National Army Museum Reviews Summary

Exhibits and Content

Pros:

• "So impressed with this museum. For free there are a lot of things to look at and read about."
• "Compact, intelligently curated and compelling, the National Army Museum is a great expression of modernized museum values in this country."
• "Interesting gallery of the army's history. Most of it is interactive, with videos and stuff you can touch."
• "The museum houses five galleries that cover British military history from the English Civil War up to modern day."
• "Good selection of guns, uniforms and equipment used by soldiers past and present."
• "The exhibits trace the history of the army from 1600's to present day in various theatres of war."
• "The museum captivates visitors with its extensive collection of artifacts, exhibits, and interactive displays, showcasing the evolution and the pivotal role of the army in shaping the course of history."

Cons:

• "Very little information about the army or its history."
• "Of practically no use whatever to anyone interested in the history of the British Army."
• "Seemed to have a great deal of wasted space which could easily have been filled with more exhibits."
• "There were very few battle dioramas or tactical explanations. Just assorted uniforms, arms, and armament."
• "The museum comes across more as an art gallery than a museum dedicated to the army."
• "Not a lot of substance, some propaganda on how good the army was but actually not a lot of exhibits."
• "The museum layout itself is very poor, there are too many large unused open spaces."

Family and Child-Friendliness

Pros:

• "Really a place for the families with kids."
• "Also the kind of place you could visit with smaller kids and actually see a decent amount before they run out of patience!"
• "Great for kids of any ages really!"
• "Lots of children engaging in the museum which was nice to see."
• "Plenty of interactive exhibits the kids and adults both enjoyed."
• "The National Army Museum in Chelsea is a captivating tribute to military history... Meanwhile, Play Base, the soft play area, adds an extra dimension for families."
• "The kids playzone also wonderful and targeted at 2-8 yr olds."

Cons:

• "The playground for small children and the dress up dolls was a bit odd."
• "As the Play Base space is small I would recommend taking babies and toddlers during term time in school hours as can imagine it would be carnage when older children are there."
• "I would strongly advise against going to the soft play area if you have very young kids."
• "This is not a museum - it is a theme park for young children."
• "Interesting, interactive and kids seem to love the different games they have throughout the Museum; however, that is exactly my problem with it; it doesn't feel like an Army Museum at all, instead it is more of a fancy and beautiful playground for kids."
• "The softplay is great for young kids, the cost is a little high for entry though."
• "A lot of interactive activities that include assembling a rifle, dressing up as a soldier or shooting from a (computer) gun."

Staff and Service

Pros:

• "The staff are very knowledgeable and helpful. They certainly enhance the visitor experience."
• "Very friendly staff, ready to pickup a conversation."
• "The people that work here were very friendly & full of so much incredible information."
• "Very friendly and helpful staff."
• "The staff are friendly, helpful and knowledgeable about the pieces in their possession."
• "Staff are friendly, helpful and knowledgeable."
• "All the staff are exceptional."

Cons:

• "I rocked up at 1602 and point blank refused a coffee by a disgruntled cashier!"
• "We were followed by people that worked there telling us the kids could touch this or that, or touch the glass."
• "He was extremely rude and to be fair actually embarrassed me in front of my friends who'd travelled so far from Australia."
• "Really unhelpful and unaccommodating staff who just play by the ‘rules’ with no notion of flexibility nor common sense."
• "I carefully observed that the staff members were only approaching and talking to White Caucasion guests."
• "Not very helpful when a lot of families are struggling and so as not to disappoint our grandchildren we paid another £12.50 (plus booking fee) for the correct date. The original tickets wasted."
• "As a serving soldier I found the national army museum extremely disappointing."

Facilities and Accessibility

Pros:

• "The building itself was very light and the cafe attractively furnished."
• "Free cloakroom is a real bonus; you can walk around comfortably."
• "With easy wheelchair and pram access throughout with the #170 bus stop outside with the nearest underground station being Sloane Square."
• "Clean toilets, cafe looked good as well and a reasonable shop."
• "Great cafe. Toilets spotless."
• "The cafe is excellent with very good food and reasonably priced."
• "Clean toilets and a cafe up stairs."

Cons:

• "Only gave it 4 stars because the cafe and restaurant area is closed down for now."
• "However, as a citizen of the USA, I found it very strange that the entire American Revolutionary War was absent from every exhibit."
• "Today was my 3rd visit since it re-opened, and 70%-80% of the interactive displays are still broken..."
• "Needs more coverage on the 1775-1783 period though."
• "Although free to enter you will have to pre-book time slots online."
• "No photography permitted inside."
• "15 mins walk from the nearest tube station so bit of a walk."

Value and Experience

Pros:

• "Absolutely fabulous museum! I cannot recommend enough."
• "By far the best museum I have ever been to!"
• "Nice shop, and decent restaurant, free to enter, but donation welcome."
• "History is so much more interesting when you have people like Chris bringing it to live with facts and Knowledge."
• "The cafe there is also very well priced and the coffee and food outstanding."
• "Free to enter the main exhibits with a charge for the special exhibits."
• "Can’t ask for much more for a donation based entrance fee."