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Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

Original poster

Imperial War Museum - younger kids?

19 replies

ronconcoke · 20/01/2022 13:03

DS (11, Y6) is learning about WW2 at school and is really interested in it. I'd like to take him to the WW2 and holocaust galleries at the IWM, maybe in Feb half term/Easter, but I also have DD (5). Would there be enough, age-appropriate stuff elsewhere in the museum to keep DD busy if DH stayed with her and I took DS to look at the WW2 galleries?

OP posts:
Etinoxaurus · 20/01/2022 13:08

I wouldn’t take either of them to the Holocaust gallery. I haven’t visited it but I know there are signs outside. The website advises it’s not suitable for under 13s
More info here

Etinoxaurus · 20/01/2022 13:09

It’s a wonderful museum and there’s enough to see otherwise.

ApolloandDaphne · 20/01/2022 13:11

You can't take young children into the Holocaust exhibition. It is very harrowing and I came out quite upset. The WW1 exhibition is very child friendly and the planes etc are great to go look at.

Original poster
ronconcoke · 20/01/2022 13:38

Ah! Good to know, @Etinoxaurus - I should have checked the website first, thanks for that. I thought, as he's read a whole series of (kids') books about the holocaust that it might be OK, but if it says for under 14s, I certainly won't be taking him in. Maybe just the general WW2 galleries instead.

@ApolloandDaphne thanks for that, maybe I'll leave them with DH to visit the WW1 exhibition while I go in (although I know DH would also like to see the holocaust galleries). I'm sure I'll find it very harrowing too :(

OP posts:
Barbeasty · 20/01/2022 13:39

There’s plenty in both the WW1 and WW2 galleries for both DC. The WW1 has lots of interactive stuff, and there’s a children’s sheet to encourage them to find a specific item in each gallery.

The holocaust galleries are on their own floor with a very obvious entrance, so you won’t accidentally wander from the WW2 bits into it.

When people say you can’t take him into the holocaust exhibition, there isn’t anything which physically prevents you and you won’t be stopped. You need to judge whether he’d be ok with it.

MrsAvocet · 20/01/2022 14:07

The advisory age for the Holocaust Gallery is 14 but it isn't enforced. Or at least it wasn't last time I was there. There was a sign, but entry was left to parental discretion. On the day I was last there there were quite a lot of small children running around which personally I disapproved of. They were too young to understand, any of it so I doubt it did them any harm but it was off putting for other visitors and a bit disrespectful. It isn't a place for small children in my opinion. A younger teen/preteen is harder to gauge. I'm sure your DS wouldn't misbehave, and depending on what he already knows and his level of maturity he might be ok with it.
But it is of course, deeply unpleasant, and I think could be very upsetting for a child of that age. I took my children in their early/mid teens and they were very quiet for the rest of the day - it definitely impacted upon them. Which is good of course, as that's what it is meant to do, but it isn't a fun day out and I can see why it has an advisory age. It is more emotionally difficult than physically gorey if that makes sense? I remember a friend of mine saying she expected her teenage son to be unmoved as he watches all kinds of horror movies and isn't scared. But he was actually really upset, because of the realisation that it was real, and actual people, kids much like him, suffered so much. Just something to consider.
The IWM is huge, and there is a lot of very interesting stuff for all ages. Obviously it is all war focused but many of the other sections aren't traumatic in the same way as the Holocaust Gallery. You could certainly have a very interesting visit without seeing that section, though I do appreciate why you might want to.

Iwantacampervan · 20/01/2022 16:48

The London museum is surrounded by a park and very close is what looked like a good outdoor playground. I went in October half term last year and the WW2 and WW1 areas were very busy but there were other galleries which were quieter.

Hollyhead · 20/01/2022 16:51

Took DS1 and 2 in similar situation, DS1 was interested in the WW1 gallery which is what we went for. DS2 6 at the time ruined it by moaning about being bored. In the end I took him to the park next door whilst DH took DS1 round.

EmpressCixi · 20/01/2022 16:54

Duxford Imperial War Museum is very good for planes, tanks, and so on. It is age appropriate as well. No Holocaust exhibit. And it’s over by Cambridge so may be closer to you than London.

Wavypurple · 20/01/2022 16:57

From what I remember there’s a sign before you go into the holocaust exhibit stating no under 12’s.

Sharrowgirl · 20/01/2022 17:04

The London one has a decent playground in the park surrounding it.

gogohm · 20/01/2022 17:21

It's a great museum. I took mine to similar as little ones, we did the Normandy museums when they were 6&8. I don't shy away from true stories

gogohm · 20/01/2022 17:24

Only a small section of the holocaust galley is particularly unsuitable, and I personally think it's ok for an 11 year old is suitably prepped and supported. It would go over a 5 year olds head

gogohm · 20/01/2022 17:25

Sorry and ps take a packed lunch, it's huge and the cafe was not good, very expensive for not particularly good food. The grounds are good for a picnic

ffscovid · 20/01/2022 17:29

I went with 10 year old (DS) recently. He's interested in history and a good reader so enjoyed the WW1 and WW2 galleries. I wouldn't have thought he'd have enjoyed it much below this age as it's not especially interactive (there are a few interactive exhibits) but for most of it, you need to stand and read the boards to understand what you're looking at.
I didn't take him to the Holocaust gallery as I didn't think it would be suitable. There are a few related exhibits in the WWII gallery and I felt that was enough.

ArialAnna · 20/01/2022 17:30

I often take my 3 and 5 year old on a rainy day - there's lots to see and to be honest they just enjoy running around in a big space. Obviously I wouldn't take them in the holocaust exhibition - it would be totally disrespectful for them to run around in there (it's awful that some people do @MrsAvocet )

If your DD gets bored more quickly than your DS (probably likely!) there's a playground nearby your DH could take her to while they wait for you.

llanfair11 · 20/01/2022 19:41

I would not suggest the Holocaust section for someone so young. There are events next week, some online, to mark Holocaust Memorial Day, which perhaps could be a way of your DS finding out more.

Two years ago I went to the event at the Jewish Museum where someone who survived Auschwitz spoke, and some of the children were your DSs age.

MinnieMountain · 21/01/2022 07:44

Duxford is great but you have to pay to get in, whereas IMW London is free.

Toffeevodkaplease · 21/01/2022 07:57

I think an aware prepared 11 year old would be ok in the Holocaust exhibition. I think it's great that they have an age suggestion because it's so impactful and it's not good if they don't understand that because they're too young to appreciate the magnitude of what happened. I wouldn't have taken mine at 11 but they were probably not mature enough. I think they were 13 and 14 when we went and that was fine.
There's plenty of other bits in the museum that would occupy a younger child and a big park outside.

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