Imperial War Museum

Lambeth Road
London
SE1 6HZ

Nearest Tube Stations:

• Lambeth North
• Elephant & Castle
• Waterloo

General Enquiries: 020 7416 5320 or 020 7416 5321
Fax: 020 7416 5374
Email: mail@iwm.org.uk
Website: Imperial War Museum website

Open daily: 10am - 6pm
Closed: 24, 25 and 26 December.

FREE
(Special exhibitions may charge an admission fee.)

You can take a highlighted tour of Imperial War Museum's main galleries, using extracts from the Museum's Sound and Document Archives. Find out more about 40 key exhibits and listen to the experiences of the men and women who made history. The audio guides are available from the Information Desk. The full tour lasts approximately 1 hour 45 minutes. There is a small charge.

The Imperial War Museum was opened by King George V on 9 June 1920 and moved to this location from South Kensington in 1936. The building was previously Bedlam hospital, a notorious mental asylum.

Exhibits are spread over 6 floors:
LG (Lower Ground)
First World War (Highlight: Trench Experience)
Second World War (Highlight: Blitz Experience)

G (Ground floor)
Large exhibits (Highlights: A Polaris missile and five aeroplanes including a rare Mark I Spitfire are suspended below the glass domed roof.)
The Children's War
Information / Cafe / Shop

1 (First floor)
Secret War
Survival at Sea

2 (Second Floor)
Art galleries

3 (Third floor)
The Holocaust Exhibition
Not recommended for children under 14.

4 (Fourth floor)
Crimes against humanity
Not recommended for children under 16.

Masters Super Fish - Fish and Chips restaurant.

1. There are steep steps at the main entrance so if you need a level access, for example if bring a child in a buggy, go to the right of the building to the Park Entrance on the side.
2. The building is fully accessible with two main lifts (elevators) plus an extra lift dedicated to the Holocaust Exhibition.
3. On LG (Lower Ground) start on your left - The First World War - and keep to the left so you don't miss anything. It can be confusing as the exhibition winds around in little circles but follow the arrows and stay left and you won't miss anything.
4. Photography is allowed so you can have fun taking photos of the large exhibits. I found the best views are from Floor 2.
5. The shop usually has a sale at the end of a temporary exhibition so check for merchandise reductions.
6. Floor 1 has a British heavy bomber plane fuselage which you can climb through. This is a hit with the kids who will go round and round and round...
7. The Holocaust Exhibition and Crimes against humanity are both hard-hitting so be prepared to be affected. Do stop and take time to reflect as what you see can be disturbing.
8. The Cafe has children's meal and snack options. Highchairs are available at the back of the last room.
9. If the weather is good, have some time in the grounds which has a small outdoor cafe and space for kids to run around.
10. Best for kids under 10: Large exhibits and the Children War exhibition
11. Best for pre-teens: Secret War - it's all about spies
12. Best for older teenagers: Holocaust Exhibition