DISCOVER STORIES TO INSPIRE WITH IWM’S NEW SUMMER FAMILY ACTIVITIES
This summer, Imperial War Museums (IWM) invites visitors to enjoy a range of free family activities full of stories to inspire. Visitors can uncover the secrets of camouflage with Camouflage, Dazzle and Disguise, a brand-new season of activity at IWM London and IWM North packed with trails, crafts and performances. Families are also invited to speak to eyewitnesses to conflict and travel back in time to 1944 at IWM Duxford and HMS Belfast.
IWM London and IWM North | Story Seekers: Camouflage & Disguise | Daily 26 July – 29 August Free
Brand new for summer 2022, uncover the secrets of camouflage with a fascinating trail focusing on illusion and disguise. Dig deeper into the museum’s collections and uncover the inspiring stories they tell, from the First World War to today.
IWM London and IWM North | The Dazzle Design Studio | Daily 29 July – 29 August Free
Uncover the ingenuity and design behind camouflaging large ships with brand new family activities at IWM London and IWM North. Discover the optical illusion behind Dazzle camouflage with IWM’s Dazzle Design Studio, a discovery hub full of fun activities where families are invited to play with optical illusions and put their own Dazzle designs to the test in a game of nautical hide and seek.
IWM London | Live Show: The Camouflage Unit Camp | 5, 12, 19, 26 August (Fridays) IWM North | Live Show: The Camouflage Unit Camp | 3, 10, 17, 24 August (Wednesdays) 10.30am, 11.45am, 2pm & 3.15pm
Free
In this immersive live show, families are invited to join a team of creative designers, magicians and deception specialists deployed to North Africa during the Second World War. Created in partnership with immersive theatre and events company Tea Dance for Little People, families will help this Camouflage Unit to create models and take part in a series of deception operations used in the Battle of El-Alamein in Egypt in 1942.
IWM London and IWM North | Story Seekers | Daily 21 July – 25 July and 30 August – 4 September Free
This summer, families are invited to get close up with real artefacts and learn about the global impact of conflict, from the First World War to today. Dig deeper into the museum’s collections and uncover the moving stories they tell, from people who braved shark-infested waters to ingenious nurses.
IWM North and IWM London | We Were There | Tuesdays from 26 July to 30 August IWM Duxford | We Were There | Wednesdays from 27 July to 24 August
HMS Belfast | We Were There | Fridays from 29 July to 26 August
Free (included in price of admission at IWM Duxford and HMS Belfast)
Meet eyewitnesses to conflict and gain first-hand insight into the impact of war on people’s lives. Visitors to IWM this summer will find special guests across our sites and have the unique opportunity to hear their personal stories - ranging from driving a tank, to being evacuated from the place they called home.
IWM Duxford | Family Activities | Daily 21 July – 4 September
Free (included in price of admission)
There's plenty of fun at IWM Duxford to enjoy this summer. Families can put their paper plane making skills to the test as they try to beat the world record with Flight Academy or travel back in time to D-Day 1944 with the storytelling experience Family Mission. They can also engineer their very own bespoke cockpit in Cockpit Control or get approved for take-off by exploring four activity stations dedicated to the Spitfire with Spitfire Engineers. Activities vary, we recommend checking details at the Visit Planning Point upon arrival.
HMS Belfast | Family Activities | Daily 21 July – 4 September
Free (included in price of admission)
There's lots of family fun to be had at HMS Belfast this summer. Visitors can travel back in time to D Day 1944 with the storytelling experience Family Mission or learn how to keep the iconic warship in tip-top condition and take charge of HMS Belfast in our interactive family activity Sea Legs. Activities vary, we recommend checking details at the admissions desk on arrival.
