The Imperial War Museum has always been one of my favourite museums and after being closed for six months, the lower floor and main atrium has been transformed to showcase new artefacts and house a new World War 1 exhibition. Costing £40m, the renovations have revealed a whole new area.
The museum was very busy when we went and the WW1 galleries are proving so popular that you have to get a timed ticket upon arrival which tells you what time you can enter the galleries to avoid overcrowding. Despite this, there were still long queues to get in at the allocated time and it was still difficult to see everything on show as there were so many people so I would like to go again when it quietens down a bit!
The WW1 galleries tell the story of the Great War in a interactive way making use of artefacts, first hand accounts and technology and even if you think you know the story, you will be surprised by how much you can still learn from a visit. It tells the story of those who fought and those left behind and is very engaging.
There is also lots to learn elsewhere in the museum - about WW2, the Holocaust (the Holocaust exhibition never fails to move me to tears as you are faced with the horrors of what happened not that long ago) and the many vehicles and planes used in war. The children visiting on the day we were there were particularly taken with the big shells and planes!
So, if you haven't been before, the Imperial War Museum London is well worth a visit - and if you haven't been for awhile, now is a great time to return and find out more about the Great War as we all commemorate the centenary. Entry is free and there's enough to keep you there for a whole day.
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