Visits and Learning Sessions

A visit to one of IWM's five branches will:

  • Develop students’ skills of historical enquiry
  • Boost their understanding of cause and consequence, chronology and historical significance
  • Explore interpretation using our unparalleled national Collections
  • Visit one of our branches: IWM London, IWM North, IWM Duxford, Churchill War Rooms or HMS Belfast.

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Visits can be self directed and incorporate investigation of our historic sites as well as exploration of a range of exhibitions and galleries.

During term time schools can also choose to include one of our learning sessions in their visit. These are curriculum-mapped for History, Art, Citizenship, Science or Literacy and involve artefact handling and evaluating evidence.

Gallery Notices

To facilitate the development of IWM’s ground-breaking new Second World War and The Holocaust Galleries, which will be opening in 2021, the Secret War and Family in Wartime galleries at IWM London have closed permanently. Please contact customer services if you have any questions.

IWM London Learning Sessions

Shoes on display in the Holocaust Exhibition
Shoes taken from concentration camp prisoners © IWM
IWM London
The Holocaust: Introduction to the Exhibition
Through discussion and reflection students will prepare to visit The Holocaust Exhibition. Students are also given an audio guide to navigate their way through a chronological narrative of the Holocaust and deepen their understanding of events in Nazi-occupied Europe and beyond.
Group of School Children on Documentary Challenge
IWM
IWM London
Documentary Challenge
This interactive session asks students to use historical enquiry skills to make a mini-documentary to question, consider, debate and evaluate sources.
Meet a Veteran at IWM
IWM London
We Were There: Ask Questions About Conflict (KS2)
This interactive session is a unique chance to meet veterans and eyewitnesses to hear real stories of conflict and build on the Key Stage 2 curriculum through a cross-curricular approach.

School visits to IWM London

  • Pupils visit IWM London galleries
    Self-Guided Visits

    A visit to IWM London may support studies of war and conflict from 1914 until the present day. Request a visit

    Read more
  • Pupils visit IWM London
    IWM
    School visits to IWM London

    Bookings are now open for school groups to visit IWM London until December 2020.

    Book now

IWM North Learning Sessions

Life in Nazi Germany young boys holding flags.
IWM North
The Holocaust: Life in Germany 1919 – 1939
Students will deepen their understanding of how political, economic and social change in Germany affected the people who lived there. 
Holocaust: People and Objects session
IWM North
The Holocaust: People and Objects
Through looking at the artefacts on display and hearing personal stories, students gain an insight into the impact of the Holocaust on survivors and their families.
Two veterans sit in front of a group of children
IWM North
We Were There: Ask Questions About Conflict KS2
This interactive session is a unique chance to meet veterans and eyewitnesses to hear real stories of conflict and build on the Key Stage 2 curriculum through a cross-curricular approach.
Group of School Children on Documentary Challenge
IWM
IWM North
Documentary Challenge: Gallery based including First World War, Second World War or post 1945
This interactive session asks students to use historical enquiry skills to make a mini-documentary to question, consider, debate and evaluate sources.
Schools Programme at Imperial War Museum North. Photographed 21st March 2018.
© IWM
IWM North
Ministry of Memory: Remembrance from The First World War to today
This interactive session investigates Remembrance and personal stories from the First World War.
Main Exhibition Space IWM North
© IWM
IWM North
Activity Trails
A series of trails have been created to help your students explore IWM North. Our trails encourage your students to look closely at some key items on display linked to a particular theme.
Two veterans sit on chairs in front of a group of school children
IWM North
We Were There: Ask Questions about Conflict (KS3)
This interactive session is a unique chance to meet veterans and eyewitnesses to hear real stories of conflict and build on the Key Stage 3 curriculum through a cross-curricular approach.

School visits to IWM North

  • A conservator with LS Lowry's Going to Work
    © IWM conservator with (Art.IWM ART LD 3074)
    Self-Guided Visits

    Explore displays on First and Second World War themes such as the Blitz, evacuation, life on the home front, rationing and trench warfare.

    Read more
  • Pupils visiting IWM North
    © IWM
    School visits to IWM North

    Bookings are now open for school groups to visit IWM North until December 2020.

    Book now

IWM Duxford Learning Sessions

Students taking part in Cold War Learning Session, Duxford
IWM
IWM Duxford
The Cold War: The Shadow of the Future
This interactive session investigates Cold War History, decision-making and consequences for Key Stage 4.
Pupils taking part in Activity Trail at IWM Duxford
IWM
IWM Duxford
Activity trails at IWM Duxford
A series of trails have been created to help your students explore IWM Duxford. Our trails encourage your students to look closely at some key items on display linked to a particular theme.
Group of School Children on Documentary Challenge
IWM
IWM Duxford
Documentary Challenge: Second World War, including the Battle of Britain and Home Front
This interactive session asks students to use historical enquiry skills to make a mini-documentary to question, consider, debate and evaluate sources.
IWM
IWM Duxford
Documentary Challenge: The Cold War
This interactive session asks students to use historical enquiry skills to make a mini-documentary to question, consider, debate and evaluate sources.
Meet a Veteran at IWM
IWM Duxford
We Were There: Ask Questions About Conflict (KS2)
This interactive session is a unique chance to meet veterans and eyewitnesses to hear real stories of conflict and build on the Key Stage 2 curriculum through a cross-curricular approach.

School visits to IWM Duxford

  • Self guided visits at IWM Duxford
    Self-Guided Visits

    Explore the former RAF fighter station that was used during both the First and Second World Wars. 

    Read more
  • Pupils on a school visit to IWM Duxford
    School Visits to IWM Duxford

    Bookings are now open for school groups to visit IWM Duxford between until December 2020.

    Book now

Churchill War Rooms Visits

  • Churchill War Rooms with exterior sign
    Self Guided Visits

    A visit to IWM Churchill War Rooms may support studies of the Second World War home front, Winston Churchill or British government and politics.

    Read more
  • Visitors looking at cases in the Churchill Museum
    School visits to Churchill War Rooms

    Bookings are now open for school groups to visit Churchill War Rooms until December 2020.

    Book now

HMS Belfast Visits

  • Visitors on the captain's deck at HMS Belfast
    HMS Belfast, Visitors on the captain's deck
    Self Guided Visits

    A visit to HMS Belfast may support studies of the Second World War, Arctic Convoys, Korean War or The River Thames.

    Read more
  • Children look out to Thames, HMS Belfast Kip in a Ship
    IWM
    Kip in a Ship

    Sleep overnight on board HMS Belfast and experience life below deck in this adventure on the River Thames. Kip in a Ship offers an exciting and affordable sleepover experience for schools or youth groups with children aged 7-18 in the heart of London.

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  • Children on Kip in a Ship night, HMS Belfast
    IWM
    School visits to HMS Belfast

    Bookings are now open for school groups to visit HMS Belfast until December 2020.

    Book now

Explore our Learning Resources

Still from the British film "The Battle of the Somme".
© IWM (Q 79501)
History
Battle of the Somme - GCSE Source Analysis Skills: Reliability & Usefulness

KS3-4

First World War

The Cemetery, Étaples, 1919 by John Lavery
© IWM (Art.IWM ART 2884)
History
Remembrance in the First World War

All ages

First World War

Photo Op by kennardphillipps
© kennardphillipps
Art
Contemporary Art and War

Academics

Contemporary conflict

More