Imperial War Museum North

How did ordinary people prepare for the challenges ahead at the start of the Second World War? Discover footage showing what life was like on the British home front during the early months of the war. http://ow.ly/qyYz30okmJV

Don’t miss IWM North’s latest Big Picture Show 'Life on the Line: with footage from Peter Jackson’s They Shall Not Grow Old' on your visit to the museum. Screening daily at 2pm. http://bit.ly/2IaEypP

Happy Easter!
In this photo from our collections, men of the Polish army celebrate Easter Sunday in the traditional custom - by sharing a piece of egg.
© IWM (HU 128103)

Even in wartime, soldiers celebrated Easter in their own personal way. Visit our online collections object of German troops celebrating with flowers and illustrations in April 1917. http://ow.ly/iNLy50qJEWM

IWM North’s latest Big Picture Show 'Life on the Line: with footage from Peter Jackson’s They Shall Not Grow Old' screens for the first time tomorrow at 2pm. An immersive surround sound and 360 degree projection experience: a new perspective on a powerful story. http://bit.ly/2IaEypP

Get making, with another brilliant Easter Holiday activity in IWM North’s shop. Paint your very own model plane – in association with Airfix. Friday 19 April at 11am-3pm

Chris Cooper, Senior Curator, Contemporary Conflict at IWM talks through ten objects from the upcoming IWM North exhibition Yemen: Inside a Crisis, which opens on 17 May: http://ow.ly/uqra30orFYq #InsideYemenCrisis

Today and Thursday, join us to meet war veterans and eyewitnesses and hear their personal stories of conflict. Gain first-hand insights into the impact of war that you wouldn’t find in the history books. http://bit.ly/2UvjgcW

This Saturday, go on an adventure at IWM North. The museum is full of stories, we need your wits and imagination to get exploring and building connections. Your family can get hands-on with real artefacts, a wonderful way to learn together about the global impact of conflict. http://bit.ly/2FZP4Pg

Join in our Documentary Challenge, the perfect way to get your brain going over the holidays! Make and feature in your own mini-documentary inspired by the stories you encounter on your visit. Find out more: http://bit.ly/2G1Mw3e

On selected days over the holidays, meet war veterans and eyewitnesses and hear about their personal experiences of conflict. This week, Tuesday 9 and Thursday 11 April. http://bit.ly/2G0SzVB

Calling all adventurers! Join us for our brand new Story Seekers activity this Easter, a wonderful way for families to learn together about the global impact of conflict. Selected dates during the holidays. Drop in, 10am - 1pm, 2pm - 5pm. Get exploring and be inspired!

There’s plenty for your family to do and see at IWM North during the Easter holidays. Today, start your adventure with our new Story Seekers activity. Your family can get hands-on with real artefacts and find moving and surprising personal accounts. http://bit.ly/2FZP4Pg

Two weeks to go until IWM North’s latest Big Picture Show ‘Life on the Line: with footage from Peter Jackson’s They Shall Not Grow Old’ will first screen on 19 April at 2pm. An immersive surround sound and 360 degree projection experience: a new perspective on a powerful story. http://bit.ly/2G2Q70Z

Every Tuesday and Thursday over the school holidays there is a special opportunity for families to meet war veterans and eyewitnesses and hear about their personal experiences of conflict. http://bit.ly/2UkD7vk

Today and Wednesday, join in the adventure with our brand new Story Seekers activity. We need your wits and imagination exploring our collections and finding connections. http://bit.ly/2FDOVzx

The Easter holidays are just around the corner and there is plenty for you to do and see with your family at IWM North. On selected days over the holidays, meet war veterans and eyewitnesses and hear about their personal experiences of conflict. http://bit.ly/2XZ4Uk5

Create, film and feature in your own mini-documentary on your visit to IWM North. Which stories will your family tell? Afterwards, relive your day ‘on location’ by downloading your final footage. http://bit.ly/2XWf0C9

IWM North’s latest Big Picture Show 'Life on the Line: with footage from Peter Jackson’s They Shall Not Grow Old' will first screen on 19 April. An immersive surround sound and 360 degree projection experience: a new perspective on a powerful story. http://bit.ly/2UgeDDB

it was a brilliant day out but you need more than one day cos you cant do it all and the food and souvenier shop were very reasonable money wise

Super impressed and touched by hospitality during a conference at the museum today. Chap from Museum catering team noticed I was heavily pregnant so provided de-caff coffee during every break, asked me if I needed changes to the lunch menu and also very sweetly gifted me with a Teddy from the gift shop for the new baby. Such lovely touches and will be recommending their conferencing services to everyone (food was lovely and facilities great - museum also fab as have been before with family).

Spent yesterday mooching around the hotel catching up on some emails and then had a good look around the Imperial War Museum North.



At first I found the simplicity and starkness lightweight yet after a short while disturbing.



The displays are often just oblongs cut into the concrete walls with a juxtaposition of Military Crosses, bayonets, homemade Guns and tragedy. Very thought provoking.









Grey concrete offsetting glory

Rough cast stone, casting history into shadows

Lightshows, jagged and disconnected, jarring insights, humorous, tragic, innocent yet sophistic.



Single displays highlighting bravery, gory glory

Complex interweaving counterplaying emotions

Challenging, soothing, protecting attacking

A history of war in all its gory



Standing tall, Twin Towers’ girders

Grotesquely modern art

Sending a message that all is not well now

Signalling us to paper the cracks.



H WALTL

Some great displays, the film depicting WW I trench life was very good. Good information on what went on in both World Wars and the Cold War, plus interesting analysis of insurgent conflicts such as Northern Ireland.

Some great explanation of what started both world wars, which I think is probably more important to understand than the wars themselves.

The current special exhibition (April 2018) was Syria, rather apt as the UK has just bombed the country after the recent use of Chemical Weapons. This was a very interesting exhibition, the video showing the development of the civil war was a great unbiased piece of documentary.

Having been to the imperial war museum in London, I think some presentations on exhibits by people, would be a great addition.

Second visit to this stunning museum. Well laid out with simple but informative displays. A few interactive displays for the kids. Thoroughly enjoyed the film that was shown whilst I was there. My son loved running around and pressing buttons. I particularly like the living room with the oversized furniture. I was watching a film on the tv that featured President Eisenhower, a little confused as to why a lava lamp is painted on the wall, surely they were 60's not 40's? The only draw back is that the shop/cafe are expensive. Overall a good experience and it's free!

Really beautiful display of poppy’s, the displays inside are great really educational and interesting, the commentary totally captures you, the letters, costumes and the equipment used is amazing, well worth a visit

I think it is amazing and the knowlege they have is fantastic.

My company held a full day Training Course presented by Gritty People, this venue and I was more than impressed. On the day nobody had any reason to complain. All the set up was correct, the IT worked �� And food was delicious. Event manager on the days was so helpful and efficient and helped the day run smoothly, It was also a fantastic location with lovely views across to media city in the new watershard rooms. Thank you.

I found this building just out of this world, As we came from Durham City just for the day, It was not realy long enough.

While looking round, Mind was a while ago, A gentleman dressed in full army gear told of an event in Army History, HE WAS GREAT.

I had to do research work, but no time on this visit.

Great family experience, lovely friendly knowledgeable helpful staff. Great cafe with some vegan options and soya milk. Pay car park right outside. Free entrance and lots of interesting stuff in gift shop.

Great day out. Really enjoyed the exhibition. Would have liked to see some more of the big films played as only caught 2 and as there wasn’t a schedule I missed the WW1 and WW2 ones but can always go back and hope to catch them

Beautifully presented reflection of the consequences of war.

Atmospheric, moving, heart breaking, educational and at times uplifting.

A great place to spend a few hours whether you're young or old.

A wide ranging and varied look at mankind’s relationship with conflict spanning from WW1 through to the modern day.



In addition to this there where multiple small exhibits about more specific aspects including women during war and the technology developed as a result that affects our everyday lives.



My personal favourite was the exhibit that looked at remembrance and how we deal with war and it’s after effects.

A really good few hours wandering around. My only one misgiving was when the lights went down and they played out an Iraq explosion scenario..... guests need to be warned of this, as myself, I suffer with PTSD. Darkness & explosions are my trigger/re occurring nightmares. Fortunately I didn’t have a meltdown and managed to keep calm. But I had to leave after that.

A quick visit to take in the Syria exhibition.

Although not as many exhibits as at previous exhibitions the photographs and particularly the televisual sections were first class giving what appears to be an unbiased view if this terrible conflict. Heart breaking that the human race can be so divided

The displays in the regular museum section are good, but the plinths are dangerous with sharp corners. My husband injured himself on the corner of one, with a gash to his shin.



That said, the museum is well-done, but we three felt that the section devoted to wome in war was minimal at best and should have been expanded.



The large video projected on the walls was the best part of the day.



The 'Lest We Forget' exhibition was poorly staged with the paintings displayed at such a height that they were not really viewable and the lighting on several of them was such a glare that they could not be viewed easily. The information boards were done in such a small type size that they were illegible for me.

Loved it, plenty to see, shame you couldn't touch the exhibits. Very interesting. Only thing let it down for me was the cafe. Poor choice of food, very little to chose from. My friend and I normally make a day of our outings the eating out is a big part of it. The only hot thing offered was a small quiche. Oh and some panninis', not a lot of choice.

Excellent exhibits as usual. I visit a couple of times each year and there is always something new to see. The only negative is the relocation of the restaurant to the ground floor. It used to be upstairs with views over the quays but this is now designated as conference rooms. It's pretty miserable sitting in a foyer so ate somewhere else.

Don’t go especially - it’s two hours max! It’s interesting but not worth a long trip just for it on its own

A lovely afternoon with loads to see and do. Kids enjoyed it - a few interactive things for them to do.

The 360 video in the main exhibition was so moving.

Cafe was a big disappointment. Long queue, very expensive and NOTHING suitable for my 5&7 year olds. Only salads and fancy panini. Sold out of sausage rolls and jackets.