I was AMAZED at London's Imperial War Museum | SOLO ADVENTURE

0:00 what are we doing today?
1:22 why this museum?
4:55 we're here!!
6:35 but if you want to start a business..
9:16 world war one
12:46 world war two
16:00 getting hungry
16:45 heavy stuff
17:25 more history!!
19:44 how did it go?

@Odoo

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FOLLOW THE ADVENTURE

Hey! I'm Alanna - a thirty-something documenting my life as a Canadian living in England.

I share the ups and downs of an expat living abroad and what it's really like living in the UK. It's not always easy, but there's been so many wonderful experiences, too. I post a Youtube video every Tuesday plus an additional video every Saturday on Patreon + YT Memberships. I also livestream every Wednesday and Sunday at 5:30pm GMT/BST on Twitch.

Alanna x

[nigelsailing]

It sort of jars when refer to yourself as a foreigner - you are a Canadian which makes you family. I'm so proud of the way Canada came to Britain's aide in troubled times - and offered to look after our children too.

[DonaldMellor]

As an Englishman who was born and raised in this beautiful country, I must admit that I have never had the opportunity to experience London, our vibrant capital city.

However, after viewing your video, I gained a fresh perspective on its charm and beauty. The sights and sounds you captured truly portray the essence of London, and honestly, it ignites within me a strong desire to visit this iconic city before my time on this earth comes to an end.

I am genuinely grateful for the inspiration your video has provided; it has opened my eyes to the wonders that await in London, making it a place I now long to explore. Thank you for sharing such a delightful glimpse into this remarkable city.

[britishknightakaminininja]

I grew up not too far from the Imperial War Museum - a short bus-ride or a medium-ish walk away - and visited several times. The free access to so, so many museums is an amazing thing, and as you noted by encountering children on your own visit, makes visiting museums something that almost every school in London will organize regularly for the children to experience. Back in those days (the 1970s) transport in London was also much, much cheaper for kids, with a flat fare of 10p getting you ANYWHERE on the tube network or bus services (but not both together - travelcards came a bit later). That meant that, as a kid, if you had just 50p pocket money available to you you could have a great day out during the school holidays (or weekends) by simply catching a bus and going to a world-class museum of your choosing.

For me, as a young boy, the Science Museum was a top choice (one of the most interactive, with lots of buttons to press), but the Imperial War Museum, The Natural History Museum, and the lesser-known National Maritime Museum (right inside Greenwich, just down the hill from the Royal Observatory) were all top choices that I visited many times with my working, single-parent mother. The Maritime Museum is truly under-rated, and given that it is just a short and very pleasant stroll through the park from the Royal Observatory and the Greenwich Meridian Line, makes for a very cool day out - highly recommended for one of your future adventures. Top tip though - pack your own lunch! Taking a packed lunch is absolutely traditional, and part of why the in-venue cafeterias tend to be an absolute rip-off designed purely to exploit tourists. As a bonus, planning and packing 'supplies' for your 'adventure' really does add to the overall experience.

When you consider that a significant percentage of the entire UK population live in and around London, well above 10% of the whole UK (not just England), you can see how just having those kinds of freely accessible 'experiences' has probably contributed more than we can ever easily account for to the overall education and awareness of the British people. While television programming can do some of the same, I think we all know that a museum, especially when exhibits are interactive, is just a whole other level in both education and in making people aware and thoughtful - putting the Muse into Museum.

[StewedFishProductions]

TIPS: For anyone who is going to spend the day at the Imperial War Museum. First, if pre-planning; take a bag packed with food & drink (sandwiches, snacks, drinks, a flask or even a picnic etc.). In good weather they have picnic tables/seats outside the museum... The Cafe inside is expensive and the one outside (The Songbird Cafe) really only has cakes, coffees, teas and cold drinks.

But if you want breakfast or lunch, (my favourite when in the area) visit "The Corner Cafe" which is only a 6/10 minute walk away at 182 Hercules Road (on the corner of Lambeth Road). There you can have anything from a bowl of cereal to 'beans on toast', full English/all breakfasts, meals, baked potatoes, burgers, omlettes, grills, pies, chicken dinners to a wide variety of hot & cold sandwiches/paninis at 'cafe prices'.

If you want 'upmarket' gastro pub food; three pubs are close by (but check out their menus and prices first!) All OPEN a12 noon - "The Pineapple Pub" (cosy corner pub) 52 Hercules Road. "The Hercules Pub", 2 Kennington Park Road. "The Three Stags", 67n Kennington Road.

So 'pop-out' - have lunch and then return... 😋👌👍

[davidhawkins]

I'm incredibly Proud we had the Canadians, Anzacs, Indians, Gurkhas on our side

[noelcook]

Love the natural way you put your videos together. Not sanitised or edited purely to make it perfect, because nothing ever is. Your natural enthusiasm, personality and character shine through when you do these and you’re honest enough to admit if something doesn’t excite or interest you. Glad you enjoyed the Imperial War Museum, as it focuses on other conflicts rather then just the 2 World Wars.

[frankmitchell]

A really nice video Alana. You saw what the Canadian soldiers did in WW1 and you said your Grandfather was in WW2, that's why many people in Britain do not consider Canadians to be foreigners, (even if they are legally).

[allanheslop]

I grew up in Sussex as a kid, got a green rover on the bus . Got to Croydon got a red rover ticket. Went all around London visiting museums great. We are talking early sixties. My parents didn’t even know where we were. Times change

[ashleyupshall]

Nice vid. The Canadians made a huge contribution to the Allied cause, resulting in significant casualties. They were involved in very heavy fighting in Normandy with the 12th SS. We thank the Canadians for their help. 🇨🇦

[johnlbirch]

One thing worth adding about the Imperial War Museum is the building it is in.

The museum opened just after WW1 but the building is much, much older and was originally the Bethlehem Hospital for (what we would call today) the mentally ill, or "Bedlam".

It was the the place that gave us the word

[guysmith]

The Mary Rose exhibit at Portsmouth historic dockyard is amazing. It’s an incredible experience

[QuizzyWhizzy]

if you are at all "costume" or "clothes" interested... the Victoria & Albert museum is a definite "must do"

[alexcrawford]

The world really opens up when you get comfortable with doing things for yourself. I just did a week’s holiday rambling about Spanish cities on my own, stuffing my face with local food and meeting local people. It’s a totally different experience when you’re by yourself.

[janiceturton]

Im 61 but i remember my Dad took me to this museum when i was a kid. He was in the Navy in WW2 and he was full of stories. i must go back again soon.

[BRiiXEY]

The best thing about doing something on your own, is being able to see and do what you want to see/do 😆

[SteveMikre]

The Tank Museum comes to mind as a destination for this series...

[DaveKeenan]

I love that you said "a Lancashire" bomber, whilst the majority of those bombers were built in Lancashire, the bomber was named The Lancaster.

[cawsha]

It's strange how different people find different things nerve wracking. I'd get on a train and go to the IWM without a thought but I'd never film myself and stick it on YouTube in a million years.

[judithrowe]

So pleased you enjoyed going on your own, and hope you make many more solo trips to share with us.. IWM is a brilliant museum, with such human touches throughout- not glorifying war, but showing the cost of conflict. A small museum I love is The Foundling Museum (entry £12:50) and The Wallace Collection, which is huge and free. Both in central London and near tube and bus stops. Love your enthusiasm.

[JohnSmall]

Kew Gardens, Natural History Museum, British Museum, & etc