As the national home of the history and heritage of the Army, the Museum sits at the heart of Chelsea, with 80% visits made by residents in London. The Museum provides a free space for older residents of the Borough to gather and share their experiences, with over a quarter of visitors aged 55 and above.
The free learning programme is at full capacity, with over 5,000 pupils attending from schools in Kensington and Chelsea.
A key part of the proposals is the redevelopment of the National Army Museum’s existing car park to create an extension that includes a new public Museum Garden, an underground gallery space and a 140-seat lecture theatre.
The Museum Garden will be open to all members of the public during daytime hours, offering spaces for outdoor play and quiet reflection.
The new underground gallery space will explore the global stories of soldiers across the centuries, with new interpretation showcasing the Army’s role in driving innovation in science, technology and design.
The new lecture theatre will transform the Museum’s learning and community programming, providing more opportunities for local school pupils and new local heritage partnership initiatives.
Today
- Free family activities at weekends and school holidays, with over 1000 participants in half-term workshops in February 2025. 15,000 school pupils participate in an award-wining programme each year.
- Recognised with the Sandford Award for Museum Learning for the third time in 2024.
- Over 2,600 residents attend free Friday lectures, showcasing the latest research by emerging and established military historians.
- Around 180 pupils from six local primary schools supported annually to achieve the Arts Award Discover Level by Trinity College London.
The Future
- Monthly coffee mornings shared with local networks as part of the Chelsea Heritage Quarter initiative.
- New sensory tours to recreate landmark moments in Army history, building on a programme of initiatives to make military history accessible to all.
- New Community Garden with quiet reflection spaces for wellbeing, and community art installations and exhibitions.
- The extension of the Museum is estimated to increase visits by 15% and in turn increasing local spend, particularly for businesses around nearby stations such as Sloane Square and Victoria.
Proposed section view of the new gallery extension.
Proposed axonometric of the new garden and gallery extension.
View looking through the Museum Garden.
Support our proposals
Our plans deliver considerable benefits to the are as well as remove a ‘negative contributor’ to the Royal Hospital Conservation Area, but we need your help to ensure that our plans become a reality.
We know that there will be opposition and hesitation to our plans, and we are fully aware of this. However, without the redevelopment, the chance to extend the National Army Museum to provide new facilities for future generations will be lost.
We need your help to convince the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to support the plans and you can do so by e-mailing consultation@tite-street.co.uk.
