Imperial War Museum

Photo of a Spitfire and Harrier in the museum — Photo by me. Not a well framed picture.

Housed in the former Bethlem Royal Hospital, of all London’s big museums the IWM feels the most misrepresented by its bombastic name.

Far from a celebration of empire, the museum does a lot to convey the grim reality of modern conflicts, covering World War 1 onwards.

Free

www.iwm.org.uk

Exhibitions

Churchill in Cartoons: Satirising a Statesman

Trace how cartoons shaped Winston Churchill’s public image, displaying pieces from his early political days to his time as Prime Minister.

★★★★★ Telegraph

Free

Until 23 Feb 25

Politics

War and the Mind

Learn about the mental strains of war through personal stories and objects, like a mitten from a British airman’s son, carried on bombing missions.

Free

Until 27 Apr 25

Conflict

Talks

My IWM: Philippe Sands

Join Philippe Sands KC and James Bulgin for an insightful look at Holocaust Galleries and a discussion on the Nuremberg Trials.

£20.00

21 Jan 25

Conflict

IWM In Conversation: Ashley Jackson

Learn how the Second World War transformed Oxford into a critical centre for military and government operations through engaging stories and first-hand accounts.

£20.00

25 Jan 25

Conflict

IWM In Conversation: Wendy Moore

Wendy Moore discusses her book on Vera ‘Jack’ Holme and Evelina Haverfield, who were suffragettes and lovers, and their work during WWI in Serbia.

£20.00

5 Feb 25

Feminism Conflict

My IWM: Helen Lederer

Join Helen Lederer for an evening about Trent Park’s WWII ‘secret listeners’ who cleverly gathered intel from German POWs.

£60.00

12 Feb 25

Conflict