Review: The Imperial War Museum

The Imperial War Museum is a stellar attraction for all mums wanting to entertain young boys on a rainy afternoon, as my friend and I discovered when we visited during half term. Huge cannons announce the museum and hint to what lies ahead. Whole fighter jets hang imposingly from the ceiling, stripped back to reveal engines, tanks encroach upon the floor and rear up, their steel sides replace by plastic sheets to allow the viewer a peek into the cramped driving conditions.

               

At every angle planes, trains, jeeps, submarines and even unexploded bomb shells sit, inviting further inspection. Despite the macabre purpose of these machines of war, removed from the battle field they become less threatening. We almost forgot the violent intent with which they were built and instead admired the sheer scale and impressive beauty of their design. 

                

Beyond this metallic menagerie, and in contrast to the cavernous entrance space, lies a maze of corridors and smaller exhibitions cataloguing the major English wars of the twentieth-century.  Interactive learning is the order of the day with a re-enactment of the ‘Blitz experience’. Amazingly ‘The Children’s War’ exhibition contained a walk-through, full size replica of a 1940’s house, complete with two floors, garish wallpaper and a vintage outfit laid out on the bed. It even had its own post-box outside the stained glass front door, and an old fashioned pram you could try out for size.

In many of the galleries the putrid, somewhat off-putting, smell of war hung in the air. However, the queasy smell was this was the only problem I could find with an otherwise fantastic display of war time costumes and objects carefully designed to engage both children and adults alike.