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

Opening Times

10am - 6pm daily.
Open every day except 24 to 26 December.
Lambeth Road, London, SE1 6HZ (view map)

IWM is a charity

Your support helps IWM to share powerful stories of war and conflict with current and future generations.

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.

  • Man and Woman stand underneath the Spitfire in the IWM London atrium
    © 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.

Permanent Display

Blavatnik Art, Film and Photography Galleries

Four visitors take in artwork in the BAFP galleries
© IWM
Permanent
IWM London

IWM’s new Blavatnik Art, Film and Photography Galleries provide a vivid account of modern war.

Showcasing the experiences and innovations of artists, filmmakers and photographers, these galleries explore the complex tension between creativity and destruction. 

Exhibitions and Installations

Spies, Lies and Deception

Image of the exhibition title, 'Spies Lies & Deception'
29 September 2023 to 14 April 2024
IWM London

Discover over 100 years of intrigue, deceit and real-life secret agents.

Spies, Lies and Deception is a free, must-see exhibition at IWM London about deception and espionage from the First World War to the present day.

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.

Volunteer Nikki in action

Volunteer with IWM

At IWM we are extremely proud to be a volunteer involving organisation with over 1000 volunteers across our five sites. Our volunteers help bring to life the stories of our collections, care for our many significant objects and promote great customer experiences.

IWM Membership

Become an IWM Member

Help tell the stories that deserve to be heard by supporting us as a member. 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. 

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. 

  • 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.

  • IWM Stories Thumbnail

    IWM Stories

    IWM Stories is a video series from the Imperial War Museums that tackles big conflict questions.

    We look at some of history's most important conflicts and examine how they were won and lost. 

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.

Explore the IWM Shop

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