First World War Centenary

An obvious starting point for family activities to commemorate the centerary of the First World War is the Imperial War Museums (IWM) which include :

• IWM London;
• IWM North in Salford Quays;
• IWM Duxford near Cambridge;
• the Churchill War Rooms in Whitehall, London;
• HMS Belfast, moored in the Pool of London on the River Thames.

Family activities to inspire and educate can be found by searching the events calendar including:

At Salford Quays in Manchester there is a range of family activities.

Hayle Heritage Centre in Cornwall – a dedicated family day from 11 to 4pm (5 August), where visitors will learn how to make poppies and war medals.

In Northern Ireland, Grey Point Fort will hold a First World War weekend (4 to 5 August) with a gun salute to mark the centenary of Britain’s entry on the war 4 August.

At Ebbisham Square in Epsom meet a Tommy at the First World War living history event (9 August), with men and women of the 10^th Essex Group. Take part in demonstrations and displays including children’s activities and cooking in the trenches.

Children will get a chance to communicate like First World War soldiers and officers at Dudmaston Estate. Trench Talk will teach families to spell a name using flags or send a secret message to friends using Morse code, telephones and pigeons. (24 August).

And everyone is encouraged to turn off the lights from 10 to 11 pm on Monday 4 August to mark the moment Great Britain joined the First World War.