Our Research Facilities
Explore History Centre
A drop-in facility with access to digital resources and some published reference material, our Explore History Centre at IWM London is the place to find out more about our Collections and discover the experiences of people during war and conflict.
Open Monday to Saturday, 10.00am - 5.00pm and Sunday, 11.00am - 5.00pm.
More information on opening times
Research Room
The Research Room at IWM London is our dedicated reference facility for accessing original documents, sound recordings, published items and digital resources. It is free of charge and staff will be on hand to advise you in your search.
Open Monday to Friday, 10.00am - 5.00pm.
Please request an appointment at least three days in advance. Remember to specify a date.
The Photography Archive
The IWM Photography Archive Visitors Room is open by appointment Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10.00am – 5.00pm. The Archive is located a short walk from IWM London on Austral Street, London SE11 4SJ. To make an appointment please phone +44 (0) 20 7416 5333. Please request an appointment at least three days in advance, and remember to specify a date.
Access is free of charge and staff will be on hand to advise you in your search. Visitors with special needs or disabilities are requested to mention any particular requirements they have when booking their appointment. School-age children are permitted in the Visitors Room when accompanied by an adult. Access to the Visitors Room for small school groups is also possible by prior arrangement.
The Film and Video Archive
A selection of our most popular films can now be viewed and downloaded from our beta Film Sales site. We are also investing in an on-going digitisation programme, which will continue to add new titles and new viewing platforms from which to view them.
However, in order to support and develop this offer, the Film Archive will have to reduce some of its previously offered services. Our bespoke viewing and copying service for non-commercial customers will be prioritised to support specific individuals and groups: museums, armed forces, veterans, and immediate families and students involved with the IWM Film Festival. Please contact film@iwm.org.uk if you fall into any of these categories.
Commercial clients should continue to refer to filmcommercial@iwm.org.uk.
UK National Inventory of War Memorials
An archive holding details of war memorials in the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man, the UK National Inventory of War Memorials has information about over 60,000 war memorials, including their location, type, history and the names commemorated on them. The Archive records memorials to all wars and includes memorials to civilians and animals. It also includes memorials to those who died in service as a result of accident or disease.
An online database of the Archive records can be searched at: www.ukniwm.org.uk. The research files, photographs and postcard collections can also be viewed in the Archive by appointment Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10.00am – 4.00pm
To make an appointment please phone +44 (0) 20 7207 9863/9851 or email memorials@iwm.org.uk Please check the online war memorials database at www.ukniwm.org.uk for the reference numbers of the records that you would like to view, as these will need to be taken out in advance of your visit.