1. About us

The Royal Armouries is the national museum of arms and armour for the United Kingdom. It is the oldest museum in the country and home to one of the great collections of arms and armour in the world.

2. Hands on History

A free interactive exhibition at the Royal Armouries in the Tower of London, exploring 10 centuries of Tower history.

3. Tower of London Events

Experience 1000 years of history at the world famous White Tower at the Tower of London, home to the Royal Armouries.

Special exhibitions
Object handling area
Interactive area

Click here for more information about current events in the White Tower.

4. Armour for a courtier of Queen Elizabeth I

This armour was made for a courtier of Queen Elizabeth I and is the only armour in the gallery that is made up for the tourney.

5. Research

The Royal Armouries encourages research into arms and armour and related subjects from all periods of history from antiquity to the present day.

6. Gilding on plate armour

An analytical project to determine the presence of gold plating on steel armour.

7. Specialist Enquiries

Our team of specialists are able to answer all kinds of enquiries on the subject of arms and armour, related material, and of course its related history and the history of the Tower of London.

8. Hall of Steel

The Hall of Steel is one of the central features of the museum in Leeds. It can be seen from every floor, where it offers views of mass displays of arms and armour, over 2500 objects.

9. Events

Events and activities for all the family at the Royal Armouries in Leeds: Jousting, knights fighting, costumed story telling and five floors of displays. One of the greatest collections of arms and armour in the world.

10. Events

Over the past 1,000 years the Tower of London has been used as a menagerie, armoury, mint and prison. Today it is a flagship museum showcasing the Royal Armouries’ glittering collection of arms, armour and historical artefacts.

11. Top 10 Objects

The Royal Armouries top 10 objects from its collection.

12. Robert Coltman Clephan

A brief account of the work and life of Robert Coltman Clephan (1839-1922)

13. Baron de Cosson

A brief account of the work and life of Baron de Cosson (1846-1929)

14. Harold Arthur Lee-Dillon

A brief account of the life and work of Harold Arthur Lee-Dillon, 17th Viscount of Costello-Gallen (1844-1932)

15. Charles John ffoulkes

A brief account of the life and work of Charles John ffoulkes (1868-1947)

16. John Hewitt

A brief account of the life and work of John Hewitt (1807-1878)

17. Sir Guy Francis Laking

A brief account of the life and work of Sir Guy Francis Laking (1875-1919)

18. Lt. Gen. Augustus Henry Lane Fox Pitt Rivers

A brief account of the life and work of Lt. Gen. Augustus Henry Lane Fox Pitt Rivers (1827-1900)

19. General Sir John Lefroy

A brief account of the life and work of General Sir John Lefroy (1817-1890)

20. General Sir John Lefroy

A brief account of the life and work of General Sir John Lefroy (1817-1890)

21. Sir James Mann

A brief account of the life and work of Sir James Mann (1897-1962)

22. Samuel Rush Meyrick

A brief account of the life and work of Samuel Rush Meyrick (1783-1848)

23. Zinc coatings of Indian plate and mail armour

An analytical project to determine the presence of zinc on Indian mail armour.

24. Distinguishing replacement rivets on armour

An analytical project to determine the presence of replacement rivets on steel armour.

25. Investigating a sixteenth century Welsh buckler

An analytical project to determine the original appearance of a 16th century Welsh buckler shield.

26. An unusual form of oriental mail

An analytical project to determine how an Indian mail shirt was made.

27. The metallurgy of plate armour

An analytical project to examine the metallurgy of plate armour and changes in it through time and place.

28. The metallurgy of Japanese plate armour

An analytical project to determine the metallurgical quality and effectiveness of Japanese armour.

29. The jack of plates: Evidence of re-cycling

An analytical project to discover more about the iron plates in a Tudor jack of plates.

30. Duplex bulletproof armour

An analytical project to discover the makers mark on the inner plate of a duplex breastplate.

31. Medieval Warfare

This gallery is about the arms and armour of the Middle Ages up to about 1400.

32. 16th Century

16th century War gallery at the Royal Armouries museum in Leeds.

33. Self-defence

Self-defence display in the Self Defence gallery at the Royal Armouries museum in Leeds.

34. Video

See all of the Royal Armouries videos here in one place. These have all been posted on YouTube™.

35. Oriental Gallery

The Oriental gallery in the Royal Armouries museum in Leeds.

36. Thom Richardson

Thom Richardson is the Keeper of European Armour and Oriental collections at the Royal Armouries Museum based in Leeds.

37. History in your Hands Seminars

This series of seminars will give you an opportunity to experience first hand some of the finest objects from the Royal Armouries great collections.

38. Karen Watts

Karen Watts is Senior Curator of European Armour at the Royal Armouries Museum based in Leeds.

39. The Arms and Armour Society

The Arms and Armour Society is one of the leading groups in the world of those concerned with the study, collection and preservation of arms and armour.

40. Collection

The Royal Armouries collection consists of arms, armour and artillery dating from antiquity to the present day, fine and decorative arts, a special collection of material relating to the history of the Tower of London, a library and archives.

41. White Tower Galleries

Today the Royal Armouries displays in the White Tower tell the story of the Tower Armouries evolution from working national arsenal to national museum.

42. Henry VIII: Arms and the Man

Published to coincide with the 500th anniversary of the accession of King Henry VIII to the English throne. This definitive publication illustrates and records over 90 Henrician treasures from the Royal Armouries own collections and from around the world.

43. Collections Database

The object catalogue is a searchable database of the Royal Armouries collections presented through its image library and digital archives.

44. A Heavily restored Corinthian helmet

An analytical project to determine the extent of earlier repairs to a 5th century BC “Corinthian” Greek helmet.

45. Studies in Depth: Medieval Realms

These engaging sessions are great for exploring power and control in the medieval period. Students get the chance to try armour for size as they examine a range of objects from our fantastic handling collection.

46. Studies in Depth: The English Civil Wars

The English Civil Wars are a key period for understanding the changing relationship between Crown and Parliament. Our object based sessions engage pupils as historians and help develop chronological understanding through this unique period of change.

47. Art and Design

A specialist art handling collection is available for students to use, including vintage and antique military uniforms, civilian fashions and ephemera. All sessions include objects from our handling collection and are accessible to all ages and abilities.

48. Buff coats and Baldricks

Information about buff-coats and baldricks suitable for KS3 History: English Civil Wars.

49. Harquebusier armour

Information about harquebusier armour suitable for KS3 History: English Civil Wars.

50. Cuirassier armour

Information about cuirassier armour suitable for KS3 History: English Civil Wars.

51. Pikemens armour

Information about Pikemen in the English Civil Wars; suitable for KS3 History: English Civil Wars.

52. Task 4 Change over time

Task 4: Change over time.
Teachers notes to accompany the Royal Armouries English Civil War module on Littlecote House.

53. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the Great War

The creator of Sherlock Holmes campaigned for the introduction of helmets to the British Army in 1915-1916. Discover more about his designs for body armour.

54. Explore Littlecote House (without Flash)

Study the English Civil War through exploring Littlecote House. This section does not use Adobe Flash®.

55. Great Hall in Littlecote House

Littlecote House was home to the greatest surviving English Civil Wars armoury. Explore the photograph of the Great Hall and learn more about the arms and armour.

56. Colonel Alexander Popham

Colonel Alexander Popham was commander in the Parliamentarian army during the English Civil Wars. He was also the owner of Littlecote House, which was an armoury and garrison.

57. Carbines and blunderbusses

Information about flintlock carbines suitable for KS3 History: English Civil Wars.

58. Leeds Events

Summer holiday events for all the family.

Click here for more information about current events in Leeds.

59. Home

Royal Armouries – National Museum of Arms and Armour, keeper of Tower of London history, and the National Collection of Artillery. Museums in Leeds, West Yorkshire; Tower of London; and Fareham, Portsmouth, Hampshire.

60. Games

Welcome to our game zone where you can play games created by the Royal Armouries and some created for us.

61. Fit for a King

See five hundred years of spectacular royal armour, offering a fascinating insight into the personalities, power and physical size of England’s kings. Opens 1st April 2010, Tower of London.

62. The decoration of arms and armour

Have you ever considered armour as works of art – sculptures in steel? Discover more about the art of the armourer and take a fresh look at some of our most decorative pieces, including 16th-century Renaissance armour.

63. Armour for the joust of war

This armour came from Maximilian’s own armoury at Vienna and was probably worn by the Holy Roman Emperor himself.

64. Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester

This splendid armour was probably made for Dudley to wear during the pageants and displays he organised to entertain the Queen during her visit to his estate, Kenilworth Castle in 1575.

65. Sir Christopher Hatton

This vamplate, with its restored gilding, was fitted over the lance to protect the hand.

66. Peregrine Bertie, Lord Willoughby d'Eresby

A portrait of Lord Willoughby d’Eresby.

67. Elector Christian I of Saxony's helmet

This helmet is part of the foot tourney armour, which was one of twelve made by Anton Peffenhauser in 1591, as a Christmas present for the Elector Christian I of Saxony from his wife, the Electress Sophia.

68. Tournament Games

Have fun with our tournament games. Help Henry VIII dress for his foot combat, or if you are feeling brave you can fight him in the foot combat or in a joust.