The original location of the Imperial War Museum was the Crystal Palace, located at the top of Sydenham Hill. The museum was founded there in 1917 to commemorate those who died during the First World War. When that building burnt down on November 30 1936 a new location had to be found, they settled on a building in Lambeth. The building was originally a psychiatric hospital called Bethlem Royal Hospital, located in St. George's Fields.

The museum features a collection of military vehicles, weapons, war memorabilia, a library, a photographic archive, and an art collection. Entrance is free, though there may be charges for special exhibitions, and its open daily 10.00am - 6.00pm.

The museum concentrates on conflicts of the 20th century and later.

Nearest tube stations

• Lambeth North tube station
• Waterloo station
• Southwark tube station
• Elephant & Castle station

Nearest railway stations

• Waterloo station
• Elephant & Castle station

Other branches

The museum also has several other branches in the United Kingdom:

• The Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms [1]

Located in the bunker which was operational nerve centre of the British government during World War 2.

• HMS Belfast [2]

A light cruiser moored in the Thames.

• The Imperial War Museum Duxford, Cambridge [3]

A aerospace museum, including many military aircraft.

• The Imperial War Museum North (Manchester) [4]

Opened in 2002 to provide access to the people of the North to the museum's collections.

External links

• Map
• Imperial War Museum official website
• Historical picture of Bethlem Royal Hospital (current location of the IWM)