The Imperial War Museum (IWM) showcases Britain’s most extensive World War II collections across three key sites—London, Duxford, and Manchester. Each location offers a unique way to explore the war’s global impact, from the front lines to the home front. In London, visitors see personal stories, artifacts, and the Holocaust Exhibition.
At Duxford, historic aircraft take center stage in massive hangars and airshows. Meanwhile, Manchester focuses on how war shaped society. Together, these museums bring Britain’s WWII experience to life.
Image: K.ristof, London Imperial War Museum, CC BY-SA 3.0
The Award-Winning Second World War Galleries at IWM London
As you step into the Second World War Galleries at IWM London, you’ll encounter the world’s first museum to house both World War II and Holocaust exhibitions under one roof. These award-winning galleries span two floors and showcase over 1,500 collection items that reveal the global impact of this devastating conflict.
You’ll discover unseen objects, untold stories, and unheard voices that change how we apprehend the past. The Second World War Galleries utilize cutting-edge research and technology to present a thorough account of the global war, including rare artifacts like the first piece of USS Arizona wreckage displayed outside the US.
IWM London has dedicated these spaces to preserving and interpreting vital wartime narratives, ensuring these experiences aren’t forgotten as the war and Holocaust pass out of living memory. The exhibits highlight how the war led to the establishment of the United Nations in 1945, which aimed to prevent another worldwide conflict and promote human rights globally.
Preserving First-Hand Testimony: Veterans, Eyewitnesses, and Survivors
Countless voices from history echo through IWM’s remarkable oral history collection—the largest of its kind with over 33,000 recordings documenting conflicts since 1914. You’ll discover personal stories that bring human dimensions to war’s harsh realities, preserving perspectives that might otherwise fade with time.
These testimonies form the emotional backbone of exhibitions like the new Second World War Galleries, where stories from veterans, survivors, and witnesses provide context for artifacts including the unprecedented USS Arizona wreckage display. The museum’s dedication guarantees these voices remain accessible for generations to come.
Through cutting-edge technology and meticulous preservation techniques, IWM transforms individual memories into collective understanding, helping you connect with those who experienced history’s most devastating conflicts firsthand—a powerful reminder of war’s human cost.
The exhibits also honor the meticulous work of the Graves Registration Service who located, identified, and ensured proper burial of countless fallen soldiers during World War II.
Transforming IWM Duxford: A 10-Year Vision
Image: IxK85, Imperialwarmuseumduxfordairspacecrop, CC BY-SA 3.0
Standing at the threshold of major change, IWM Duxford has undertaken an ambitious 10-year transformation that will redefine the visitor experience at this historic airfield. The multimillion-pound project aims to secure Duxford’s significance regionally, nationally, and internationally for generations to come.
By 2027, you’ll discover new WWII exhibitions that tell a more coherent story about the site’s historic importance. Transforming IWM Duxford means integrating aircraft, land vehicles, and artifacts in immersive displays that guide you through the airfield’s rich history.
A £4.5 million National Lottery Heritage Fund grant supports the restoration of historic hangars, building upon previous successful projects like The Ops Block and AirSpace. These improvements reflect IWM’s commitment to showcasing its unique collections in ways that deepen your understanding of wartime heritage.
During World War II, RAF Duxford served as one of many strategic airfields that were crucial hubs for logistics and operations of Allied air forces in the European theater.
Exploring the Film, Photograph, and Sound Archives
Beyond the impressive aircraft and physical exhibits, the Imperial War Museum houses one of the world’s most extensive conflict media collections. At the IWM, you’ll discover over 23,000 hours of moving images capturing personal experiences from wartime.
The Photograph Archive holds approximately 11 million images spanning from WWI to present day conflicts, available for purchase and licensing. Equally impressive is the Sound Archive with its 33,000+ recordings of speeches, broadcasts, and wartime music.
For researchers seeking stories and news straight from historical sources, the Documents and Printed Archive offers both personal testimonies and official records. These all-encompassing archives provide unparalleled access to the human experiences behind modern conflicts, preserving voices and images that might otherwise be lost to history.
Significant Collection Items on Public Display for the First Time
While the archive collections preserve history’s records, the Imperial War Museums are now bringing tangible treasures directly to the public eye. You’ll soon have unprecedented access to over 1,500 rarely seen War items from IWMs collections in the new Second World War Galleries at IWM London.
At IWM Duxford, the transformation of historic hangars will display numerous collection pieces previously kept in storage, including aircraft and land vehicles that tell powerful stories of conflict.
Meanwhile, the SS Great Britain Dockyard Museum redevelopment will showcase community-informed exhibits reflecting Bristol’s diverse experiences.
The 85th Battle of Britain anniversary in 2025 offers another opportunity to witness remarkable artifacts, featuring a rare Spitfire Mk Ia alongside evening flying displays of iconic aircraft that defined aerial warfare.
Battle of Britain 85th Anniversary: Special Events and Exhibitions
Image: IxK85, Imperialwarmuseumatriumpanorama, CC BY-SA 3.0
As the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Britain approaches in 2025, IWM Duxford has prepared an extraordinary slate of commemorative events that will bring this pivotal aerial campaign to life. On July 6, you’ll have the opportunity to engage with historians, artists, and pilots during a full-day event featuring a rare viewing of a Spitfire Mk Ia and an exclusive evening flying display.
The Duxford Flying Season will showcase family-friendly, live-action aerial performances that honor this essential moment in history. Tickets are now available for all 2025 events, allowing you to immerse yourself in Duxford’s historic significance while the museum continues its transformation to tell a more cohesive story. These commemorations complement the Churchill War Rooms and other IWM venues that collectively preserve Britain’s wartime legacy.
How National Lottery Heritage Funding Is Reshaping the Museums
Thanks to substantial support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Imperial War Museums are undergoing transformative changes that will revolutionize how you experience Britain’s wartime history.
At the heart of this renewal is the £4.5 million grant allocated to IWM Duxford, funding the restoration of historic hangars and development of innovative WWII exhibitions. As part of the ambitious 10-year “Transforming IWM Duxford” initiative, you’ll discover completely reimagined WWII galleries by 2027, featuring previously unseen artifacts that tell a more detailed story.
The funding extends beyond Duxford, with the SS Great Britain Dockyard Museum receiving over £1 million, including £245,000 from the Heritage Fund. These investments guarantee these institutions remain significant cultural landmarks regionally, nationally, and internationally for generations to come.
“Total War”: The Authoritative Account of WWII Through Artifacts
The groundbreaking publication “Total War” offers you an unprecedented window into World War II through the Imperial War Museum’s extraordinary collection of artifacts. This illustrated account draws on unseen objects and untold stories from the museum’s unparalleled collections, which extend from WWII through the Cold War.
You’ll discover authentic testimony from veterans and survivors alongside the first piece of USS Arizona wreckage ever displayed outside the United States. Released to coincide with the opening of new Second World War and Holocaust Galleries, this expansive narrative employs cutting-edge research to deepen your understanding of the conflict’s brutal realities.
When you support us by purchasing “Total War,” you help preserve these essential historical accounts for future generations to learn from and remember.