IWM London in pictures

IWM London
IWM London

Formerly Bethlem Royal Hospital – or Bedlam, as it was commonly known – the building became home to the Imperial War Museum in 1936.
The Large Exhibits Gallery
The Large Exhibits Gallery

Explore some of the most important weapons and vehicles from the twentieth century, including a Spitfire that saw action in the Battle of Britain.
Trench Warfare
Trench Warfare

A defining characteristic of combat on the Western Front, trench warfare is explored in detail in our First World War Galleries.
Aircraft on Display
Aircraft on Display

Two First World War aircraft are displayed at IWM London, including a BE2c - an early two-seat reconnaissance machine.
Explore Up Close
Explore Up Close

The Large Exhibits Gallery allows visitors to get up close to all types of military equipment, from field guns to tanks.
The Art Collection
The Art Collection

View key works from our significant twentieth century art collection, including John Singer Sargent’s 'Gassed', and see contemporary artists’ responses to conflict.

Second World War Art

HMS Glorious in the Arctic, 1940, by Eric Ravilious
HMS Glorious in the Arctic, 1940, by Eric Ravilious

Eric Ravilious became one of the War Artists Advisory Committee’s first official war artists in 1940. This watercolour is typical of Ravilious in the stylised simplicity of form, as well as in the use of texture and cross-hatching for both sky and sea.
Convalescent Nurses Making Camouflage Nets, 1941, by Evelyn Dunbar
Convalescent Nurses Making Camouflage Nets, 1941, by Evelyn Dunbar

Evelyn Dunbar was commissioned to paint the experiences of the Women’s Land Army, the Auxiliary Territorial Service and the nursing services. Women adapting to unfamiliar tasks amidst the circumstances of war is a recurring theme in her paintings.
Glass-blowers 'Gathering' from the Furnace, 1943, by Mervyn Peake
Glass-blowers 'Gathering' from the Furnace, 1943, by Mervyn Peake

Glass blowers are gathering molten glass as part of the production of cathode ray oscillation tubes. By 1943 7,000 tubes were being produced each week. Mervyn Peake was fascinated by the manufacturing process and by the balletic skills of the workforce.
Southern England, 1944. Spitfires Attacking Flying-Bombs, by Thomas Monnington
Southern England, 1944. Spitfires Attacking Flying-Bombs, by Thomas Monnington

Before being employed as a war artist, Monnington had worked at the Directorate of Camouflage. In this painting, modern war machines fly through a scene taken from a Constable painting, relegating the countryside to a backdrop to their deathly conflict.
Parachute Drop, 1943, by Henry Carr
Parachute Drop, 1943, by Henry Carr

Henry Carr painted scenes of London during the blackout and undertook official portrait commissions. Later employed as a war artist, he followed Allied forces through North Africa. This painting shows paratroopers in the process of landing in Algeria.
VE-Day Celebrations Outside Buckingham Palace, 1945, by Leila Faithfull
VE-Day Celebrations Outside Buckingham Palace, 1945, by Leila Faithfull

Leila Faithfull was commissioned to paint WVS subjects in 1940. She later requested to travel to Italy, Egypt or Palestine but was declined. This work from 1945 shows civilians gathered under the trees outside Buckingham Palace, celebrating VE-Day.

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IWM London
London
Open daily 10am - 6pm
Last admission 5.45pm
Closed 24, 25 and 26 December

Admission is free
Special exhibitions may charge an admission fee
- What's On
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IWM Duxford
Cambridgeshire
Open daily

Summer 10am - 6pm
Last admission 5pm

Winter 10am - 4pm
Last admission 3pm

Closed 24, 25 and 26 December
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- Visiting Information
HMS Belfast
London
HMS Belfast is currently closed and will reopen on 18 May.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused. For further information see Visiting Information
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- Visiting Information
Churchill War Rooms
London
Open daily 9.30am - 6pm
Last admission 5pm
Closed 24, 25 and 26 December
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IWM North
Manchester
Open daily 10am - 5pm
Last admission 4.30pm
Closed 24, 25 and 26 December

Admission is free
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- Visiting Information

IWM London Contact our Events Team

The Events team at IWM London will be delighted to work with you to make your event unique and memorable. We are a flexible venue and we will endeavour to accommodate your every need.

For corporate events and conferences, please contact:

Events team, IWM London
Telephone: +44 (0)207 091 3140
Email: events@iwm.org.uk

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