The Royal Armouries is the United Kingdom's national collection of arms and armour. Once an important part of England's military organization, it became the United Kingdom's oldest museum, and one of the oldest museums in the world. It is also one of the largest collections of arms and armour in the world, comprising the UK's National Collection of Arms and Armour, National Artillery Collection, and National Firearms Collection. Originally housed in the Tower of London from the 15th century, today the collection is split across three sites: the Tower, the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds, and Fort Nelson near Portsmouth
The Hall of Steel in the Royal Armouries in Leeds
Gothic plate armour, Royal Armouries in Leeds
Part of the display at the Tower of London
Fort Nelson, the Artillery Hall gallery
Armour or armor is a covering used to protect an object, individual, or vehicle from physical injury or damage, especially direct contact weapons or projectiles during combat, or from a potentially dangerous environment or activity. Personal armour is used to protect soldiers and war animals. Vehicle armour is used on warships, armoured fighting vehicles, and some combat aircraft, mostly ground attack aircraft.
Western Xia mail armour
Portrait of a Gentleman in Armour with Two Pages by Paris Bordone
The Dendra panoply, Mycenaean Greek armour, c. 1400 BC
Wooden statue of Guan Yu in mountain pattern armour, 16th c. Ming dynasty