IWM London is currently closed to the public. We look forward to welcoming you back when we reopen from 19 May 2021.
Tickets are available to prebook now. Opening hours: Wed – Sun, 10am – 6pm
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Read our safety information and frequently asked questions.
Book your visit to IWM London

Before you book please consider supporting IWM by becoming a member.

 

As a thank you for your support, you will enjoy free admission to our charging branches including IWM Duxford, Churchill War Rooms and HMS Belfast (when reopened).

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VISIT IWM LONDON

IWM

VISIT IWM LONDON

Reopening from 19 May 2021

See war through the eyes of the people who lived it. 
Be moved. Be inspired. Be transformed.

For a limited time only, we've extended our Refugees season. 

Explore refugee experiences throughout history and ongoing issues faced by those affected through our major exhibition Refugees: Forced to Flee. Gain a deeper understanding of what life is really like in a current refugee camp with the immersive installation Life in a Camp, and consider what immigration control will look like in the future with the participatory experience A Face to Open Doors.

Don't miss the opportunity to see History of Bombs a site-specific artwork in our iconic atrium from world-renowned artist Ai Weiwei.

Pre-book your visit to IWM London now.

Discover IWM London

  • IWM London Exterior Summer
    IWM

    Imperial War Museums is the world’s leading museum of war and conflict. Founded while the First World War was still raging, it gives voice to the extraordinary experiences of ordinary people forced to live their lives in a world torn apart by conflict.

  • Visitors explore the Atrium at IWM London, looking up at the Supermarine Spitfire suspended from the ceiling.
    © IWM

    From the moment you step into the iconic atrium, to the countless discoveries awaiting you in the award-winning galleries, IWM London examines the continuing influence of war on our world.

  • Veteran speaking to child at IWM London
    ©IWM

    Hear extraordinary true stories of ordinary people’s experiences of conflict across the museum’s six floors – stories that have the power to move, inspire and transform.

How you can help

As a charity, now more than ever IWM needs your support to ensure we can continue to tell personal stories and experiences of conflict for current and future generations to come.

An interwar Earl Haig Fund 'Remembrance Day' poppy
© IWM (EPH 2313)
Support us
Discover the many ways you can support our historically important sites and world-leading collection.
IWM Membership
Become an IWM Member
Help tell stories that deserve to be heard by supporting us as a member and uncover a host of benefits including free standard admission to Churchill War Rooms, HMS Belfast and IWM Duxford.
A Balloon Site, Coventry
© IWM (ART LD 2750)
Donate Now
Make a donation to IWM and help us to tell the stories of those affected by conflict, launch our ground-breaking exhibitions and deliver our world-class learning programmes. 

Home Learning Resources

From spies to submarines and life on the home front, Imperial War Museums is sharing unique and personal stories from our extraordinary collections. 

Poster image for episode of Adventures in History: Carers Part One
IWM
History
Media Studies
Carers - Part One
Discover how people cared for the wounded in the First World War, how they used their skills and resourcefulness to make sure the injured were cared for.
Adventures in History: D-Day - People and Planning
History
D-Day: People and Planning
Want to hear about the biggest invasion by land, sea and air in history? Discover how D-Day was planned and learn about the real people who were part of it.
Poster for Family Mission: Animal Investigators
History
Family Mission: Animal Investigators
Use your animal investigator skills to find out what roles these special animals played during wartime. 
IWM Home Learning Hub

Stories from the museum

No other museum tells stories that matter more than these.

  • Wing Commander Guy Gibson with members of his crew, July 1943.
    IWM TR 1127
    History

    From the First World War to the present day, explore our articles on war and conflict, and its impact on service personnel and civilians. 

    Browse articles
  • The Baghdad car, damaged in a car bomb attack on the book market at Al-Mutanabbi Street in central Baghdad in 2007
    © IWM
    Museum Collection

    Explore around 800,000 items online that tell the story of modern warfare and conflict, collected by the museum since 1917.

    Objects at IWM London
  • Mike, one of the veterans participating in IWM's We Were There programme
    IWM
    We Were There

    We Were There is Imperial War Museums’ remarkable programme where visitors can meet real life veterans and eyewitnesses of war. Although it’s not currently possible to meet our We Were There volunteers, you can discover more about the people behind the stories.

    Learn more

IWM stories straight to your inbox

Sign up to our eNews for fascinating stories from our collections. From warships, to love letters and camouflage trees, hear extraordinary stories of ordinary people in times of conflict. Sign up now and get 10% off online shop purchases.

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Refugees Season at IWM

Taking place at IWM London and IWM North, Refugees explores refugee experiences throughout history and ongoing issues faced by those affected through two major exhibitions, a series of events and a new site-specific art commission at IWM London from world-renowned artist Ai Weiwei.  

Crossing the Mediterranean Sea by Boat graphic
Contemporary conflict
Crossing the Mediterranean Sea by Boat
What is it like to attempt to travel across the Mediterranean Sea by boat? What do those who do so face on their journeys? Researchers for the Crossing the Mediterranean Sea by Boat project interviewed 271 people, most of whom had already crossed the Mediterranean by boat, 
A Bosnian and two Iraqi refugees imposed onto an image of Belgian refugees leaving their homes after the First World War, with the words 'why do refugees leave?'.
First World War
Why do Refugees leave their homes?
Since the First World War, countless lives have been shattered by conflict. Refugees across the globe have had to leave their homes and make journeys to settle somewhere else. This is still happening today. But what drives this displacement? Why do people leave their homes?
REFUGEES FORCED TO FLEE
© John Keane (IWM GLF 174)
REFUGEE NIGHTS: ONLINE SERIES
Refugee Nights is a series of videos filmed over three evenings in the museum exploring refugees' stories in talks, music, history and food.  
Learn more