Imperial War Museums (IWM)

In spite of its unsexy name, this particular museum remains a hugely popular and highly regarded enterprise which, since 1917, has expanded continually to document the perpetuation of military acts. The museum covers conflicts — especially those involving Britain and the Commonwealth, from the First World War to the present day — but also operates as a major national art gallery (with more than 15,000 paintings, drawings and sculptures, and 30,000 posters), a major national archive of written and audio-visual records, and a research centre. Plus the renowed national Holocasut Exhibition, vast collections of books, film, videotape, photographs and sound recordings, and specimens of traditionally male infrastructure (aircraft, armoured fighting vehicles, naval vessels, uniforms, personal equipment, medals and decorations). In January the museum closed for refurbishment, reopening in full on 19 July 2014 in anticipation of the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War. The redevelopment includes a new atrium and First World War galleries. Tube stations: Lambeth North and Elephant & Castle, with not a whole lot going on in the immediate vacinity.