Which museums and sites are part of Imperial War Museums?

Updated

Imperial War Museums (IWM) is one national museum spread across five sites in England: IWM London, Churchill War Rooms, HMS Belfast and IWM Duxford are all in London or just outside it, while IWM North is in Manchester. Each site has its own exhibitions, events and character, so the right one to visit depends on where you are and what you want to see.

The five IWM sites

Site Location What it is known for
IWM London London The flagship museum, with temporary exhibitions such as Childhood in War (31 July 2026 to 28 February 2027)
Churchill War Rooms London The underground wartime headquarters, with free standard admission for IWM members
HMS Belfast London A historic warship on the Thames; its exhibition Pressure: The D-Day Decision runs 21 August 2026 to 11 April 2027
IWM Duxford Duxford (near Cambridge) An airfield site that hosts events such as the Fireworks Night on 5 November 2026
IWM North Manchester The northern branch of the museum

How to choose a site

  • If you are visiting central London: IWM London, Churchill War Rooms and HMS Belfast are the three city sites. The War Rooms and HMS Belfast are the ones named in IWM's membership benefit of free standard admission, so check opening arrangements for each before you go.
  • If you want aircraft and large outdoor events: IWM Duxford is the site to pick, with its own festival programme.
  • If you are in the north of England: IWM North in Manchester saves a trip south.

What each site offers

Every site runs its own programme of tours, talks, immersive experiences and exhibitions, so a single visit will not cover the whole museum. IWM's What's On listings are organised by site, which makes it easy to check what is running at the one you plan to visit. The museum is a charity and relies on donations, membership and shop purchases to fund its exhibitions and learning programmes.

Before you go

Check the IWM website for the current exhibition dates and event schedule at your chosen site, since programmes differ and change. If you plan to visit more than one paid site, compare the cost of individual tickets with IWM membership, which includes free standard admission to Churchill War Rooms, HMS Belfast and IWM Duxford.