Fame" is a beautiful collection of different art works created over several years by the artist. The works are displayed in a certain order. Admired closely along with the notes on display, almost feels like a story being told. Post the viewing of the entire collection, we stopped by to watch the 30 mins documentary being played on the artist and his works, it feels so good and achieved coz the documentary is such a great depiction and familiarisation of those paintings, the rationale of the order of their display and the history associated. The viewing felt like I was revising my already learnt syllabus :-). After finishing the documentary, then went back to see a couple of works again as some of those had been magnified and shown to such detail in the documentary that I got even more curious to have a second look! We took so much time to watch this collection, rather admire it, that rest of the collections din seem to impress us comparatively as much and hence we spent just a couple of hours to view the rest of the series. ** we love viewing art at all the museums that we come across, be it in other locations in the UK such as the beautiful assimilation in the museums in Scotland, in Italy particularly Florence and in Rome, in Austria, in Chicago and in London!! Art is never admired enough even if one as me is not much of a painter or a sculptor themselves :-b

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Tate Britain
Tate Britain - Paintings

Paintings

Tate Britain - Modern Art

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Modern Art

Churchill War Rooms

Churchill War Rooms

4.5(258 reviews)
1.0 mi•Westminster

This was one of the highlights of our trip to England. Visiting the Churchill War Rooms, where so…read moremuch WWII war effort planning was completed was a fascinating experience. Stepping through the bunker made us feel as if we were transported back to that terrible time and feel a part of all of it. The collection of materials was immense. The preservation of the rooms and furnishings was amazing. This is an absolute must see on any visit to London.

My husband and I visited the Churchill War Rooms when we were in London for a few days about two…read moreweeks ago, and it was fascinating. The Churchill War Rooms is a museum that allows you to visit the Cabinet War Rooms, the underground complex that housed a British government command center through the Second World War. Before the War, the British government estimated that aerial bombing of London could potentially kill 200,000 individuals per week. That ended up being an overestimation, but the British government knew they would need a secure place to run the government during bombing raids. The construction of the Cabinet War Rooms is the result. The War Rooms weren't in use by many staff at all times of the War, but they were used throughout the War. Churchill hated being in the War Rooms and was reluctant to spend much time there. When you visit, you can wander through the War Rooms. You can see the Cabinet Room through glass (the room where Churchill and his advisors met with the three chiefs of Staff). You can see the Map Room, Office-Bedrooms of important staff, Clementine Churchill's room, Churchill's Office-Bedroom, and more. There's also a Churchill Museum - a fairly large museum with Churchill artifacts and that tells the whole history of Churchill's life before, after, and during the War. The Churchill War Rooms are incredible and well worth a visit for anyone interested in the Second World War or Churchill. However, I had read that the museum gets very busy and crowded. That made me nervous, because I get grumpy in crowded spaces and inevitably just run through the space without paying much attention so that I can get out of there. Then I learned that they offer an early-bird tour, a guided tour that starts before the museum opens for the day. It costs about 20 pounds more than general admission, which I think is totally worth it. Since the tour occurs before the museum opens to the public and is guided, you can see and experience the museum in a much more in-depth way. Our tour guide was incredible. I learned so much from her. After the tour, you can get a headset and then head back into the museum to see any space you missed (the Churchill Museum is not included on the tour, so we wandered back to see some of that). Our tour started at 8:30 am, and when they let the public in at 9:30, the museum became totally packed! I didn't make it much longer since I couldn't get close to much with so many people in the museum. I highly recommend the early bird guided tour. But if that's not for you, I would recommend going later in the day. If you go when they open, you'll be going in with hundreds of people. Later in the day at least admission has been staggered! There's incredible history at the Churchill War Rooms. Incredible history to see and learn about. I think almost anyone would enjoy a visit here. I highly recommend it on a trip to London.

Photos
Churchill War Rooms - Churchill War Rooms_Yelp_Sanju-1

Churchill War Rooms_Yelp_Sanju-1

Churchill War Rooms - Front door

Front door

Churchill War Rooms - Entancd

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Entancd

The London Film Museum - One of many beautiful Bond cars on display

The London Film Museum

4.0(29 reviews)
1.3 mi•Strand, Covent Garden

Came here to see the Harry Potter exhibit after walking by on our honeymoon. Despite the Queen's…read moreJubilee it was not that crowded. Staff were friendly. Wish it was a bit more in depth in some areas and immersive in others but was nice to see.

The London Film Museum is essentially the James Bond Museum, with the "Bond in Motion" exhibits…read moreoccupying the vast majority of the space. It is a rather small museum though, and even if you take the time to look at every detail, one to two hours will be more than enough. The main exhibits are the hot cars that 007 gets to drive, as well as a few other cool surprises - remember the car that turned into a submarine when it hit the water (The Spy Who Loved Me)? Or the plane with folded wings that emerged from a trailer (Octopussy)? Many of those exhibits include detailed specifications as well as videos of the scenes that highlight the vehicles. Some exhibits also play the theme songs in the background. Other memorabilia that Bond fans would love include original costumes, props, photo of backstage scenes, theatrical posters, etc. Admission is GBP14.50 (about USD18), which is rather expensive for such a small place (hence only 4 stars). But Bond fans, don't you dare say it's too expensive so you'll never go. Never Say Never Again! You Only Live Twice! You can go tomorrow since Tomorrow Never Dies. Go see it with your own Golden Eye. After all, this museum is For Your Eyes Only...

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The London Film Museum - Tacky, maybe, but I just had to...

Tacky, maybe, but I just had to...

The London Film Museum - Each car/vehicle had clips from relevant James Bond movies running in the background

Each car/vehicle had clips from relevant James Bond movies running in the background

The London Film Museum - Sketch in the upstairs exhibit

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Sketch in the upstairs exhibit

Tate Modern - Carpeted wall

Tate Modern

4.2(823 reviews)
0.9 mi•South Bank, Southwark

Tate Modern is one of the most popular art museums in the world, and #1 for modern art. With over…read more4,000,000 attendees per year, 3 of us added to the total. The museum is not necessarily huge, but it is spread over 2 buildings. We walked through most of the free galleries in a few hours. There is enough variety of contemporary and modern art to make most people happy. Plus enough pieces to challenge your brain, such as, "Is Robert Rauschenberg's Empire II wrecked car part found in a junkyard really art?" Or "A urinal laid sideways is art?" (Yes, Marcel Duchamp's conceptual Fountain is the most famous urinal!) One of my favs is Cildo Meireles' Babel, a fascinating tower of radios! A highlight of our trip to Bankside was the Millennium Bridge accessible directly from the Tate Modern. Don't miss it, a modern work of art by itself.

I visited the Tate Modern for the first time earlier this month when I visited London for a few…read moredays with my husband. The Tate opened in 2000, but a new building opened in 2016. The museum is located in the former Bankside Power Station, and the museum's Turbine Hall is an incredibly large and open space (but I did wonder why they don't utilize the space to display any large sculptures since it's such an enormous and unused space). It's a striking space, it's one of the largest museums of modern and contemporary art in the world. It's free to visit, but exhibits may have a cost unless you're a member of the museum. When we visited earlier this month, they had three exhibits: Frida: the Making of an Icon (though January 3, 2027); Ana Mendieta (through January 17, 2027); and Julio Le Parc: Light. Color. Action (through May 3, 2027). The Frida exhibit costs 25 pounds, the Mendieta 18 pounds, and the Le Parc 15 pounds. That means that if you wanted to visit all three exhibits, it would cost 58 pounds a person which is, I think, outrageous. I couldn't justify spending that much, so I picked one exhibit - the Frida exhibit - and then just explored the free galleries after our visit to the exhibit. The Frida exhibit (which was organized in collaboration was the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston) was interesting. I've been lucky enough to see much of Frida Kahlo's works before in Mexico and Texas. But the exhibit included many works I had never seen before, and it also included works by artists that were friends or contemporaries of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera and works by artists that were inspired by her. The inclusion of "Fridamania," the transformation of Kahlo into an icon, image, brand, made the exhibit different from other Frida exhibits I've seen. The exhibit was extremely crowded - but you have to expect that with an exhibit like this! I found the museum a little confusing to navigate, but we just wandered for the time that we had. Some of the works that really struck me were pieces by Gerhard Richter (the Cage paintings), Belkis Ayón, Sam Nhlengethwa, Carl-Henning Pedersen, Alberto Giacometti, David Hockney, Salman Toor, Mark Rothko, and more. The museum is definitely worth visiting, but I just didn't love it as much as I expected. Since it's free, I'm sure I'll be back to explore more of the permanent collection another time, but I did find it a little difficult to navigate and thought the exhibition admission prices were prohibitively expensive.

Photos
Tate Modern - Red Slate Circle - Richard Long, UK artist

Red Slate Circle - Richard Long, UK artist

Tate Modern
Tate Modern

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IWM London - museums - Updated November 2026

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