Churchill War Rooms

The Churchill War Rooms have been restored to their original state providing visitors with a strong sense of this time in history

Inside the Map Room in the Churchill War Rooms Museum
Inside the Map Room in the Churchill War Rooms Museum cc licensed photo by John Antoni Griffiths

The Churchill War Rooms is a museum located in the original Cabinet War Rooms which were central to the strategic operations of the British Army, the Royal Navy and the Royal Airforce during World War II. In 1984 the rooms were restored to their original state and opened to the public as a museum and subsequently, in 2003, there was a further expansion that added the quarters used to house Churchill along with his wife and associates.

This museum is part of the Imperial War Museums and offers visitors insights and a feel for one of the darker times in our modern history. The main hub of activity in the War Rooms was the map room where intelligence was gathered and displayed around the clock by officers and daily briefings were prepared for the chiefs of staff, the Prime Minister and the King.

During the latter part of the war another room, the Transatlantic Telephone Room, was used for a special encrypted telephone that allowed Churchill to make secure calls to President Roosevelt in Washington.

Today this museum receives over 300,000 visitors each year. The Churchill War Rooms are open daily from 9:30 am until 6 pm except for December 24-26. This museum does have an admission charge, however anyone aged 15 and under is free.

There are many other attractions within easy walking distance of the Churchill War Rooms Museum. Some of these include The Horse Guards Parade, Saint James's Park, Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Westminster Cathedral and the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. These attractions can be nicely combined into a memorable one or two day walking tour.

For more information about the Churchill War Rooms as well as exhibitions and hours visit their official website.

Facts For Your Visit

Fee: Yes

Regular Hours:
May differ on holidays

  • Monday: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Tuesday: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Thursday: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Friday: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Saturday: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Sunday: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM

Address: King Charles St, London SW1A 2AQ, UK

Phone: 020 7416 5000

Official Website: Churchill War Rooms

Reviews

Rated 4.6 out of 5 Star Rating

5 Star Rating Well worth a visit to see where Churchill ran the war underground. The museum is superb giving you some insight to a remarkable man. How close we came to losing the war many times. Well worth a visit!
Michael Gaffney-Dodds - a week ago

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5 Star Rating This is such a lovely place. It is very historical and loads information about the way the war handled and ran during the war. You can Churchill was a Conservative and not with the other parties. He was very focused on winning the war even when things were not going as planned. He was a true warrior and deserved more recognition. The people who worked underground were very special people, and they deserved a medal. Back to the place in this day and age now, the place has been very well restored and looked after. There is a very well run cafe and not too expensive with lovely food.
Paul Evans - 2 months ago

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5 Star Rating This was our favorite museum in London. If you have several days in London, you should add it to your list of things to do. It is walkable to Big Ben, Parliament, and Westminster Abbey. The museum about Churchill's life was very interesting. We learned things we never knew about him. And the war rooms were fascinating. How they lived during World War II. It was so good that we may go back again. We recommend buying tickets in advance.
Jim C - 2 months ago

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5 Star Rating Incredibly poignant and detailed experience that's a must when visiting London. You could almost feel the spirit of the war effort as you walked through the place, which was largely untouched from when the war ended. You really got a.feel for the spirit of everyone who worked down there during the war and feel the presence of Churchill all around. The audio tour was not too long but still had plenty of detail. Not cheap at £33 but you will be there for 2.5 hours easily
Phil Cook - 4 months ago

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5 Star Rating Depending on your interests, to me this is a filler. If this is your first time in London and you are short in time, I'd say just skip it and go to the highlights, unless you are really interested in WWII stuff. Don't misunderstand me, this is a great museum, really interesting and fascinating. I visit it during my first time in London, but I had one full week, which was plenty of time. I'd strongly recommend booking in advance and arriving as early as you can. This is definitely a must see, if you can't make it the first time, be sure to plan for your second visit. Truly incredible, and so packed of history.
Lucas Kovács - 5 months ago

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Directions

Tube Line Nearest Station Walking Time
Circle, District and Jubilee LineWestminster8 minutes
Northern and Bakerloo LineCharing Cross10 minutes

How to get to Churchill War Rooms by Tube

From Charing Cross Station exit to Trafalger Square and exit the roundabout onto The Mall and then go south (left) on Horse Guards Road to the entrance just right of the Clive steps and monument.

From Westminster Station take Exit 6 and go left out of the underpass, then go right on Great George Street and right onto Horse Guards Road to the entrance just right of the Clive Steps and monument.

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