Matthew S.
Entry to the IWM is free, and you don't need a ticket unless you're taking a paid tour. It spans more than four levels, with the story of Britain's experience of war from WWI onwards. Walking into the main atrium is impressive: a Harrier jet, Spitfire, Japanese kamikaze aircraft, and German V2 rocket hang above the floor. There are gift and book shops on the lower two levels, plus a cafe on the bottom floor with a decent choice of food and drink at the usual prices for a national cultural institution. The staff are friendly. The exhibitions use weapons, uniforms, vehicles, storyboards, information panels, photos, and film to tell that story, but they only partly succeed. Space is limited, of course, but the curators don't seem to make the most of what they have to build a coherent account. Some displays, especially those about WWI and parts of WWII, are excellent. Others, including Korea, Malaya, the Falklands, Iraq, and Afghanistan, are quite poor. It's a patchy, disjointed, incomplete experience, though visitors will still learn something about Britain's experience of war. Some of the larger objects feel like wasted opportunities. The Mk V tank in the WWI gallery is mostly hidden, with little explanation of the model's importance or that particular tank's history. The Sopwith Camel has the same problem. And it's hard to justify putting a Russian T34-85 on the bottom floor when a British tank that saw service, such as a Churchill, Matilda, or Centurion, would fit better. Big objects are on display with poor access and viewing, and not enough context. Without that, it feels like the museum is showing off its collection for its own sake, just 'stuff'. The Holocaust gallery tells the most focused and profound story in the museum. But including it doesn't help tell the British story of war, which is arguably the IWM's remit. A standalone museum for that superb gallery would serve both better. The IWM is enjoyable enough, but it falls short of the world-class experience it could be.
