Comprehensive Museums for WWII and British Monarchy?

The Churchill War Rooms, while an excellent and moving look at London in WII, does not really do an overview of the monarchy.

When you are planning your trip, you might also want to look at some of the London Walks tours which will provide some on the ground history of the WWII era and references to the monarchy.

Not a place but a book .... "1066 and All That", the date 1066 being the year of the Battle of Hastings.

Thank you! I should have clarified; I wasn't looking for one place that would do both things - that would be a lot of history to encompass indeed! Glad to know the War Rooms will probably be just right for learning about WWII. thanks again!

As far as getting a good history of both and of London itself visit the Museum of London. The Imperial War Museum is of interest as well.

kristina,

You shouldn't have any problems finding interesting historic sites in London for both of the subject areas you're interested in. As the others have mentioned, some places you could look at.....

• Churchill War Rooms
• Imperial War Museum
• HMS Belfast
• British Museum
• Tower of London (and the Crown Jewels - the tours with the Yeoman Warders (Beefeaters) are interesting)
• Changing of the Guard is quite a spectacle

And if you want to venture a bit further out....

• IWM Duxford
• Bletchley Park
• Tank Museum

Hi:

I am a military history buff and would add the following:

The National Army Museum in the Chelsea neighborhood. The history goes back to the 1700s. However, the museum is undergoing remodeling (so I missed it last summer) and will not reopen until 2016.

The Royal Air Force Museum is worth at least a half day. It is in, I believe, zone 4 of the tube system. They have a recreation of life in London during the Blitz. Some of the exhibited items let you get real close to them.

There are about a half dozen regimental museums in London; the most accessible ones are at the Tower of London and at Horse Guards. Here is a guide to these museums:

http://www.army.mod.uk/documents/general/National_Museums_map_2008.pdf

The English WWII experience in London is encapsulated in the word "Blitz". Google "Blitz Museum" and you will get a list of ten military museums on the Visit London website and a Britain at War Museum near London Bridge. The latter might be what you're looking for.

The Imperial War museum is spectacular and could take at least a whole day depending on how in depth you want to get.

I've been trying to remember what sites gave me the most insight into the monarchy. I think that The Tower of London is a good place to start. But, don't forget Westminster Abbey as well. Hampton Court was an eye opener for me. I've not been to Windsor, but it should be as well. Maybe a better approach would be to check out this site and see what places intrigue you.

Thank you, thank you! these are all such great recommendations! And some new places I didn't know about. It looks like our only problem is having to pare it down to one or two. I really appreciate your help! In your opinion, would Churchill's rooms or the Imperial War Museum be the most helpful/approachable for teens for the WWII overview? (or any of the others mentioned in this thread ?)

I have not been to the Imperial War Museum but to me the powerful thing about the War Rooms is you are IN the secret bunker where Churchill worked, walked, and smoked his cigars. The oral history accounts from the people who worked there are wonderful and have such an impact on me every time I listen to them.

The second thing that I find interesting are the London Walks focused on the war years.

The name 'Imperial' was a change requested in 1917. Previously it was to be called the National War Museum. A number of countries directly participated in its management and still do ( now Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka).

What about mint imperials?

Hi,

I agree with the very good suggestions above, the National Army Museum, IMW, Duxford, the War Rooms, etc,. That RAF Museum in London is located on the Tube stop Colindale. A couple more I would add, the Royal Artillery Museum and the Guards Museum near St James Park. If your itinerary includes Portsmouth, see the D-Day Museum there.

Just to clarify......

As Geor mentioned above, the National Army Museum is currently closed for renovations, so that won't be an option for touring.

The teens will ( in my opinion) like the Imperial War Museum far more.. they reopened a new WW section that is spectacular.. and moving. They will walk through a recreation of being in a trench while bombs flash over top.. they will see the "how they lived" section that shows how Londerners coped.. what they ate( ration lists and recipes) how they lived through bomb raids..etc.. a real human connection. Families split up.. neighborhoods destroyed.. but how everyone coped .. its just so interesting and I am sorry I am not doing it justice.

The section on the holocaust is moving.. I was beyond absorbed in everything I saw.

I also loved the Tower of London.. but now the Imperial War museum is my favorite.. ( definitely go to Tower though.. kids will love Beefeaters tour.. or at least it will not bore them.. its done in a humorous way..not just boring reciting of historical facts )

My boys loved the Whispering Gallery in St. Paul's. They were also moved by the American Chapel in the back of the Cathedral with a beautiful book with the names of American personnel who were stationed in UK during WWII and died during the war. I think it lists over 28,000 names, six times the number of the people in our town, really hit home for them. As Pat said, the Beefeaters tour of the Tower is great except skip out of the tour when they take you into the Chapel and discuss people who are buried there, my kids were super bored with that but the rest of the time was great.