Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum
Free museum in a Kensington townhouse facing Hyde Park, with Polish military and political memorabilia, shown on guided visits on weekday afternoons.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum was set up in 1945, at the end of the Second World War, to preserve the history and cultural legacy of Poland and of the Polish armed forces in the West. The communist takeover of Poland meant that many exiled soldiers and civilians could not return home, and the Institute was founded as a charity in Britain so that its collections would be safe from pressure to hand them over. It takes its name from General Władysław Sikorski, the Polish Commander-in-Chief, whose widow Helena donated the first exhibits and documents.
The Institute is housed at 20 Prince's Gate, a Grade II listed terrace facing Hyde Park. Besides the museum it includes an archive of about two kilometres of shelves, a film and sound archive and collections of photographs, books and albums. In 1988 it merged with the Polish Underground Movement Study Trust.
The museum is run by a curator with the help of about twenty volunteers. Its thousands of objects include regimental colours and flags, among them the Polish flag raised over Monte Cassino, uniforms and headgear (including General Sikorski's uniform recovered from the sea after the Gibraltar plane crash), orders, medals and badges, arms and armour, porcelain and silver, and more than a hundred paintings, drawings and prints. Every visitor is given a guide.
Highlights
- Regimental colours and flags, including the flag raised over Monte Cassino
- General Sikorski's uniform, recovered after the Gibraltar plane crash
- Orders, medals and badges, including those of Battle of Britain pilots
- Paintings and drawings by Polish and British artists
- Free entry with a guide for every visitor
Permanent exhibition
- Museum collections – Displays of regimental colours and flags, uniforms, orders and medals, arms, porcelain and more than a hundred paintings, drawings and prints relating to Polish history.
- Founded
- 1945
- Operated by
- Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum (registered charity no. 312168)
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
| Groups | –Organisations, schools and youth groups should phone at least a month ahead. |
|---|
Entry is free of charge; voluntary contributions are welcome and support the upkeep of the collections.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum describes its guided visit as an experience for both children and adults and welcomes school groups.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
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| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | All visitors are given a guide who knows the collections well. No appointment is needed for individuals and families, but the museum asks visitors to phone first if the party is larger than five. Groups, schools and youth groups should phone at least a month in advance so enough guides are available. |
