The Chelsea Pensioners Exhibition — Attraction in London

National treasures is probably an overused title but the Chelsea pensioners certainly deserve it. I visited the Royal Hospital Chelsea to explore the small museum on the site which tells the history of the pensioners and the buildings they are housed in. The staff on the gate will direct you towards the museum which contains a significant collection of war medals bequeathed by former residents, plus uniforms and a vast array of memorabilia. Boards around the edges of the museum provide information about the institution and its residents. I was also free to wander around the extensive grounds and admire the buildings designed by Christopher Wren and has been the home for war veterans since the reign of Charles II. Subject to events and other timing restrictions, visitors are allowed to have a look at the Great Hall Refectory, the Octagon Porch, chapel and courtyards. I was lucky with my timing on a beautiful sunny day and got to see them all.

There is also a café on site open to the public. ...

Well done free museum worth a 30-40 minute visit. This museum is about the Chelsea Pensioners, military retirees that have lived here since the 17th history. It is six rooms, and though small it’s extremely well done. The TV timelines at the beginning and model at the end are particularly interesting as it shows how it has evolved since first created in the late 1600s. The other rooms provided insight into some pensioners’ stories, their uniforms, and other details about their lives.

Practical information: We prebooked but no need - the entrance is not manned and starts through the cafe. Cafe looked nice though...

Came here for the Open House. They gave an unenviable gatekeeper at the gate closest to the bus stop the task of telling visitors they could only use 1 gate and it was at the other end of the site, and another uneviable gatekeeper the job of telling visitors that the entire site wasn't open, only the museum & gift shop, which are normally open.

If you're normally partially open, don't register on the Open House website unless you're fully open, and if you're only partially open for Open House, don't register unless you normally aren't open at all. Save the time of us who want to go into places we don't get to...