War!
What is it good for!?
Absolutely great, iconic and genuinely child-friendly museums in London, it seems.
And yes, this can be heavy subject matter for kids. But The Imperial War Museum’s award-winning galleries shed light on the both the causes and consequences of conflict, through free temporary exhibitions and permanent displays dedicated to the two world wars, the Holocaust, and more recent episodes like The Troubles and the Iraq war. So it’s not just big guns and stuff.
And for that reason, it might not initially strike you as a child-friendly venue. Yet, it has cleverly woven elements throughout its exhibits to engage the younger, more distractible visitors. The museum’s family-friendly trails and interactive displays pretty much ensure that even the smallest attention spans are catered to – kids can clamber into a reconstructed WWI trench or peek inside a 1940s house, gaining a visceral sense of history that even the most verbose textbooks fail to deliver. The “Action Stations” in the museum invite hands-on exploration, from trying on military uniforms to handling artefacts.
The museum also runs regular family events, from storytelling sessions to craft workshops, and in a nod to modernity, the “Family Mission” app offers an engaging, scavenger hunt-style exploration of the museum’s highlights.
The Holocaust Exhibition and the Secret War sections are wisely restricted to those over 14, sparing young minds from the more harrowing aspects of history. Instead, they can marvel at the Spitfire hanging from the ceiling or the impressively intimidating tanks, safely providing a more palatable taste of wartime experiences.
So there are big guns, too.
NOTE: The Imperial War Museum is open daily from 10am-6pm, and is free to visit. You can find out more, and see what’s on, at the IWM London website.
Imperial War Museum | Lambeth Road, SE1 6HZ
Looking for more family-friendly ideas? Take a peek at these (genuinely fun) things to do with kids in London