Travelling Han

I’m a museum girl, and even for me, the Imperial War Museum (IWM) is a cut above. It’s without a doubt one of my favourite museums in the world, plus it’s free (!), making it one of the best ways to spend a day if you’re in London. I’m so lucky that I’ve visited a few times now, and each time I go I manage to find myself spending the entire day there. After my last trip back in August, I thought it was about time to write up a proper guide to help you plan a visit too!

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What is the Imperial War Museum?

The IWM is made up of six floors packed with powerful stories of modern conflict. Its exhibits are striking and interactive – presented through words, art, film and photography. It covers:

• WW1
• WW2
• The Holocaust
• Modern Conflicts (e.g. Iraq, Cyprus, Northern Ireland, Bosnia and The Cold War)
• Various Temporary Exhibits

The building in which the IWM is situated is also one of my favourites. It’s set in the grand former Bethlem Royal Hospital building, dating from 1814, and is surrounded by beautiful gardens. I love it in summer when all the roses are out!

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Visitor Information

• Open every day: 10am-6 pm, closed from December 24th to 26th.
• Entry: Free!
• Time Needed: At least 3 hours for a good amount of time. I have spent 7 hours in the museum every time I’ve visited.
• Step-free access: Available.
• Luggage: Not permitted in the museum, but lockers are available.
• Large-print guides: Available for key galleries.
• Shops: There are a couple of shops, plus a bookshop on site.
• Help on the day: Look out for friendly volunteers (in red) or head to the info desk on Level 0 for assistance or tour bookings.
• Café: There is a café serving breakfast and light lunches. I personally don’t recommend eating here – instead I head to nearby Mercato Metropolitano which offers dozens of food options and is one of my favourite lunch spots in London.

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What to See at the Imperial War Museum

WW1 Galleries

The WW1 Galleries are on the ground floor of the museum, and tell the horrific facts of the war through personal stories; voicing the experiences of soldiers, civilians and governments from all sides of the conflict.

Impactful exhibits for me included:

• The mock trench bringing to life the horrors of trench warfare.
• The vivid personal accounts of poison gas being used on the battlefield for the first time.
• Over 1,000 personal keepsakes like diaries and jewellery, brought to life with the individual stories behind them. One of the most moving for me was the Victoria Cross of Jack Cornwell who joined the Royal Navy in 1915, age 16, without his father’s permission. He ‘remained standing alone at a most exposed post’ during the Battle of Jutland, despite suffering ultimately fatal shrapnel injuries.
• The shocking statistics – did you know that Serbia lost over 60% of its male population during WW1?

WW2 Galleries

Another incredibly well told gallery, the exhibition takes you through WW2 chronologically, from the economic depression post WW1, through to the Nazis rising to power, to the events that led to war. It describes the battles, politics and social impact of “total war”.

Impactful exhibits for me included:

• A focus beyond Nazi Germany. At the same time Fascist Italy and Japan were also waging war across the globe. Learning more about the conflicts where Japan invaded China, Malaya and Hong Kong was meaningful to me.
• Learning more about the impact of the atomic bomb landing on Hiroshima.
• Reading individual stories. I was delighted to see Virginia Hall (a female spy with one leg, operating in France and saving dozens from the Nazi regime) featured. I recently read a book called A Woman of No Importance about her.

The Holocaust Gallery

My husband likes chronological facts, so finds galleries like this don’t always appeal to him. I prefer social history – reading individual stories makes history feel more real to me. There is nothing more moving to me than a personal account of suffering, and so it’s safe to say I went round this gallery with tears in my eyes. When I looked over and saw my husband was also a bit teary, I can tell you, this hits hard.

Impactful exhibits for me included:

• A single shoe, worn by a man who was murdered in cold blood, but kept by the Nazi guard who executed him.
• Photos showing a timeline of women being forced to undress, standing naked in the cold, being shot, and lying in a pile on the ground. Human cruelty knows no bounds.
• Letters from those aboard the trains taking them to the Concentration Camps, knowing they are heading to their death: “My love, I send you a very recent photograph and hope you wil keep it in my memory. I’ve received your two letters from June and July and wish you to be happy in life. I write very badly because I’m on the train that takes us far away. From afar, I kiss you tenderly and promise me to be brave”.
• The detailed photos of the Nazi collaborators’ faces; and those of their innocent victims.

Peace and Security: 1945-2014

Far from being at peace, this gallery discusses many conflicts from around the world post WW2 and up to 2014. These include a number of conflicts which have occurred during my lifetime and I knew very little about prior to my visit – the Serbia & Bosnia section was particularly moving and I learnt a lot.

• Northern Ireland
• Serbia and Bosnia
• The Cold War
• Cyprus (Turkey/Greece conflict)
• The Iraq War
• The Falklands

Other Galleries

There are numerous other galleries, which I either haven’t thought as good as the 4 main ones, or haven’t yet managed to get around to seeing!

• The Atrium – full of tanks, planes and missiles.
• Witnesses to War – Presents a powerful array of objects that physically embody the intensity and complexity of conflict. From tanks used in WW1 to Jeeps used in Gaza, it covers over 100 years of conflict told via the objects that were there.
• Blavatnik Art, Film and Photograph Galleries – showing war via images.
• The Lord Ashcroft Gallery – showcases war medals and more; closed since June 2025.

Top Tip: The Museum also hosts various talks each day, lasting roughly 30 minutes each. We attended one on the Indian Regiment during WW2 and it was fascinating. They can cover any and all topics so see if one takes your fancy on the day (just head to the Information Point on the ground floor for more info).

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So there you have it – a guide to one of my favourite museums in the world. It is definitely a heavy hitting museum, for which you have to be in the right frame of mind. That said, it’s so interesting and important to learn about. I’d recommend it to anyone visiting London. What do you think?

Thanks for reading – stay safe and happy travelling!