Visiting IWM on London Marathon day?

[CharlotteBog]

I have planned to visit the Imperial Museum (the London one) on 21st April, which is the day of the London Marathon.
We will be travelling by train from New Malden to Waterloo.

I'm pretty sure we will not be impacted by road closures and general busyness as the route is north of the river at this stage, but I am not a Londoner so am not really sure.

I'm taking a child for a day out. If it was just me, I'd wing it and just do something else if I got stuck, but I want this day to run smoothly.

It will be fine.

I wouldn't drive in to Central London on Marathon day (or indeed any day) but if you get the train to Waterloo the IWM is a short walk away and there won;t be any road closures around that area.

There will be more people around and the bars and cafes in the Southbank and Waterloo areas will be busy in the afternoon/evening. However the Marathon is very good natured and it is a really fun day to be in central London.

As for the main route it will all be over by early afternoon and they start clearing the barriers and route very quickly.

Thanks @Ginmonkeyagain
You've confirmed what I thought.

I've supported the marathon many times (and run it once!) so I know how it impacts the actual race route and immediate surrounding area, but not further out so much.

I agree, it's London at its best!

Agree!
Away from the route you'd really knot now the Marathon was on. MrBeccabunga will be running it again and I will just have a nice day in London, follow him on the tracker and take him home at the end.
I'd book if you want to go somewhere nice for lunch, but that's true for any day in London.
If there are crowds at stations and so on they will be nice people in a good mood.

Did this a few years ago by travelling on tube and bus. Never saw a single hint of any Marathon-related road closures, diversions etc. Best bit about it is the IWM itself was practically deserted, so I had plenty of time to wander around at my own pace taking in the exhibits in my own time.

Good luck MrBeccabunga!

Thank you. It sounds like I have picked thebest day to go then.
I do need to go on my own one day (or with another adult) so that I can visit the Holocaust gallery.
I'm going with just one child so I can allow him to lead - often they surprise you with what they're interested in. My young son spent most of our visit doing brass rubbings on the medals.

The trains out of main stations be more crowded on the way home so if anyone you are travelling with isn't good in crowds that should be factored in.

@CharlotteBog
Thanks for good wishes to MrB!

The Holocaust gallery is very, very upsetting. I had to be taken, sobbing, for a sit down and a nice cup of tea afterwards. But I do think everyone should see it.

Enjoy you day in the Centre of the Known Universe 😊

If you ever get a chance you should visit Seeing Auschwitz

I did London Marathon last year (sorry for the boast) and found that a lot of the tube stations were closed due to overcrowding so we couldn't get into Waterloo afterwards until after 6. Embankment and Westminster were both shut so Waterloo was absolutely heaving.

Boast away, it's an amazing achievement!

That's good to know. I'm going with my 11 year old nephew (i.e. not a small child) so we'll be OK winging it and changing plans if we need to. At least the crowds will be happy, buzzing (maybe hobbling) running types and not grumpy commuters. We can run up the stairs 2 at a time while they crawl up on their hands and knees, or walk backwards!