Pupils from Govilon Primary School, Abergavenny and Cauldeen Primary School/Inver Primary School, Inverness all had the opportunity to travel to London to visit sites related to the Second World War. They visited a number of museums and participated in a variety activities aimed at exploring why remembering is important.
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London Remembrance Itinerary
London Remembrance Itinerary
Below is a combination of the itineraries that was followed by pupils on their weekend visits.
If you would like to find out more places to visit on an educational tour of London, please see the ‘Places to Visit’ section below.
Remembrance - London
Day 1
Day 2
- Visit to the Cabinet War Rooms, including a tour of the Churchill museum.
- A visit to the Cenotaph
- Visit to the Imperial War Museum, to see the ‘Great Escapes’ exhibition and the ‘Blitz Experience’
Day 3
- Educational activities onboard HMS Belfast.
- A visit to the Britain at War Experience
Day 4
Places to Visit in London
If you are planning a visit to London to learn about the Second World War visit some of the places described below. You could also visit the following websites for further information:
http://www.visitlondon.com/
http://www.londontown.com/
Disclaimer:
All the sites are checked regularly. However, the changing nature of the Internet means that some sites may alter after we have visited them. Their Past Your Future is not responsible for the content of external websites.
Britain at War Experience
Address: 64-66 Tooley Street, London Bridge, London SE1 2TF
Tel: 020 7403 3171
Web: http://www.britainatwar.co.uk
The Britain at War Experience recreates the London Blitz in all its fury with special effects highlighting the sites and sounds, the artefacts, and even the dust and smoke of an air raid at its height. Visitors can take the lift down to the London Underground air raid shelter and see where thousands spent sleepless nights, see wartime news bulletins in the underground and enter a BBC radio studio to tune the latest messages from Churchill, Chamberlain, Roosevelt and others. The experience is designed to tie in with National Curriculum in England (especially Key Stages 2 and 3), and primary and secondary education packs are available. Special ‘dressing up’ sessions for school parties can be provided including tin helmets, gasmasks, 1940's clothing and uniforms.
HMS Belfast
Address: Morgan's Lane, Tooley Street, London SE1 2JH
Tel: 0207 940 6300
Website: http://hmsbelfast.iwm.org.uk/
HMS Belfast is the largest surviving example of Britain's twentieth century naval power and is now a museum moored on the Thames between Tower and London Bridge. She was the first ship to be saved for the nation since Nelson's HMS Victory due to her historical importance.
Best known for her role in supporting the advancing Allied troops as they made their way onto Gold and Juno beaches on the morning of D-Day, 6 June 1944, HMS Belfast is now a naval time capsule, providing nine decks of living history to explore.
The HMS Belfast experience provides living testament to her illustrious service, her battle stories and the conditions in which up to 950 crew members lived and fought in until her retirement from the Royal Navy in 1965.
The Cenotaph
Address: Whitehall, SW1A 2BX
Website: http://www.londontown.com/LondonInformation/Attraction/Cenotaph/82bf/
Every November the Cenotaph becomes the focus of Britain’s Remembrance Service (the closest Sunday to the 11th November). The service commemorates Commonwealth servicemen who died in the two World Wars.
The Monarch, representatives of the Church, State, the armed and auxiliary forces, all gather to pay respect to those who lost their lives fighting in the two World Wars. Hymns are sung, prayers are said, and the two-minute silence is observed. Wreaths of poppies are then laid on the steps of the Cenotaph.
The monument was originally built of wood and plaster for the first anniversary of the Armistice in 1919. The memorial standing today was designed by Edward Lutyens. It was created from Portland Stone and was unveiled one year later in 1920. The inscription simply reads "The Glorious Dead".
The Churchill War Rooms
Address: Clive Steps, King Charles Street, London, SW1A 2AQ
Tel: 0207 930 6961
Website: http://cwr.iwm.org.uk/
Shortly after becoming Prime Minister in May 1940, Winston Churchill visited the Cabinet War Rooms to see for himself what preparations had been made to allow him and his War Cabinet to continue working throughout the expected air raids on London. It was there, in the underground Cabinet Room, he announced 'This is the room from which I will direct the war'.
The Churchill Museum, the world’s first major museum dedicated to life of Winston Churchill, is a permanent exhibition housed within the unique setting of the historic Cabinet War Rooms. Entry tickets will admit visitors to both the Cabinet War Rooms and the Churchill Museum.
The Imperial War Museum
Address: Lambeth Road, London SE1 6HZ
Tel: 0207 416 5000
Website: http://www.iwm.org.uk/
The Imperial War Museum covers a range of conflicts, especially those involving Britain and the Commonwealth, from the First World War to the present day. It seeks to encourage, the study and understanding of the history of modern war and how it affects people’s lives.
The exhibits range from tanks and aircraft to photographs and personal letters; they include film and sound recordings and some of the 20th century's best-known paintings.
