The National Army Museum is the British Army's central museum. It is located in the Chelsea district of central London, adjacent to the Royal Hospital Chelsea, the home of the "Chelsea Pensioners". The museum is a non-departmental public body. It is usually open to the public from 10:00am to 5:30pm, except on 25–26 December and 1 January. Admission is free. Having reopened in March 2017 following a major £23.75 million re-development project including £11.5m from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the museum houses five galleries that cover British military history from the English Civil War up to modern day.[2][3][4] This remit for the overall history of British land forces contrasts with those of other military museums in the United Kingdom concentrating on the history of individual corps and regiments of the British Army. It also differs from the subject matter of the Imperial War Museum, another national museum in London, which has a wider remit of theme (war experiences of British civilians and military personnel from all three services) but a narrower remit of time (after 1914). The National Army Museum was first conceived in the late 1950s, and owes its existence to the persistent hard work of Field Marshal Sir Gerald Templer, who did most of the fundraising for it.[5] It was established by Royal Charter in 1960, with the intention of collecting, preserving, and exhibiting objects and records relating to the Regular and Auxiliary forces of the British Army and of the Commonwealth, and to encourage research into their history and traditions.[6] It was initially established in 1960 in temporary accommodation at the former No.1 Riding School at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.[7] A new purpose-built building, designed in brutalist style by William Holford & Partners, was started in 1961 on a site which had previously formed part of the old infirmary of the Royal Hospital Chelsea. The new building was completed ten years later and opened by the Queen on 11 November 1971.[8] One director, Ian Robertson, initiated a programme to establish an outpost of the Museum in the garrison town of Catterick, North Yorkshire, to be known as National Army Museum North, on the model of Imperial War Museum's establishment of the Imperial War Museum North in Manchester. A large site was chosen near Marne Barracks, beside the A1, and in 2002 Simon Pierce of Austin-Smith:Lord was chosen as the new museum's architect.[9] However, funding and planning issues later led to the cancellation of the plan in 2003.[10] The National Army Museum instead underwent a major redevelopment of its gallery and corridor displays at Chelsea from 2006 onwards, establishing new displays in existing permanent display areas, converting the corridors from oil-painting displays to permanent-exhibition spaces, and producing new temporary and permanent display areas on the third floor. This redisplay concluded with the opening of the new permanent National Service gallery in October 2010, though a further phase of redevelopment followed from 2011 onwards.[11]

The National Army Museum is a fascinating exhibition of the history of the British Army from early times through to the present day. Not only does it cover the campaigns around the globe that the Army have undertaken, it also gives a account of other nationalities who have fought in the British Army. There is a superb exhibition on the contribution made by the British Indian army in WW1. This includes Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. The museum impresses the visitor on arrival with a Challenger tank outside the main entrance and a Lynx helicopter hanging from the ceiling of the vestibule. The staff are very knowledgeable and helpful. They certainly enhance the visitor experience. There is so much to see in this museum that you could return and still see something new. There is an excellent research facility here with helpful staff to assist you obtaining a readers ticket and guiding you through the online catalogue of documents that are available to be seen. As with all research libraries you should do this online preparation before visiting so that the documents can be brought out of store in advance of your arrival. It will save time and disappointment if the item is not on site. This museum caters for all age groups. During my visit I noted a school group involved in a number of activities. There is a good cafe here and cloakroom facilities. I would recommend this museum and will certainly be returning.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

Hidden gem in this part of London, very family friendly. Didn't get to look around the museum, as we came for the Play Base session, we came to the 10am session which was busy, but well managed that it did not feel crowded. We booked in advance, was sold out by the time we got there. It was an hour's session which was perfect as the room is on the small side, so your older kids won't get lost in there, perfect for my little one to burn himself out. Tickets weren't too expensive, would definitely consider bringing him once a week or every few weeks. The museum facilities are good, cafe was nice, on the pricy side for food, so opted for a herbal tea. But would definitely come back to explore the rest of the museum and come to the cafe for a coffee/tea as it is very family friendly. Judging by the amount of buggies there it seems that if it is decent alternative to other local soft play sessions. As the Play Base space is small I would recommend taking babies and toddlers during term time in school hours as can imagine it would be carnage when older children are there.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes

Interesting, interactive and kids seem to love the different games they have throughout the Museum; however, that is exactly my problem with it; it doesn't feel like an Army Museum at all, instead it is more of a fancy and beautiful playground for kids. It is a small museum so you might want to spend a couple of hours here and combine it with a visit to the amazing Chelsea Physic Gardens just a few minutes away or the National Trust's Carlyle's House My other disappointment was with the tour (or lack of it). I booked a 'Security and the Army' themed tour and received a phone call on the day saying it was cancelled due to the lead voluntary falling ill - now this is completely acceptable; however, in the message they also said they they have the general tour of the museum also at 2:00pm and that if I wished to go to this one that it would be fine and there is no need to book it so I made sure to get there on time. I waited until 2:15pm and although there were a few people waiting in the point where they told us to wait, no one came to say it was delayed or cancelled so we just wandered around on our own.

The National Army Museum in Chelsea is a captivating tribute to military history. The exhibits are thoughtfully curated, providing a comprehensive insight into the nation's military heritage. Meanwhile, Play Base, the soft play area, adds an extra dimension for families. It's a well-designed space, offering a perfect blend of education and recreation. There’s also a children friendly cafe and good facilities for parents with young children and babies. A day at the National Army Museum and Play Base promises an enriching experience for both history enthusiasts and families with young adventurers.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes

Didnt go around the museum, only visited for the kids PlayBase and Tiny Troopers class. The kids area was a decent size for toddlers although strange that we were only told halfway through we're not allowed to take any pictures. The reason being because of all the other kids in the room, however at the time my husband was taking a picture solely of our child on her own in front of one of the cardboard cutout/statues, with no one else in the background. They should make it known when booking on the email confirmation and/or as you enter the room. Kids had fun but wouldn't go back, probably only if you live in the area.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait

I went here with two friends ..... they had never been. Admittedly they prefer the clothing aspects rather than military aspects. Chris gave them information about Berlin Wall, cold War, Lawrence of Arabia and the Tiger skull. History is so much more interesting when you have people like Chris bringing it to live with facts and Knowledge. We then saw Sophy who told us about Napoleans horse skeleton. Chris should be doing tours around the museum he is a natural at it!
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

Great museum, it is free to visit although they recommend a £5 donation. The exhibits trace the history of the army from 1600's to present day in various theatres of war. There is currently a seperate "pay to enter" exhibition on the "special forces", it costs just over £8. The "special forces" is an interesting exhibition but there is so much else to see for free, I wouldn't necessarily recommend paying this amount. Exhibitions are very popular with school groups who breeze through rapidly and live the interactive displays.

Beautiful spacious, spotless army museum which is a tad hard to get to via public transport (only 1 bus 170 stops nearby). But a nice place to visit with friends and family. It also houses a café and shop. It also hosts meetings and conferences and a lovely place for photoshoot as well. Staff are very friendly and helpful and courteous. Lovely way to spend your afternoon here after a stroll by the river.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

Went here today with the Mrs and I must say it has an absolutely incredible selection on display!!! It's contents cover multiple wars and tons of history!!!! The staff are extremely friendly and very well informed about everything on display and will happily answer any questions you have with a great enthusiasm! I highly recommend this for an afternoon out!
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

My wife and I came upon this place by pure accident and I am very happy to say it was a really fantastic experience. For a person such as me who grew up in Northern Ireland in the 1980’s and 1990’s I think the piece on what life was like for soldiers who were stationed there, it is extremely well done. Access is free and it gives you an insight into the British Army from the past to the present. Well worry visiting.

Very happy to have made the trip. Admission is free, and if you’re in the area, well worth your time. A visiting exhibit there currently is about £6. There are static displays of military equipment, vehicles, and weaponry. The museum also showcases the impact of the British Army on mainstream culture. Very informative and eye opening. Needs more coverage on the 1775-1783 period though ;)

it is a nice to learn the history of UK army. A exposition about east germany in cold war with the western world involvement offer a lot of firsthand information and resources abt how communism destroyed the country. it is a good place to remind people of the awful history in the world. No war make peace
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

Great afternoon there. Lots of British military history going back hundreds of years. Very interactive with screens and and games which the old museum did not have. For an army museum it appeared to be suitable for all ages with nothing to graphic considering it is about war. A new special forces wing opened in march although that requires payment while the rest of the museum is free.

Very informative on the history of the British army. For a museum it’s about medium size, and has lots of interactive games for children too. It’s one of the most family friendly museums you’ll ever visit. When I visited it was pretty empty, and the staff were very friendly.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

Nice visual displays with uniforms, equipment, vehicles and lots of information to read on all the displays. Laid out very nicely over several floors, directional arrows, sanitiser stations and lots of helpful friendly staff. Some of the interactive pieces are not working due to COVID restrictions. But a good way to spend a couple of hours in a free museum

A really well put together museum. Somewhat smaller than some other museums; but this is an advantage as you could do it justice in a few hours. Also the kind of place you could visit with smaller kids and actually see a decent amount before they run out of patience!
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Not sure

Not a lot of substance, some propagabda on how good the army was but actually not a lot of exhibits. The only good exhibition was the 3d model of battle of waterloo. If you are actually interested in learning about the armys history u should go to the imperial war museum
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

Fun, informative, interactive and great displays in such a great relaxing space I really enjoyed how there are artifacts as small as human hair to huge full sized tanks, the displays are well done, amazing how they managed to fit so much in the space
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

Compact, intelligently curated and compelling, the National Army Museum is a great expression of modernized museum values in this country. Its messaging is neither martial nor apologetic, and its collection and exhibitions are pitched perfectly for the novice or know-it-alls of military history. The NAM really gets the balance right.

What an excellent and well curated museum. The staff were polite and helpful, the museum itself was spotlessly clean and the exhibits well displayed. It was easy to spend a few hours engrossed in the history and evolution of the army. Fantastic time
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

Nice museum on the history of the British Army. (Visited 6 Nov 22) Lots of interactive tid-bits for kids too, some very interesting displays (Lawrence of Arabia's robes, coin that stopped a bullet etc). Interesting and good for the whole family.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

Worth a visit for young and old. Beautifully presented exhibition with artifacts from the army, ranging from 1600 until today. Highlight were the Women in the Army session and the guard post costumes. The museum is free for entry and sons across 3 floors. You can easily spend 2 hours there. Also, there is a cafeteria inside

We went for a birthday party so had exclusive access to the kids soft play area and another for the drinks, food, dance and games. Also enjoyed a walk around the museum after the party viewing the uniforms and learning about times HM Army were out in other countries.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait

Brilliant Museum in Chelsea and a perfect family outing. It's inspiring, informative, and educational. It's also interactive with many touch screens to explore the history of the UK army. There is a cafe to freshen up. I would definitely come back here again as there will be a new special exhibition every six months.

Medium sized museum but perfectly formed. Showcases the impressive history of The British Army. Interesting galleries. Doesn't glorify war but shows terrible mental and physical cost on the combatants. Great cafe. Toilets spotless.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

I visited the museum mainly for viewing 2nd Wolrd War poster exhibition designed by Abram Games, very impressive, creative artworks. Other objects and area in the museum are free to view, interactive parts are particularly interesting, great for family/kids. Recommend to operate the tank and its machine guns! :)

Beautifully presented, bright modern museum striking a good balance between education and displaying the collection. Concentrates on the soldier rather than hardware. Thoughtfully arranged in themed exhibitions.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

This was a great museum to visit. It is extremely interesting with lots of great exhibits. Different themes in different rooms is a great idea. So much to see that I'll need to go back to see the rest of it
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

A very interesting and well presented exhibition, readily accessible by public transport. Fabulous play area for young children - prebooking required. Good restaurant. Very friendly and helpful staff.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

What an incredible experience. We stumbled upon this place when looking up places to visit in London. This was our favorite museum we’ve visited so far. Unreal experience that truly shows you a unique perspective into those who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom. More

Plenty of information and history of the British and Commonwealth soldiers. Excellent and varied exhibits. Our snack, soup of the day was very delicious. Well worth visiting.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

Had never heard of this museum before, so was surprised how good it was, actually preferred it to the Imperial War Museum, though obviously similar. Interesting throughout, helpful staff, well worth a visit.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait

Nice place to visit .showing the history of the british army in different eras .and the combats used by them .great spot to visit to know the history of the Britain.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

This is a "hidden" museum off the main lines but worth a walk. The stories and exhibits are well told and displayed. This is not a "war" museum, it's about the people of the army, their experiences and their stories. I will be coming here again

Arranged a specialist tour for a group. The museum has had a great upgrade and modernisation. Many interactive displays going through the history of the Army. We then had a private visit to see items specific to the Machine Gun Corps which

This museum does not glorify war or conflict, in fact it tells the story of the consequences and the life of soldiers. A welcoming and helpful staff directed me downstairs to start. The displays were informative and there were things that

I marked it down as I went to the soft play area, which was a nightmare. Imagine an overcrowding of kids of all ages (big kids too). Now imagine those kids had all eaten bags of sugar. This is what this place is. Now imagine the frenzy.

The Army Museum in London stands as a testament to the rich and complex history of the British Army, offering a profound insight into the nation's military legacy. Spanning across various periods, the museum captivates visitors with its

Great museum. Lot's of amazing exhibits and photos. Lot's of vehicles, weapons and uniforms. Truly insightful to life in the Army. Well presented through centuries of war and peace keeping. The shop had some good souvenirs some on sale.

Quite nice. Good for 19th century content as the Imperial War Museum lacked any exhibitions on the Crimean War and the Zulu wars. Highlights were Wellington's coat and Lord Raglan's note that launched the Charge of the Light Brigade.

Great museum. Check their website for free events, such as talks/tours from historians and veterans. Some great collections here and they've tried hard to make things interactive - although some need repair hence 4 not 5 stars.

Terrific small museum for anyone interested in British military history. Entrance FOC with a slightly pricey but good cafe. An excellent day out, for me anyway. Closed Mondays.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait

New/updated with a lot of new details on few floors. Kids love it, especially WWII tank shooting range simulation and Queens Guard red uniform fitting... For adults a lot of weapons old and new, etc.... will be back!!

One of my favourite museums in London. Visited today and have been impressed by the planes especially those from WWII. Recommended.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

This is one of my favourite museums I have ever been to. The staff there were helpful and I learned about the history of the different wars of different decades. I must recommend this to anyone who visits London.

Great for young and old alike, brilliant staff, Free entry, showed a true reflection of BAOR over the years, we will be bk.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

A small venue worth a short visit. What they had was very much worth seeing, and it's free entry with a large cafe. Just don't expect to spend a whole day there. Ps they only have two tanks

Fantastic exhibition on the history of the British Army across many time periods and conflicts. Well laid out with excellent dedicated exhibitions. Recommended and will be back again!

It is awesome you will see some old stuff but also i expect to see also the future thing like the javeline they use on war today Or some drone show also the future. Still interesting

Great day of research in the Templer Centre. The staff were really helpful via email beforehand and in person on the day. The museum itself has an interesting variety of galleries.

Excellent place if you like military history or would like to reminisce your time in the army.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

Dive deep into the history of the British Army and visit this extraordinary exhibition.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

Spent a great afternoon at National Army museum. I learnt a lot about the army throughout the years. We learnt what life was like for a nurse during the 1940s in the war

Great museum. Lot's of amazing exhibits and photos. Outstanding Museum, which puts the role of the Army in context of history and society. Highly recommended day out.

I love this place. great soft play. interactive exhibitions beautiful cafe. I would say it's great for kids. And adults will find it interesting as well.

Too small. Not much to see. Poor display. The best tank was outside. 30min of visit time maybe 1h. You can no longer play in a tank simulator.

Had an enjoyable day here today. It's not the same as the Imperial War Museum so worth a visit if you're into this type of thing. More

Small, but so well done. Worth a visit.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Not sure

A nice free Museum that's clean and has Interactive displays for kids. A definite thumbs up from a your 6 year old. More