Overview

The Imperial War Museum is located in the beautiful Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park and offers free entry. It features a rich collection of exhibits and engaging interactive designs that provide in-depth insights into the two World Wars and themed exhibitions. Overall, the museum offers a fairly comprehensive accessible experience, though some aspects of the design could benefit from improved continuity.

Transport & Parking

I walked to the museum, which is located close to Elephant & Castle Station, nestled in a quiet and peaceful park.

Access

The main entrance to the museum is on the north side and requires using steps. However, there is an accessible entrance on the west side, equipped with a ramp. Unfortunately, the signage for the ramp is too small to be noticed—I only found out about it after asking staff at the main entrance. Inside the museum, there are multiple lifts and stairs connecting different floors, and ramps are installed in exhibition areas with level changes to ensure wheelchair accessibility. Seating is available throughout the galleries for visitors to rest. The information point provides guides in large print, braille, written text, and audio formats.

Toilets

The toilet signage is very clear and easy to spot, helping visitors locate facilities quickly. Both the men's and women's toilets include accessible cubicles. Additionally, there are separate baby changing and disabled toilet facilities located in the stairwells. These are spacious, clean, and well-maintained. The doors to the accessible toilets can be automatically opened and closed using buttons, which is convenient. However, there is another manual door between the toilet area and the exhibition space—if this door were also automatic, the experience would be even smoother for wheelchair users.

Staff

Bags are checked upon entry, so visitors should avoid bringing any dangerous items. The staff were very happy to answer any questions. Their friendliness left a great impression on me.

Photos