Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum
What Visitors Say
Wow, what a hidden gem! As a Polish person, I only discovered this place after living in London for five years, and it feels like such a shame. I absolutely loved the two-hour private tour with a guide on Thursday (unfortunately, I didn’t catch their name). I’ve been twice now - once with a friend and once with my partner, who doesn’t know much about my country’s history. The guide’s knowledge and passion were incredible. I think this museum can be a fascinating experience both for those already familiar with Polish history, thanks to the wealth of details and unique facts, and for those who need a broader overview. The collection is astonishing, there are pieces you’d never expect, probably in the thousands. I highly recommend doing the full 2–4 pm tour, especially on Thursdays!
As a professional archival researcher, this has to be one of the best places to come and research because of the amazing material and, of course, the utterly incredible staff. I can't praise them highly enough for their organisation and assistance with some quite intricate research. The archive requires appointments, so if using the archive, then check their website. This is a central London location with great public transport links. There is paid parking through just park among others out front. The artefacts that we could see were fantastic and have a military perspective for the most part. Check with the museum of access. This is also a wonderful building of course in the heart of the diplomatic area of London very near the Albert Hall. Again, a great archive and staff whom I wish to thank for their attentive assistance.
Amazing hidden shrine dedicated to Polish history, an amazing archive and museum filled with historical items, exhibits and history all around the building, worth the visit, especially for people with Polish ancestry.
Honestly outstanding. Free with a donation of your choice at the end. It is a guided tour of around an hour and a half and this was time that was very well spent. They have a frankly incredible set of artefacts from the better known photos of Wojtek the bear alongside military pennants of him and a statue. There were also not surprisingly a lot of artefacts relating to General Sikorski including very sadly his military uniform alongside his daughter's from the tragic plane crash off Gibraltar in 1943. Yet such artefacts are only just scratching the surface. The boots given to him by Stalin so that he would leave the USSR quickly were really fascinating. There were so many attractions which our amazing guide Hugo so skillfully brought to life. He was an absolute gentleman to both myself and my teenage daughter and amazingly well informed. Learning about the real life Polish WW2 Heroine was a treat. She escaped the Gestapo by biting her lip so hard it bled profusely that they believed she had tuberculosis. She was the inspiration for Vesper Lind of James Bond fame who was tragically killed by a jealous lover after the war. Other highlights included seeing the saddle Napoleon himself used as well as the Polish battle standard which flew over Monte Casino and discovering the two parts of it were discovered years apart. Discovering the ingenuity of the Poles during WW2 was really interesting. I didn't realise they invented by the mine sweeper and the tank periscope. Amazing that the collection also included cutlery rescued from the trainees officers mess in Warsaw and deemed of sufficient importance to ship to Britain early on in the war. But my favourite three exhibits related to details I knew nothing about until our visit. Hats off to Hugo for his vivid and insightful explanations here. There was the submarine of which they had a model which escaped Poland at the start of WW2 only to be impounded in Tallinn, Estonia. Its navigational equipment was destroyed before the crew sailed all the way to Rossyth in Scotland aided only by a map hand drawn from memory, which was in the museum. Incredible stuff. Secondly there was the propeller of a plane a Polish pilot had removed from his plane to disable it in Fascist Spain lest it fall into the hands of the Nazis. He had taken it all the way to Britain with him. Finally there was a shirt collar with writing on it. This contained essentially the last will and testament of a Polish pilot who crashed into the English channel. He had written a last letter to his wife on it, but in fact survived being rescued after around 85 hours, which was a record at the time. It was summer which probably saved his life. I absolutely loved this museum. Amazing place with a brilliant guide. I would strongly recommend this museum to anyone with even the vaguest interest in any of its themes as they are so well brought to life. It is not necessary to buy tickets, but I would let them know either by email or phone that you are coming, so that they can arrange a guide.
An absolutely incredible place. Jaw dropping. The history, determination and valour is palpable. It's somewhere anyone should visit if they want to learn about Polish military history and their part in Poland's struggle to survive, and their campaigns across Europe and Africa. Unfortunately this place is open only on the first Saturday (?) of the month, but it's probably best to check before going. They're staffed by volunteers. If you want to know who Poles really are, come and visit. My tour took two hours. Tours are available in English, and obviously in Polish.
Highlights
Polish Air Force in the RAF
Personal kit and squadron insignia put names and faces to famous units such as 303 (Kościuszko) Squadron during the Battle of Britain.See flight gear and squadron badges that chart how Polish pilots transitioned from occupied Europe to British bases—and turned the air war.
Upper galleries, aviation section
General Władysław Sikorski Collection
Belongings and documents of Poland’s Commander-in-Chief and Prime Minister illuminate the strategy and diplomacy of the exile years.From field dress to diplomatic gifts, these objects track Sikorski’s journey from reorganising forces in France and the UK to his final 1943 Gibraltar flight.
Core galleries, leadership cases
Monte Cassino & the II Corps
Regimental standards, badges and battlefield relics link directly to the 1944 Italian campaign where the Polish II Corps took the monastery heights.Uniform pieces and colours carry unit histories stitched into their fabric—look for dates and honours added post-battle.
Army campaigns corridor
Government-in-Exile Archives
Original orders, maps and correspondence ground the displays in primary sources, from formation orders to post-war resettlement.Typed commands, ink signatures and annotated maps reveal how an army without a homeland coordinated across continents.
Research rooms (by arrangement); selections on display
Opening Hours
Fun Facts
The museum grew from the wartime Polish Government-in-Exile’s own London headquarters, preserving frontline unit colours, documents, and commanders’ effects that never returned to occupied Poland.
Displays on the Polish Air Force in Britain highlight units like No. 303 Squadron—one of the top-scoring fighter squadrons in the Battle of Britain—through named kit, insignia and photographs.
Monte Cassino material in the army galleries connects directly to the Polish II Corps’ assault in May 1944, including unit badges and colours bearing post-battle honours.
Personal items linked to General Władysław Sikorski anchor narratives about the command of Polish forces abroad and the politics of recognition by Allied governments.
