Laura Bell is Director of Collections, Research and Learning. Laura has worked in museums for over twenty years, across national, local authority and private institutions.
Laura has worked on numerous capital projects including Jorvik, NMS's Collections Centre and the Royal Museum, Scotland's National Museum for the National Museums Scotland: Masterplan.
Laura has worked at the Royal Armouries since 2011 and has been in the director's post since 2017. Laura’s current role at the Royal Armouries includes being Executive Board champion for the Tower of London, director of conservation, curatorial, libraries, archives, registration and object loans, public events, live interpretation, community engagement, education, research, lectures and conferences, and is the director of the UK's National Firearms Centre.
Laura has a (Hons) Degree in Archaeology, a Masters in Museum Studies, and Diploma in Art Law and Ethics. Laura is Chair of the UK's Museums Weapons Group, a member of the Meyrick Society, is an external adviser on the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers Heritage and Collections Committee, is a University of Oxford Cultural Leaders Alumni and was a Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Leeds for five years.
Laura was elected Chair of the International Committee: ICOM Arms and Military in November 2025.