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
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: YesChurchill War Rooms Hours:
Opening 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: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 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
Churchill War Rooms Reviews
Rated out of 5
Wow ! If you like history please go. What an amazing experience. Steeped in history. It has been preserved since world war 2 every room was filled with amazing artefact. There was the audio tour as well. Tickets are priced mid range however I bought the yearly membership so I can now visit again and the other sites. As it worked out to be more economical. The coffee I had was amazing as well in cafe. I felt I was sitting in world war 2. Go with friends family or by your self. But do go if you love history or just want to witness something that was from a time that turkey changed the world. I have studied about it in school but after this experience I was absolutely over joyed. Thank you to the volunteers and staff for making it a great experience.
Mr ADHD - a month ago
Awesome, one of the highlights of our trip. We visited on New Years Day and were allowed in early which was great as it was super cold. Wonderful history, we had the audio guides and they were easy to use and provided the needed info to appreciate what we were seeing.
In line with what others are saying the first stop (the cabinet room) is always crowded, but that's because it's the first stop on a timed entrance, the crowd thins out quickly, we hung back to appreciate it more. Pity it's no longer on the London Pass, and it cost a fair bit for our family, but still give it 5 stars.
Matt Wilson - 5 months ago
This is a great place to visit, especially if you’re a history buff. It’s amazing how well preserved the war rooms are. They’ve done a great job in keeping it well maintained. They offer a self guided tour which can take about 1.5 to 2 hours if you take your time are take in everything there is available. The gift shop offers some cool stuff but they have a couple of books that delve deeper into the history of this place.
joe h - 6 months ago
Frankly, historical aspects aside, it was a disappointing experience for me. £32 to visit such a tiny place, remain restricted to the corridors, and without a guide? I was out in less than 20 minutes. If you've previously been to Tito's Bunker in Bosnia, you'll appreciate my dismay. There, the place is huge, you are allowed to enter every room, truly live the experience, and have a mandatory guide by your side for more than an hour, all for about £11. Go see it on Google maps and you'll understand. I would have given more stars if the fee was £5.
Muhammad Aljisr Koprulu - 3 weeks ago
This place is a must-see for history lovers.
Incredible experience walking through the actual underground bunker where WWII was directed.
Seeing Churchill’s bedroom, the Map Room, and the Cabinet Room exactly as they were left is amazing. The museum section in the middle is very high-tech and provides a great look at Churchill’s life, they even displayed paintings by Churchhill himself.
Definitely book in advance as it sells out!
I W - 2 months ago
Directions
| Tube Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| Circle, District and Jubilee Line | Westminster | 8 minutes |
| Northern and Bakerloo Line | Charing Cross | 10 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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Photo Gallery
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Chiefs of Staff Conference Room in the Churchill War Rooms Museum cc licensed photo by heatheronhertravels -
Photo Credit: davidwilson1949 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Loco Steve - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: David Jones - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: transitpeople - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: davidwilson1949 - cc license via Flickr
