What Visitors Say
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.
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.
It could be the most impressive museum I've ever been to. Every exhibit is incredibly well-made, with just the proper amount of information to read quickly and on to the next. Because of its tiny size, you should budget two to three hours if you want to see everything on a busy day. I didn't even realize we had been there for so long because everything was so captivating that the time flew past! It was strange to see things left exactly as they were after the war ended and the rooms closed, and the interactive exhibits are fascinating. There is undoubtedly a presence there, particularly when you hear the testimonies of the deceased.
The Churchill War Rooms is an incredible piece of world history that is quite unassuming and easy to miss from street level however, step inside and head underground and something rather special unfolds. The discreet entrance is tucked away at a corner of the building and you enter through the glazed doors and copper canopy roof. Stairs or a lift then take you underground to the reception area where you get further information on the war rooms but also, this is where you pick up your audio guide screen and headset that is all included in your ticket price. Toilets are available at this location should you need before you set off. As you start your exploration, each key stage is numbered and corresponds to a spoken and visual recording on your AV equipment. Multiple languages are available and the content is perfect…. Easy to understand and sufficient in detail. It’s hard to imagine that after WW2, this place was simply shut down and left just as the last people down here walked out and locked it up. The Churchill War Rooms is a superb piece of history that is set out to enable people to absorb themselves into the reality of what was going on down here, the significance of their work and life itself. There is so much to see, look at, listen to and watch and you would need a few visits to do it all in detail however, if you allow a couple of hours you will have had a thorough insight and a great experience stepping back in time. Plenty of helpful staff on hand along with a cafe and gift shop should you desire. The Churchill War Rooms is a great experience and something definitely worth doing if you have a couple of hours spare whilst in London.
Could very well be the most impressive museum I've visited. Each of the exhibits is extremely well done, with exactly the right amount of information to read in a timely manner and continue moving on to the next. It's a small space, so if it is a crowded day, and you want to see everything, expect to spend 4-5 hours. The time went by so fast because everything is so engrossing, we didn't even realize we had been there for so long! The interactive exhibits are fascinating and seeing things left just as they were when the war was over and the Rooms closed was surreal. There's definitely a presence to be felt there, especially as you listen to the stories of those who lived through it via the many videos. For any history buff, this is an experience you must do whilst in London. Thoroughly, utterly impressed.
Highlights
Cabinet Room
Where the war was runMinisters crowded this low-ceilinged room for nightly briefings; Churchill’s chair still faces the maps.
Core bunker, first rooms
Map Room
24/7 nerve centreStaffed around the clock through WWII, the Map Room is preserved as it was - Churchill spent D-Day (6 June 1944) here.
Bunker corridor, centre
Secret Phone Room
Secure US hotlineA cubicle masked the SIGSALY link that let Churchill speak privately with President Roosevelt.
Disguised ‘lavatory’ door
Churchill Museum
Life, leadership, legacyFrom school reports to wartime speeches and victory broadcasts, follow Churchill’s story in immersive displays.
Galleries off main route
Life Underground
Daily grind of the bunkerMess rooms, typists’ desks and bunks show how staff lived and worked without daylight for years.
Service corridors
Opening Hours
Fun Facts
The Cabinet War Rooms opened to the public in 1984; the spaces remained largely intact after their wartime closure.
Churchill spent D-Day - 6 June 1944 - in the Map Room as staff plotted the invasion and tracked convoys.
A ‘private toilet’ concealed the Transatlantic Telephone Room, using SIGSALY encryption for secret calls to the US President.
The bunker’s Map Room was manned 24 hours a day throughout the war, its walls layered with pins and string plotting ship movements.
The War Rooms form part of Imperial War Museums, alongside HMS Belfast and IWM London.
