Two things make IWM London unusual among free London museums, and both are worth knowing because the rest of them have quietly stopped doing it.
Entry is free and you do not need to book. No timed slot, no ticket, no email with a QR code. You walk in.
That sounds like a small thing until you compare it. The Science Museum is also free but requires a pre-booked timed ticket with an arrival slot printed on it. IWM London does not.
The practical details
Open 10am to 6pm, every day except 24 to 26 December.
Lambeth Road, London SE1 6HZ, which is between Lambeth North and Elephant and Castle, a short walk from Waterloo.
Free, no booking, no timed entry.
What is in it
The museum runs from the trenches of the First World War through the Blitz and the Cold War to the present day.
The First World War Galleries alone hold over 1,300 objects from the collection, including weapons, uniforms, diaries, keepsakes, film and art. They cover the causes, the course and the consequences rather than the fighting alone, which is the part that makes it worth a long visit rather than a quick one.
The Blavatnik Art, Film and Photography Galleries hold the art, which is the half of this museum people do not expect and frequently rate highest.
There are free exhibitions and adventure trails for families, which is to say the free entry is not a stripped-back version of the museum.
Where it sits among the others
This is the comparison worth making before you spend anything.
Churchill War Rooms, run by the same organisation, costs 34 pounds. It is the preserved underground headquarters in Whitehall, left as it was in 1945, and if standing in those rooms is the point then there is no substitute.
But if what you want is the history of the war, IWM London covers more of it, over more years, for nothing. Our Churchill War Rooms page sets out what the 34 pounds buys.
The other paid London branch is HMS Belfast, on the river by Tower Bridge.
How to plan it
No planning needed, which is the point. Turn up between 10am and 6pm on any day that is not Christmas.
Give it longer than you think. The First World War Galleries are large enough to absorb a couple of hours on their own.
Raining: this is one of the better answers in south London, free and entirely indoors. Things to do in the rain covers the rest.
The free museums page explains how the national collections work, including which parts are genuinely free and which are ticketed exhibitions inside a free building.
IWM London
- Address
- Lambeth Road, London SE1 6HZ
- Nearest
- Lambeth North or Elephant and Castle, and a short walk from Waterloo
- Hours
- 10am to 6pm every day except 24 to 26 December
- Booking
- None needed, and no timed entry slot
- Price
- Free
- Standing
- The Imperial War Museum’s main London branch, covering the First World War through the Blitz and the Cold War to the present day
How to get in
One of the few free national museums that still requires no booking at all. The First World War Galleries hold over 1,300 objects, and the Blavatnik Art, Film and Photography Galleries hold the art collection.
Where to go next
Churchill War Rooms is the paid site run by the same organisation, and the free museums page covers the rest of the national collections.
The Science Museum is free but needs a booked timed ticket, and things to do in the rain cover the other indoor options.
Questions we get asked
Is the Imperial War Museum free?
Yes. Entry to IWM London on Lambeth Road is free and you do not need to book, with no timed entry slot. That makes it one of the few free national museums that still requires no advance ticket.
What are IWM London opening times?
10am to 6pm, every day except 24 to 26 December.
Where is the Imperial War Museum in London?
Lambeth Road, London SE1 6HZ, between Lambeth North and Elephant and Castle and a short walk from Waterloo.
What is the difference between IWM London and Churchill War Rooms?
IWM London is free, needs no booking, and covers the First World War through to the present day across a large museum. Churchill War Rooms is 34 pounds and is the preserved underground headquarters in Whitehall, left as it was in 1945. Both are run by the Imperial War Museums.
How long do you need at IWM London?
Longer than most people allow. The First World War Galleries alone hold over 1,300 objects and will absorb a couple of hours, before the Blitz, Cold War and art galleries.
Written by Robert J Wills, no. 228 in the guide.
Last checked 5 October 2026 against the venues' own published information. Nobody pays to appear here and we take no bookings.
