FP_2015_05_

106 FLYPAST May 2015

MUSEUMS IWM LONDON

Big Guns

S

ometimes overlooked by

the aviation enthusiast,

perhaps due to the proximity

of the RAF Museum at Hendon

and because its ‘sister’ museum

at Duxford has more aircraft, the

Imperial War Museum in London

nevertheless deserves to be seen.

Free to enter, the Lambeth-based

attraction is significantly improved

following its recent revamp.

It re-opened last summer in time

for the centenary of the outbreak

of World War One, and now features

the impressive First World War

Galleries and a magnificent Atrium.

In the former, the visitor can explore

most aspects of the Great War and

even walk through a recreated

trench, with Sopwith Camel N6812

‘flying’ overhead. The biplane,

which is an original, was flown by Ft

Sub Lt Stuart Culley on August 11,

1918, when he shot down Zeppelin

LZ100.

The Atrium, meanwhile, is a

light and airy central feature that

includes Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Ia

R6915 and BAe Harrier GR.9 ZD461

suspended overhead, with a V-1

flying bomb and a V-2 rocket also

on display. Visitors can observe the

machines from several positions,

even looking down on the Spitfire –

a genuine Battle of Britain veteran –

from the upper floors and staircase.

Further interesting aviation

artefacts are housed in the Turning

Points 1934-1945 exhibition,

including the remains of a Japanese

Navy Mitsubishi A6M ‘Zero’ and the

nose section of Avro Lancaster I

DV372. The former was previously

at Duxford and the latter was

also housed there while the

refurbishment work was taking

place at Lambeth.

The museum also includes a

thought-provoking and necessarily

gruelling section dedicated to the

Holocaust (not recommended for

younger children) and galleries

focusing on artwork, fashion and

family life, among others. With

much to engage the interest and

imagination, plus an excellent café

and shop, a visit to IWM London is

highly recommended.

Big

Following its extensive redevelopment, a visit to London’s Imperial War

Museum is not to be missed

Getting there

Located on Lambeth Road, London’s

Imperial War Museum is free to visit

and is open from 10am to 6pm daily

(except at Christmas). The nearest

underground stations are Lambeth

North, Elephant And Castle and

Waterloo, the latter also being the

nearest mainline stop. All the stations

are approximately a 10 to 15-minute

walk from the museum. Local bus

routes include the 159, 344 and 360. The

attraction is located within London’s

Congestion Charge zone and there

is limited parking in the area, so use

of public transport is recommended.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-london

Clockwise from left

The nose section of Avro Lancaster I DV372

‘Old Fred’, formerly of the Royal Australian Air

Force’s 467 Squadron. BRYONY PHILLIPS-IWM

Exterior view of the front of IWM London’s

main building. BRYONY PHILLIPS-IWM

The Atrium at IWM London shortly after it

re-opened last year. IWM

The remains of a Mitsubishi A6M ‘Zero’ within

IWM London’s Turning Points 1934-1945

exhibition. BRYONY PHILLIPS-IWM

A recreation of a Great War trench with

Sopwith Camel N6812 overhead.

LORNA McBRIDE-IWM

BAe Harrier GR.9 ZD461 is suspended in the

Atrium. IWM

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