Museums of London Part 2 – War

Posted on 01. Feb, 2012 by James Riches in Famous Places, General, What To Do

Britain has famously become involved in a number of wars throughout history. Naturally, London has been central to these events, both as a political command centre and bearing the brunt of enemy attacks.

The two World Wars are often the primary focus. Exhibitions chart the changes between the two wars, while charismatic World War II Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill remains revered today. We have rounded up a collection of London’s best war museums below:

Imperial War Museum

Imperial War Museum

As London’s biggest and best war museum, the Imperial War Museum actually goes as far back as World War I. Indeed, it was this conflict that brought about the birth of the museum, as in 1917 the government decided it was necessary to have a place for all the artefacts related to it.

Today, the museum is conveniently located in Lambeth just south of the Thames, but when it first opened in 1920 it was outside central London in Crystal Palace. Four years later, it moved to South Kensington, before arriving at its current home in 1936.

Ironically, at the height of World War II it was forced to close. Many collections were moved outside the city, and it turned out to be just as well as a bomb hit the museum in 1941, destroying part of the naval section.

Today, the museum covers both World Wars and much more. The First World War galleries look at the reasons behind the war, as well as detailing the grim truth of the infamous trench warfare. The Second World War galleries are similar in structure, looking at everything from the D-Day landings to the American atom bombs that were dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The galleries conclude at the Gulf War of the early 1990s, but the museum is always collecting more and has exhibitions that come as far forward as current military operations in Afghanistan. With films and photography supplementing the pieces on display, the Imperial War Museum is London’s premier source of information for the world’s 20^th century wars.

The museum is open from 10am until 6pm daily, and admission is free. Some special exhibitions may require a small fee.

Cabinet War Rooms

Cabinet War Rooms

One of the finest ways to spend a day in London is to start at Buckingham Palace and wander through St James’s Park and into Westminster. However, many people will have walked straight past one of the most interesting museums in London, The Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms.

The name tells you everything you need to know; visitors can expect to walk around the very underground rooms and corridors from which Churchill and his Cabinet ran the war. Everything has been left exactly as it was at the conclusion of the war, meaning there are few more authentic historical experiences around than this.

Each fascinating room has its own story to tell and was the scene for many historic events. The Map Room was the place where combat strategies were devised, while the Transatlantic Telephone Room hosted many exchanges between Churchill and US President Roosevelt. Churchill made many of his famous wartime speeches from his personal bunker.

The War Rooms are open from 9:30am until 6pm daily, with an adult ticket costing £14.95 and children admitted free. Audio guides help you navigate the museum.

Army, Navy and Air Force

HMS Belfast

Each branch of the armed forces enjoys museums dedicated solely to them. Of course, an army is central to any war effort, and The National Army Museum aims to present an accurate account of what the army does and what army life has been like over the years.

The collection contains all manner of intriguing artefacts, including medical equipment, uniforms, weapons and even artwork. The museum is situated just behind the Royal Hospital in Chelsea; admission is free and accessible from 10am until 5:30pm every day.

HMS Belfast enjoys a fine spot on the South Bank, close to other attractions such as Tower Bridge and The Globe Theatre. The ship is closed until Easter, but when it is open it provides an excellent insight into one of the finest naval vessels Britain has ever had.

Over 24 years of service to the Royal Navy, the battle cruiser contributed to World War II and the Korean War. HMS Belfast has been a museum since 1971, and today is the last ship of its kind. Visitors can see everything from the servicemen’s personal quarters to the Engine Room and the Operations Room. An adult ticket costs £12.70, while children get in for free.

Situated on the outskirts of North London in Hendon, Royal Air Force Museum London is housed in five large buildings on the site of the famous Hendon Air Show. Over a hundred aircraft are joined by all sorts of photography and aviation artefacts to provide a complete picture of the progression of powered flight.

Aircraft from Britain, the US, Germany, Japan and France reveal all sides of some of the world’s most infamous conflicts. The museum is free to enter and open from 10am until 6pm.

Tags: Cabinet War Rooms, Churchill, HMS Belfast, Imperial War Museum, museums, National Army Museum, Royal Air Force Museum