National Army Museum in Chelsea

Nice museum on the history of the British Army. (Visited 6 Nov 22)Lots of interactive tid-bits for kids too, some very interesting displays (Lawrence of Arabias robes, coin that stopped a bullet etc). Interesting and good for the whole family.

It is a lovely museum well worth a visit and the staff are very nice

One of my favourite museums. It doesn’t matter how many times I have been, I love going back and seeing everything again.

I thought this was great. A free museum about the British Army - very fun and so much history!

Not crowded. There are several mini games design for children. Playgroup for kids accept reservations in advance.The Cafe fish and chips are fresh and nice.

Nice venue, great staff and some decent exhibits - especially "Foe to Friend" the story of BAOR - brought back a lot of great memories for me. However, Id specifically gone down to see the Royal Signals "showcase" - what a disappointment! 15 fairly average photos, that was it! "The Wire" publishes more and better every quarter.

The museum itself is quite large, its spread over 3 enormous floors. The information is displayed well, for instance the models, videos, and literature is presented elegantly.If you take your time and read most of the information (as opposed to simply browsing), then its possible to cover it - in about 3 hours.The reason I didnt give this review 5 stars, is because I carefully observed that the staff members were only approaching and talking to White Caucasion guests. There were quite a few Asian, Indian and black guests there (including myself), and in the 4 hours that I was present at the museum, I did not witness any staff that approached a single non-White guest.Its a shame, because the museum itself is highly intriguing, and the history is definitely worth reading up on. I just felt ignored, disregarded by staff, and most of the time I felt invisible.The cafe is quite nice, a bit pricey but the food is worth it. The catering staff were actually quite hospitable (they spoke with a European accent - Im not sure if this explains their humility).My message to senior management is to train staff about diversity, particularly those staff on the museum floors, were in the 21st century. Even the museum recognises and accepts that millions of Indians became British soldiers, and thousands of Carribean people helped the British with their battles and wars around the world (theres actually a detailed section about this in the museum, I think on the ground floor).I think much more can be done to actively recognise diversity, and to include in conversations guests who are non-white, that would be a start.

Interactive and detailed history of the British army and empire. Lots of audio and film descriptions and an excellent display of war paphernillia. Defo a must see.

Restaurant is over priced for what you get but it was pretty quite which was great. The only down side of that is we were followed by people that worked there telling us the kids could touch this or that, or touch the glass. We just left

The NAM is a wonderful museum for kids and adults alike. As someone who works with small children, its a place I can come to knowing they will have a fun time. The playbase for kids is best booked ahead of time. They have a cap on the number of people who can attend and its well set up, manned and resourced.The museum itself is very interactive with exhibits to march along to, crawl under and listen to. The uniforms are really fun for the kids to look at.The cafe is lovely and reasonably priced.

This is a great place to visit - the staff were amazing and the atmosphere relaxed - I could stare at the Waterloo items all day, mind blowing.

Have been before and both our young grandchildren loved it.Decided to take them again with a visit to the museum with an hour in “PlayBase”.My wife went on the website and booked 2 tickets at £6.25 each (plus handling feefor the 26th but immediately she got the confirmation she noticed she had entered 25th in error. Straight away (within 5 minutes of bookingshe phoned the museum and explained her error. After a short wait on hold the receptionist who answered explained that there is nothing that could be done as the tickets were “not transferable and cannot be cancelled”. My wife explained (againthat she had phoned within 5 minutes of booking the tickets and was told by the receptionist “the terms and conditions are clearly printed on the tickets”.Not very helpful when a lot of families are struggling and so as not to disappoint our grandchildren we paid another £12.50 (plus booking feefor the correct date. The original tickets wasted.

Interesting and well laid out museum close to the Royal Hospital in Chelsea. Definitely worth a visit.

An interesting museum for both kids and adults. This time I visited for a talk on section F of the SOE. They have a licenced cafe on the premises.

Wonderful museum& Nice and welcoming staff!

Medium sized museum but perfectly formed. Showcases the impressive history of The British Army. Interesting galleries. Doesnt glorify war but shows terrible mental and physical cost on the combatants. Great cafe. Toilets spotless.

Excellent cafe, we had very good salad lunch. Lovely staff throughout the museum. They couldnt have been more helpful. Thank you

Great day of research in the Templer Centre. The staff were really helpful via email beforehand and in person on the day. The museum itself has an interesting variety of galleries.

Quite nice. Good for 19th century content as the Imperial War Museum lacked any exhibitions on the Crimean War and the Zulu wars. Highlights were Wellingtons coat and Lord Raglans note that launched the Charge of the Light Brigade.

Too small. Not much to see. Poor display.The best tank was outside. 30min of visit time maybe 1h. You can no longer play in a tank simulator.

A brilliant place to visit. With two lively grandsons. The animated Sergeant Major soon had them marching to his tune!!... And they were hooked.. lots a hands-on for them to experience from assembling a machine gun to beating a drum.. and loads in between. They were fascinated by the Battle of Waterloo display and it made history come alive.The facilities were spotless and a comprehensive cafeteria made for a delicious snack.Staff were more than helpful answering questions.Definitely recommend and we will be back!!

A flagship museum displaying a unique collection that shows the heritage and history of the Army. The recent addition of the full size Challenger Tank and Lynx helicopter offer an up close experience alongside uniforms, medals and personal accounts of the soldiers that fought for their country.With easy wheelchair and pram access throughout with the #170 bus stop outside with the nearest underground station being Sloane Square.Although free to enter you will have to pre-book time slots online.Highly recommended.

Great museum. Lots of amazing exhibits and photos. Outstanding Museum, which puts the role of the Army in context of history and society. Highly recommended day out.

The National Army Museum is the British Armys central museum. It is located in the Chelsea district of central London, adjacent to the Royal Hospital Chelsea, the home of the "Chelsea Pensioners". The museum is a non-departmental public body. It is usually open to the public from 10:00am to 5:30pm, except on 25–26 December and 1 January. Admission is free.Having reopened in March 2017 following a major £23.75 million re-development project including £11.5m from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the museum houses five galleries that cover British military history from the English Civil War up to modern day.[2][3][4]This remit for the overall history of British land forces contrasts with those of other military museums in the United Kingdom concentrating on the history of individual corps and regiments of the British Army. It also differs from the subject matter of the Imperial War Museum, another national museum in London, which has a wider remit of theme (war experiences of British civilians and military personnel from all three servicesbut a narrower remit of time (after 1914).The National Army Museum was first conceived in the late 1950s, and owes its existence to the persistent hard work of Field Marshal Sir Gerald Templer, who did most of the fundraising for it.[5] It was established by Royal Charter in 1960, with the intention of collecting, preserving, and exhibiting objects and records relating to the Regular and Auxiliary forces of the British Army and of the Commonwealth, and to encourage research into their history and traditions.[6] It was initially established in 1960 in temporary accommodation at the former No.1 Riding School at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.[7]A new purpose-built building, designed in brutalist style by William Holford & Partners, was started in 1961 on a site which had previously formed part of the old infirmary of the Royal Hospital Chelsea. The new building was completed ten years later and opened by the Queen on 11 November 1971.[8]One director, Ian Robertson, initiated a programme to establish an outpost of the Museum in the garrison town of Catterick, North Yorkshire, to be known as National Army Museum North, on the model of Imperial War Museums establishment of the Imperial War Museum North in Manchester. A large site was chosen near Marne Barracks, beside the A1, and in 2002 Simon Pierce of Austin-Smith:Lord was chosen as the new museums architect.[9] However, funding and planning issues later led to the cancellation of the plan in 2003.[10] The National Army Museum instead underwent a major redevelopment of its gallery and corridor displays at Chelsea from 2006 onwards, establishing new displays in existing permanent display areas, converting the corridors from oil-painting displays to permanent-exhibition spaces, and producing new temporary and permanent display areas on the third floor. This redisplay concluded with the opening of the new permanent National Service gallery in October 2010, though a further phase of redevelopment followed from 2011 onwards.[11]

Modern museum with 3 levels to explore. Watch out for exhibitions that may be on when you visit.

A superb place to visit with so much to see and do. Our sons loved this museum, there are interactive exhibits as well as traditional displays and there is a lot packed in.This is a thoughtful museum and not one that only shows the many good things about the British Army, it also reflects accurate experiences of those in combat and what happens after service.The staff are welcoming and happy to talk and theres a really good cafe.If you have an interest in military history this is a must-visit museum and if you have kids who love games like Call of Duty then this really helps to bring reality to life with weapon and uniform displays. There is a tank, helicopter and other vehicles to get photos of too.We were very pleased we visited and will make sure to do so again soon.

Great museum. Lots of amazing exhibits and photos. Lots of vehicles, weapons and uniforms.Truly insightful to life in the Army. Well presented through centuries of war and peace keeping.The shop had some good souvenirs some on sale.

Nice visual displays with uniforms, equipment, vehicles and lots of information to read on all the displays.Laid out very nicely over several floors, directional arrows, sanitiser stations and lots of helpful friendly staff.Some of the interactive pieces are not working due to COVID restrictions.But a good way to spend a couple of hours in a free museum

Arranged a specialist tour for a group. The museum has had a great upgrade and modernisation. Many interactive displays going through the history of the Army. We then had a private visit to see items specific to the Machine Gun Corps which was really great. Uniforms and equipment with staff on hand to explain in detail.Tours have to be paid for and at least 2 weeks in advance. We didnt mind paying, we always make a donation anyway. Normal museum entry is free.Following the tour we had lunch in the cafe which is bright and airy and the food was very good with plenty of choice including for vegetarians.Id recommend a visit, get some friends and prepare to pay as a group and you will get a lot from it.

This museum is informative and enjoyable for all ages. There is plenty to do for the children and lots to fascinate adults. We took a packed lunch for the family as the cafe has good reviews, but is pricey. Free cloakroom is a real bonus; you can walk around comfortably.

Absolutely loved this museum!!! Fantastic for kids to see a bit of their history!! Found out things i didnt know, very interesting.

Very happy to have made the trip. Admission is free, and if you’re in the area, well worth your time. A visiting exhibit there currently is about £6. There are static displays of military equipment, vehicles, and weaponry. The museum also showcases the impact of the British Army on mainstream culture. Very informative and eye opening. Needs more coverage on the 1775-1783 period though ;)

New/updated with a lot of new details on few floors.Kids love it, especially WWII tank shooting range simulation and Queens Guard red uniform fitting...For adults a lot of weapons old and new, etc.... will be back!!

Great and interactive museum for all ages. Shows the history and purpose of the British army, loads of pictures and original items that make history more tangible. Especially the costumes and games were fun! There’s also a restaurant and a shop for souvenirs. And the best part: no entry fee, it’s free!!

Worth a visit for young and old. Beautifully presented exhibition with artifacts from the army, ranging from 1600 until today.Highlight were the Women in the Army session and the guard post costumes.The museum is free for entry and sons across 3 floors. You can easily spend 2 hours there. Also, there is a cafeteria inside

I love this place. great soft play. interactive exhibitions beautiful cafe. I would say its great for kids. And adults will find it interesting as well.

I visited the museum mainly for viewing 2nd Wolrd War poster exhibition designed by Abram Games, very impressive, creative artworks. Other objects and area in the museum are free to view, interactive parts are particularly interesting, great for family/kids. Recommend to operate the tank and its machine guns! :)

This is a museum that focuses on the history of the British Army and British military history. The British Army largely covers the period from the Civil War to the present day, most notably the Afghan Campaign.Much of the information is in easily digestible chunks, especially for children. Perhaps a little too shallow for an adult, but still informative. Much of the exhibits revolve around uniforms, arms and equipment used by the army. As per the previous observation, theres no in depth discussion about specific campaigns or wars, except I think for the Malaya emergency.Another fantastic feature of the museum is the number of interactive exhibits available. The one on the Battle of Waterloo is not to be missed. I thought the best exhibits were the personal testimonies from the soldiers themselves about their experiences. It really brings a human touch to an abstract and far away war.I think the museum runs occasional exhibits and on the day of the visit there was one on "The art of persuasion: Wartime posters by Abram Games". This is an exhibition of over 100 wartime propaganda posters by the late Abram Games for the British Government. The exhibition is an apt reminder of the artists talents not just as a designer but a propagandist. Giving a real insight into how war was communicated as well as demonstrating how posters can be used to recruit, inform and influence soldiers and civilians alike. A true Instagram Influencer of his day

Compact, intelligently curated and compelling, the National Army Museum is a great expression of modernized museum values in this country. Its messaging is neither martial nor apologetic, and its collection and exhibitions are pitched perfectly for the novice or know-it-alls of military history. The NAM really gets the balance right.

This is a "hidden" museum off the main lines but worth a walk. The stories and exhibits are well told and displayed. This is not a "war" museum, its about the people of the army, their experiences and their stories. I will be coming here again

Spent a while there, if was child friendly with puzzles and games as you walked around. The cafe was lovely and really cheap for London.

My wife and I came upon this place by pure accident and I am very happy to say it was a really fantastic experience.For a person such as me who grew up in Northern Ireland in the 1980’s and 1990’s I think the piece on what life was like for soldiers who were stationed there, it is extremely well done.Access is free and it gives you an insight into the British Army from the past to the present.Well worry visiting.

Great museum, it is free to visit although they recommend a £5 donation. The exhibits trace the history of the army from 1600s to present day in various theatres of war. There is currently a seperate "pay to enter" exhibition on the "special forces", it costs just over £8. The "special forces" is an interesting exhibition but there is so much else to see for free, I wouldnt necessarily recommend paying this amount. Exhibitions are very popular with school groups who breeze through rapidly and live the interactive displays.

Brilliant Museum in Chelsea and a perfect family outing. Its inspiring, informative, and educational. Its also interactive with many touch screens to explore the history of the UK army. There is a cafe to freshen up. I would definitely come back here again as there will be a new special exhibition every six months.

We took a group of adults with autism and learning disabilities. We found the staff were very supportive, also very accommodating with our group. The group enjoyed their experience. The building is filled with light and many fascinating displays. A great day out.

A small venue worth a short visit. What they had was very much worth seeing, and its free entry with a large cafe. Just dont expect to spend a whole day there. Ps they only have two tanks

Interesting, interactive and kids seem to love the different games they have throughout the Museum; however, that is exactly my problem with it; it doesnt feel like an Army Museum at all, instead it is more of a fancy and beautiful playground for kids.It is a small museum so you might want to spend a couple of hours here and combine it with a visit to the amazing Chelsea Physic Gardens just a few minutes away or the National Trusts Carlyles HouseMy other disappointment was with the tour (or lack of it). I booked a Security and the Army themed tour and received a phone call on the day saying it was cancelled due to the lead voluntary falling ill - now this is completely acceptable; however, in the message they also said they they have the general tour of the museum also at 2:00pm and that if I wished to go to this one that it would be fine and there is no need to book it so I made sure to get there on time.I waited until 2:15pm and although there were a few people waiting in the point where they told us to wait, no one came to say it was delayed or cancelled so we just wandered around on our own.

This is one of my favourite museums I have ever been to. The staff there were helpful and I learned about the history of the different wars of different decades. I must recommend this to anyone who visits London.

I went to a preview just before it re-opened after a £24m redevelopment which has opened it up into a light and airy space with 5 themed galleries– Soldier, Army, Battle, Society and Insight. They go beyond simple war history to explore the life of the soldier, the structural development of the Army, its key campaigns , the cultural role of the Army in British society, and the impact it has had around the world, hostile and friendly. More on Mechtraveller.

Brand new recently redeveloped and modern ambience with a good selection of lunch and brunch dishes and soft drinks including coffee and tea beverages.The redevelopment of this museum has given the area a whole new dimension of life and the museum itself offers a whole host of things to see and activities to do for the local residents and more.This is a good day out, but the cafe offers a very comfortable environment for passers by.