We are committed to ensuring IWM London is accessible to all visitors, and hope the facilities we have introduced enhance your visit. Step-free access to the museum is via the West Entrance. If you're looking at the front of the museum, the West Entrance is located on the right hand side of the building, just past the Café entrance. For more information please follow the link to our accessibility guide below.
Museum entrance and exit
- Entry can be from either the North Entrance, or via the West Entrance, which is step free.
- The North Entrance has 9 steps leading up to the door. There are 2 handrails alongside the steps.
- Once inside, there are 3 steps up to the shop.
- The West Entrance has step-free access.
- To find the West Entrance, please turn right when you are standing in front of the building, facing the large naval guns. Then turn left and follow the path that runs alongside the building.
Entering the Museum
- For everyone's safety, all bags, rucksacks, packages and personal items may be searched before entry.
- Wheeled cases, sports equipment and large items of luggage are not allowed in the museum.
- Lockers are available by the North Entrance. A £1 coin is needed to operate the lockers (refunded).
- Please be aware, the shop does not provide small change for the lockers.
General information
- Seating is available on levels 0, 2, 3 and 5. It is also available in The Holocaust Galleries.
- A limited number of folding stools are available to borrow from the Information desk (level 0), the Second World War Galleries (level 1), The Holocaust Galleries (level 2) and the Blavatnik Art, Film and Photography Galleries (level 3).
- Please be aware that the lighting is low in the First World War Gallery
- If you have any queries or need any assistance on site, please ask. Our staff and volunteers will be more than happy to help you.
- All galleries and exhibitions have level access but there are some gentle slopes in some of the galleries
- Please ask a member of staff if you wish to use a First Aid room or require assistance.
Quiet Room
- We have a Quiet Room available on Level One which may be used for quiet reflection, to pray, to support personal management of mental health, or for those who are neuro-divergent and other sensory needs. The spaces may also be useful for people who are affected by some of the content displayed in our galleries. Please ask a member of staff or volunteer if you have any questions.
For wheelchair users and people with impaired mobility
- A limited number of manual wheelchairs are available for loan, free of charge.
- Please telephone Reception on 020 7416 5000, to reserve a wheelchair at least one week in advance.
- Those that are not pre-booked in advance will be available on a first come first served basis.
- Step-free access to the museum is via the West Entrance. If you're looking at the front of the building, the West entrance is located on the right-hand side of the building, just past the café entrance.
- All lifts in the museum are wheelchair accessible. Most lifts have braille signage.
- We have two designated parking bays for blue badge holders (located off Brook Drive, behind IWM London). Please telephone 020 7416 5000 (Monday to Friday) to reserve a space at least one week before your visit.
- You will need to let us have your car model, car registration number, estimated time of arrival to IWM London and a contact phone number so that we can book you in. All parking is subject to availability.
- A limited number of folding stools are available to borrow from the Information desk (level 0), WWII Gallery (level 1), the Holocaust Gallery (level 2) and the Blavatnik Art, Film and Photography Galleries (level 3).
- Gender neutral accessible toilets can be found on levels 0 – 3.
- Our gender-neutral Changing Places toilet can be found on level 0, close to the male public toilet. A radar key is needed to access the Changing Places toilet.
- The key can be obtained from the information desk on level 0.
- Please note that the facility is not staffed and that users must bring their own slings.
- The maximum weight limit of the hoist is 200kg. Operating instructions are displayed inside the room.
For blind and partially sighted visitors
- We are temporarily unable to provide our audio descriptive tours but one is currently being produced for the Blavatnik Art, Film and Photography Galleries and will be available on our website and Bloomberg app from April 2024.
- Information Points with tactile maps are available in the following galleries:
- One in the First World War Gallery, located at the beginning of the gallery
- Two in the Second World War Gallery, located at the beginning and halfway through the gallery
- Two in The Holocaust Gallery, located at the beginning and halfway through the gallery
- One in the Blavatnik Art, Film and Photography Galleries (level 3)
- Tactile objects and information in Braille are available in the Second World War and The Holocaust Galleries
- Large print guides are available for the First World War, Second World War, Holocaust Galleries and Blavatnik Art, Film and Photography Galleries.
For deaf and hearing impaired visitors
- Information Points that display a short introductory film in BSL are available in the following galleries:
- One in the First World War Gallery, located at the beginning of the gallery
- Two in the Second World War Gallery, located at the beginning and halfway through the gallery
- Two in The Holocaust Gallery, located at the beginning and halfway through the gallery
- One in the Blavatnik Art, Film and Photography Galleries (level 3)
- There are Induction loops and videos with BSL interpretation in the Second World War and The Holocaust Galleries.
- There are induction loops and BSL interpretation on all film (with the exception of the Art Box and silent film) in the Blavatnik Art, Film and Photography Galleries.
- Videos are accompanied with subtitles (in English) throughout the museum.
If you have any queries or would like to discuss any access issues please contact us.
Assistance animals
Assistance dogs
We welcome assistance dogs onto our sites.
Where possible please bring a relevant identification books for their assistance dogs when arriving on site. Identification types include - Assistance Dogs International (ADI), Assistance Dogs UK (ADUK) or the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF).
Owing to the nature of our sites, if you have multiple assistance dogs within your group please contact us via 020 7091 3067 or contact us to let us know in advance of your visit.
Owners are expected to take responsibility for their assistance dog throughout their visit. Whilst onsite your assistance dog should remain under your care and control, remaining on a lead or within an appropriate carrier. We also ask that all assistance dogs are visibly identifiable with a harness or badge, where possible.
Water bowls can be provided at the café.
Assistance animals other than dogs
Owing to the nature of our different sites, we need to assess the needs and health and safety of the visitor and their assistance animal. We also need to take into consideration other visitors on site and the actual collections being exhibited in our museums, before assistance animals (other than dogs) can be admitted.
Please contact us via 020 7091 3067 or contact us in advance of your visit so we can make this assessment in preparation of your visit. Otherwise, you may be required to wait while an assessment is made.
Owners are expected to take responsibility for their assistance animal throughout their visit. Whilst onsite your assistance animal should remain under your care and control throughout your visit, remaining on a lead or within an appropriate carrier. We also ask that all assistance animals are visibly identifiable with a harness or badge, where possible.
If you have any queries or would like to discuss any access issues please contact us.