The museum aims to share powerful stories of war and conflict with current and future generations through its exhibitions, displays, and immersive experiences. It features a wide range of artworks created in response to war and conflict, as well as a timeline from the First World War to the present day. The museum also invites visitors to explore forgotten histories of service personnel and civilians, and see conflict through the eyes of artists.

Visitors can support the museum by making a donation, becoming a member, or volunteering. Donations help the museum to tell the stories of those affected by conflict, launch ground-breaking exhibitions, and deliver world-class learning programs. Members can enjoy benefits such as free admission to other sites, while volunteers help bring the stories of the collections to life and promote great customer experiences.

There are around 800,000 items online that tell the story of modern warfare and conflict, collected by the museum since 1917. Visitors can explore articles on war and conflict, its impact on service personnel and civilians, and watch the IWM Stories video series that tackles big conflict questions. They can also sign up to learn more about the latest exhibitions, events, and offers, and get 10% off online shop purchases.

The free exhibition invites visitors to further their understanding of The Troubles through the multiple perspectives of individuals affected by the conflict. It showcases a view of a hastily constructed barbed wire fence that ran across a terraced street in Belfast, marking a dividing line between republican and loyalist areas during April 1972. The exhibition aims to shed light on this contentious period that engulfed Northern Ireland in conflict for nearly 30 years.