"Help w/National Army Museum visit" Topic

Hi all,

I'm an American wargamer currently in the UK for family vacation/holiday, had planned to visit NAM, but just learned that it's currently closed for renovations (?!?!). Just wondering, If any of the collections were transferred for interim viewing anywhere else? Or should I just adjust plans and visit the Imperial War a museum instead? I'm much more interest in 18th & 19th Century history in general and AWI and Victorian colonial history in particular.

Thanks very much for any help!

Imperial War Museum is 1914 onwards (I visited last year and thought that the recent "renovations" had made it less good than I remembered from earlier visits).

It depends how wedded to London you are. If you could I would suggest loading the whole family onto a plane or train and heading for Edinburgh – in addition to being a spectacular city steeped in history, the castle itself contains several regimental museums and Scotland's military museum which has many things of the periods of interest you mention. From Edinburgh you are within striking distance of Stirling and Perth (home to the regimental museum of the Black Watch) and only a couple of hours by train from Inverness and Fort George (more regimental museums and a whole star fort!) plus of course Culloden and its new visitor centre nearby.
No contest really but perhaps some upheaval to your travelling plans. I suspect if you can manage it – you will not regret it. And for the family – well half way between Edinburgh and Inverness there is Bruar – which is sometimes called the Harrods of the Highlands….

Greenwich (London) is really good if you like naval stuff. Your family would enjoy the national gallery etc to see some of the worlds most famous pictures (including tarleton and the fighting temeraire) Don't forget tha most London museums have free entry but the natural history museum is the busiest.

Have a good visit

There are a collection of museums in Winchester , gurkhas , Green jackets and others all in a very small grouping . Winchester is an hour ish by train from London . link

The RAF Museum in London is fantastic. I recommend it if you can't get out to Duxford.

rafmuseum.org.uk/london

There's also the Royal Artillery Museum in Woolwich.

link

I would second Greenwich for Naval history. National Maritime Museum has a Nelson exhibit and is free – Cutty Sark is there and you can visit the prime meridian all a short ferry ride from London. Of course there is Portsmouth for more naval goodness. HMS Victory is in renovation but there is plenty to see there.

Although not military related, check out Museum Mile
museum-mile.org.uk
Loads of interesting museums, many free.

There is always the excellent Guards Museum which is now probably the best "military" museum in London that covers periods before WW1

theguardsmuseum.com

Argyll and Sutherland highlanders museum is at Stirling Castle…….

Don't forget the Chelsea Pensioners museum at the Royal Hospital next to the NAM. Best collection of cap badges and medals etc I have ever seen.
Would also second the RAF museum.
Check out also the Wallace Collection of arms and armour in central London, also includes 18th century French art etc and the Tower of London

I am with toronto48. Do the guards museum. I went on my visit to London earlier this year and thought it good. Helpful staff also.

Tower of London is great but massively expensive – went to NMM earlier this year and was massively underwhelmed – I would also recommend Edinburgh – or the Royal Armouries at Leeds…

The Invalides in Paris is nearer than Edinburgh and there is a direct train (Eurostar) but you will not see it all in a day.

Tilbury, just outside London has a Star Fort looking out over the Thames. Only about 25 minutes by train from Fenchursh St station.

Thanks very much gents! And to all of you who celebrate it, have a very Merry/Happy Christmas!

Just in case anyone else looks at this the Artillery Museum at Woolwich closed in 2016 – it is due to reopen at Aldershot eventually but the excellent collection is mothballed for now.

Also Tilbury has limited opening hours.

Don't forget Apsley House, Wellington's home, which you can walk to from the Guards Museum.

My emailed NAM newsletter announces "the new National Army Museum will be opening its doors to the public on 30 March 2017, featuring five new state-of-the-art galleries called Soldier, Army, Battle, Society and Insight". Obviously too late for Mad Guru but maybe of use to others.