Royal Armouries

The United Kingdom's oldest museum, and one of the oldest in the world, the Royal Armouries holds the nation's collection of arms and armour. It began not as a museum but as an important part of England's military organization, and its collection was housed in the Tower of London from the 15th century.

It is one of the largest collections of arms and armour in the world. It brings together three national collections: the National Collection of Arms and Armour, the National Artillery Collection and the National Firearms Collection.

The collection is divided across three sites. In London it is shown at the Tower, its original home. Other parts are displayed at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds and at Fort Nelson near Portsmouth.