National Army Museum

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National Army Museum

The National Army Museum is the British Army’s central museum. It is in Chelsea, London, next to the Royal Hospital Chelsea. Admission is free and it is usually open from 10:00 to 17:30, except on 25–26 December and 1 January.

The museum explains the history of British land forces, including colonial armies and regimental collections. It complements other UK military museums like the Imperial War Museum, which covers a broader range of topics and times.

History in brief: the museum was conceived in the late 1950s, led by Field Marshal Sir Gerald Templer. It was established by Royal Charter in 1960 and first opened in temporary accommodation at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. A new building on part of the old Royal Hospital Chelsea site was finished, and opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 11 November 1971.

The museum has gone through major redevelopment projects. A significant redesign began in 2006, with a National Service gallery opening in 2010. From May 2014 to March 2017, the museum was closed for a major rebuilding that cost about £23.75 million, with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The updated museum opened in 2017 with five new permanent galleries and an immersive presentation of British military history. Queen Elizabeth II reopened the museum in March 2017.

Since then, gallery names and displays have been updated in stages. In 2022–2023, under new leadership, the museum aimed to present the Army’s history with an evidence-based approach. The National Army Museum remains a non-departmental public body funded by the Ministry of Defence and overseen by a board of trustees.