Imperial War Museum

An excellent visit for any war historian. It has anything and everything you can imagine regarding the major 20th century conflicts.

I’ve been several times, and always find something new.

I don’t normally like the glorification of war, with heroism at the micro level overshadowed by farce and political meglomania at the macro level. However; the victoria cross room was very moving and it was hard to sneer at the individual acts of selflessness these people, and probably many more, did throughout the last few wars we’ve had. In some of the stories individuals knew they were going to die, but did it anyway to save the people around them. I’m not sure I could ever bring myself to do that – I hope I could – but I hope also that it is never called for.

I would recommend going, either for the collections of cool guns and tanks, or for the reminder that war is not to be considered anything but a last resort. They deliberitately tone it down so that children aren’t shown any of the horror. So it is a fun day for kids too.