Royal Armouries Museum
Occupying a redeveloped 13-acre dockland site 15 minutes from the city center, this state-of-the-art museum houses armaments in a collection that was begun during the reign of Elizabeth I, when select objects were displayed at the Tower of London. Four themed galleries (War, Tournament, Self-Defense, and Asian and African) trace the history of weaponry from around the world through some 4,500 objects. See Indian elephant battle armor (said to be the largest animal armor on display in the world), models of warriors on horseback, Henry VIII's suit of armor, and floor-to-ceiling tents. See daily spirited demonstrations of hand-to-hand combat, shoot a crossbow (extra charge), direct operations on a battlefield, or experience an Elizabethan joust (around Easter and the end of August).
