Churchill War Rooms

Very interesting museum! Don’t stay too long in the middle section with dates — self exploratory exhibits– there still plenty to see once you come out on the other side! I made a mistake and had to zoom past most of it because I had no idea how much more there is on the other side and I was on my way to the airport:(

Fantastic! Great audio tour — go at your own pace. We went on a Summer day in late July, so we were nervous about the crowds. We waited in line for 30 minutes or so, but once in, not a factor. Really great sense of history here. If you are a Churchill or WWII buff, this is great. If you are not, I’d go see something else in London.

The museum and tour is good but really overpriced at £18. They give you a self guided audio player that helps you get through. The middle area has tons of information and while it is packed with things, it’s hard to understand what and why something is important. For example, there are awards and medals in a case but we aren’t told what each medal is and why it is actually important. The timeline table is cool but the touch functions didn’t work as well as planned. I was told the mapping room and Churchill’s bedroom was the must see places. They were cool to see but the area was so crowded that I was put off and not really able to grasp their importance. The very first room you see on the tour in my opinion is the most important room on the tour. After I saw the room, I felt like I’d seen enough and learned the significance of the place. I’m glad I came even though the price is steep.

This tour is excellent but look around for coupons as it’s not cheap (£18, going up to 19 in January). We were in Surry and took the train into London, and there were 2 – 1 coupon books at the station. You’re supposed to use the coupons while showing a valid train ticket, so you’ll need a return fare if you’re not traveling on the same day.
That said, the woman at the desk didn’t check the date on our tickets, so we were okay nonetheless.
The museum is fascinating but it was serious information overload. By the time we got halfway through, we couldn’t take any more, and decided we’d do the other half of the tour the next time we’re in London.
I would really suggest to the IWS to consider selling two-​day tickets so it’s easier to digest all that information.
The café is meh. Two sandwiches with drinks, £13, and they were ready made (ham and cheese) and just sitting out on the counter (no refrigeration, no sneeze guard, nothing).

If you’re a WWII history buff, or a Churchill fan, this place is a must! (So basically, most Americans will love the place. We dig Churchill. (Reminds us of our own bad-​ass Teddy Roosevelt, maybe?))
Restored and filled with TONS of cool artifacts, interviews with former staff, and an extra wing that is dedicated to all things Churchill that has some crazy high-​tech interactive museum toys, this was one of my favorite stops in London. They also had great details regarding Churchill and his wife Clemmie. That woman was the business.
So, cost of admission includes the audio guide, which is excellent. It also includes a small donation to the upkeep of the place. They’ll ask you if including the donation in your ticket is okay, and you should totally say yes. The bunker wasn’t designed with the forethought that one day, rabid Churchill and WWII fans would want to see it all for themselves. After the war, they literally closed up shop and walked away. It’s definitely worth a few pounds sterling. Otherwise — now that you know about said donation cost, you can now plan in advance the smooth way you’re going to say no to the donation if you want to.
I would suggest trying to get there early, especially if the forecast is calling absolutely for rain. Not only is it better when the rooms are a bit less crowded (I mean, c’mon, you’re in a bunker) but there’s not a ton of space to wait in line to purchase your ticket, which would leave you standing outside! Also, it’s a little different from other museums. If you’ve had a long day walking and need to rest your feet, you can sit on a bench anywhere in the National Gallery. Seating here is few and far between, so it’s best enjoyed with fresh legs (not the easiest to come by if you’ve been traveling for a while.)
The only disappointment was that they didn’t have any Churchill shot glasses or pint glasses or anything like that. The man liked a good drink — he would have approved! Or replicas of some of the weirder old school Churchill memorabilia. That would’ve been the perfect souvenir!

Interesting museum about the very secretive war rooms used by Churchill to plan attacks during WW2.
The museum is more about churchill’s life and personality than the war itself.
The £18 entrance fee gets you a free audio tour which lasts around 1 – 2 hours.

If you love WW2 history then this is the museum for you.
You’ll visit the underground tunnels where war effort was coordinate and also living quarters of hundred of men and women who worked there.
The audioguide gives a lot of details — we ended spending 2 hours down there.
The whole place is underground and has very narrow corridor and small rooms (hey it’s a wartime bunker, what did you expect?). Therefore they won’t allow you with big buggies or suitcases/​backpacks and they don’t have a cloackroom.
When we left around 1pm there was a very long queue. I would recommend going there first thing in the morning to avoid the crowd.
The place has a café and is accessible for wheelchairs.

There’s over 100+ reviews already… the war rooms are interesting but not worth the full price £18.but before you visit…
BUY THE LONDON PASS!!!
I only bought the 1 Day pass for £49($ 77ish), not cheap, but worth it! Get it at the Tourist Information desk at the airport or the booth near Leicester Square
The CHUN P Power-​Cardio-​One Day Tour of London:
£20 10am-​11am Westminster Abbey
£18 11:15am-12:15pm Churchill War Rooms…5 minute walk away from Westminster
£18 Thames River Cruise…5 minute walk to the dock, grab a quick take away lunch at Tesco, which will be on your left. Eat on the boat while trying to admire the Thames’s not-​so-​great scenery…
£24.50 1:30 — 3:30 Tower of London… have a coffee or tea break afterwards.
£9 4:00pm-Close Tower Bridge… this doesn’t take long to visit, maybe 30 – 45 minutes.
£89.50 TOTAL
Total Savings £89.50 — £49 = £40.50($ 62ish)
That’s what makes this attraction worth the money. at almost half price!
If you have more time and for a bit more £££££ you could buy the 2 or 3 day pass to see Windsor Castle (£19.20) and Kensington Palace (£17.50) for more savings.

Fine for what it is. Rooms kept as they were as much as possible. Still though it could be modernized with more av and more interactive opportunities. I think you could do this and still be true to the original building
Be careful of the attack sidewalk. They have carriage stones in the middle of the sidewalk out side. They are not lit, and there is no reflective tape. I came outside and was busy looking a
buckingham Palace, and went flying across the sidewalk, skinning up my knees and breaking my glasses. So be careful.

I love history! This museum is a really nice layout of actual bunkers with recorded commentaries of what life was like running the English side of the war from underground bunkers. Sir Winston was quite a man! I really enjoyed my visit there except for a guy in Admissions named Garrett who gave us a very hard time when we were trying to use our London Passes.

It’s absolutely wonderful. Such a great, illustrative way to convey history. it really made me understand what people feared with the Blitz and air raids, which is hard to imagine as a mainland American. I loved learning the Churchill side of history. And this is such a humbling recent reminder in a city full of old royal history.

Came here for the first time during my second trip to London — and this easily became one of my favorite museums IN THE WORLD!
It’s a surreal experience to just step foot into the actual underground «war rooms» where Churchill and his cabinet strategized during WWII. They’ve maintained the underground area beneath 10 Downing accurate to the time when Churchill used these rooms to make the big decisions during the war. It was extremely fascinating and informative, organized with many labels/​descriptions, nicely preserved, easy to navigate and very enjoyable.
The Churchill museum adjustment to the War Rooms was one of the most interesting exhibits I’ve ever been to. I didn’t think I’d be that interested, but the museum captivated me and I unknowingly spent two hours there due to pure fascination. It is a comprehensive museum of Churchill’s life with some interesting information about Winston Churchill himself. The museum is interactive and has many different types of exhibits. The audio commentary helps guide you through the museum at your own pace.
A must see see if you are into history

I don’t know what’s worse: not having my smart phone while taking a poo poo or going to this overpriced historical exhibit.
During my first trip to London, I came to this «War Museum» because many of my London friends recommended this spot for US tourists. I’m not a museum fanatic but I did enjoy Ben Stiller’s Night at the Museum as well as Ben Stiller’s Night at the Museum 2. I went into this war museum with lower expectations than people who join online dating websites. I went into this war museum with less hope than the Native Americans who used leaves to fight the European Settlers with guns. I left this museum more disappointed than a father finding out that he is having a daughter. I left this museum feeling more cheated than the Native Americans who met Andrew Jackson.
The audio tour is littered with advertisements to buy gifts throughout the museum. The only reason I give this place 2 stars is because Churchill was the man and the location is best-​in-​class.

It’s a very lengthy tour that is self guided and has lots for u to read & learn from. At times a bit too much. But enjoyable for wwii buffs & the like. They preserved this area for all to c & appreciate.

Beautiful homage to the sacrifices the British made during this particular period of WWII. Parts of the exhibition moved me to tears. Walking through the this basement bunker where Churchill and his staff worked during the London Blitz gives one a strong sense of history. There’s also a large exhibition on the history Churchill himself.
Admission can seem a bit pricey, but I thought it was well worth it. If you love to view old, vintage maps, and see vintage décor, or imagine what life was like living underground while bombs were dropping above you, while being responsible for the fate and existence of an entire country, this is a great place for you.
Bathrooms were in good working order. Modern and clean.

Self guided tour through the old rooms that were used during ww2 and where they lived/​ate. Was fantastic look at the history and what happened in England.
Highly recommend.

Ein historischer Schauplatz, der das wohl unterschätzteste «Museum» in ganz London beherbergt; keineswegs überlaufen, aber absolut sehenswert.
Die im 2. Weltkrieg nach den ersten deutschen Angriffen hastig eingerichteten Luftschutzkeller unterhalb der Regierungsgebäude sind nicht nur extrem gut erhalten, da sie quasi unmittelbar nach Kriegsende nebst Original-​Interieur verschlossen und versiegelt wurden. Die professionell-​zeitgemäße und mehrsprachige (!) Aufbereitung der historischen Fakten bietet außerdem gerade für Besucher aus Deutschland eine wesentlich vielschichtigere und lebendigere Betrachtung des damaligen Zeitgeistes, als sie der auf Nazi-​Verbrechen fokussierte deutsche Geschichtsunterricht je zu vermitteln imstande wäre.
Hier sieht es aus, als seien zahllose Bedienstete nur eben kurz zur Mittagspause an die frische Luft gegangen. Die beklemmende Bunker-​Atmosphäre ist allgegenwärtig; wenngleich die Räumlichkeiten top saniert und gut belüftet sind. Auch die Tatsache, daß sich die gesamten Anlagen direkt unter den regulär arbeitenden Britischen Staatsministerien erstrecken, verleiht dem Besuch besondere Authentizität. Ich weiß jetzt auch, wo die Hintertür zum Schatzamt ist…
Direkt an die historischen «War Rooms» angeschlossen und im Eintrittspreis inbegriffen ist das Churchill-​Museum, welches sich in umfassender und hochwertig aufbereiteter Weise dessen Lebenswerk widmet.
Es gibt hier so viel zu sehen und zu entdecken, daß man auch den Besichtigungsaufwand schnell unterschätzt: Wenigstens 2,5−3h einplanen — es lohnt sich!
P. S. Der Eingang befindet sich auf der St. James Park — Seite des Gebäudekomplexes.

History Channel buffs abound, this is a mecca for WWII facts. I could imagine being Churchill, drinking Pol Roger champagne, smoking cigars, and thinking of the fate of troops and the world. A small chapter of London’s history but a poignant one at that when the world took a massive inflection on how it would move forward through conflict.

Amazing. Not only are you learning the history but you are in the place the history happened. It is remarkable that it is so well preserved and so much has been done to present it to the public.
The entrance is at the eastern end of St James Park, on the opposite side from Buckingham Palace, and just south of 10 Downing Street. Understanding the geography is important – it’s location, underground, near the PM’s residence and so many war-​time offices explains it’s location. After seeing the exhibit, it’s necessity and place in WWII history becomes clear.
There is a recorded tour that you do at your own pace. This is a change from years ago when it was a guided tour. You follow a determined path through the corridors of the cramped basement. Most rooms have an audio explanation.
Early on, your tour detours into the Churchill museum. There, you learn about the man, his upbringing as the son of a wealthy Lord, and his path to becoming Great Britain’s most important leader of the 20^th century. This section alone, in a dark room where only the exhibits light up, are a wonder. There is a brilliant mix of artifacts, letters and interactive/​media elements. They even have his hat, and an actual ½ smoked cigar.
After an hour or so with Churchill, your tour continues through the labyrinth of this sub basement command center. You see the places people slept, private offices, kitchen and war-​time map rooms.
Expect to wait to get in – but it is well worth it and a must see.

I liked the Churchill War Rooms, but didn’t love them.
You do get to walk through the bunkers where pivotal war decisions were made. And each room has mannequins decked out in uniform. But each room had a plexiglass window, which separates you from the experience pretty significantly.
I would have liked to have known more about everything.
* Specifically what was decided here?
* How did the telephone scrambler work?
* What happened in each room?
* How did they decide to build the bunkers here?
* What kind of secrecy did they have to protect themselves?
Sometimes, the audio guide gives you answers, mostly not.
Does this place offer a chance to learn more from living veterans? That would be a nice addition.
I had to rush through the museum since my time was extremely limited, so I may have enjoyed this more if I was able to linger. In the end, the experience left me cold.
Also, $ 27/​person? Yowch!

You definitely get your money’s worth. In 2013, It’s £17.00 for adults, and the audio guide is included in the price.
This was only the 2^nd museum of our trip (if you count Edinburgh Castle) but with all the information on the walls, through the exhibits and interactive displays, and from the audio guide, it was as much as we could handle. We only spend the morning there (10am-11:45), but we felt that we’d seen as much as needed. If you wanted to read every morsel and complete every display, it could easily take a full day, which is why they have a café.
The Cabinet War Rooms, open since the 70’s, are displayed in a way that makes you feel part of it, without too much educational embellishment and no multimedia. With everything left mostly as it was when the war ended or rearranged to be a few years earlier in the war, complete with mannequins, I imagine it’s what it really felt like, without the threat of bombs overhead. There is a full wall of paraphenalia and quotes leading to the Churchill Museum, which gets quite crowded as the space becomes busier.
The Churchill Museum, opened in 2005, will send you into sensory overload. It’s never more than a few feet to another button to push or pull out to read or speech to be broadcast when you activate a motion sensor. It thoroughly covers Churchill’s life, though it starts with the war, goes through the end of his life, then back through his birth, his military action, and his early involvement in politics. You can try on some hats similar to his. You can practice reading code concerning war time operations. You can see his Nobel Prize for literature, as well as his rompers. Everything you could wish to know about Churchill could be found in the this space.
The space is kept quite cold (underground and concrete all around), so I imagine it would be nice on a hot day, and if it’s not a hot day, be prepared. There’s a sizable gift shop with lots of Churchill and war memorabilia. The staff was friendly. The toilets were mostly clean.
I recommend you add it to your list of London activities.

Musée très intéressant, qui dégage une tmosphère authentique. La partie consacrée à Churchill est extrêment bien réalisée
Seul bémol: le prix d’entrée (16£) et l’absence de vestiaire.

Ein sehr gut gestaltetes Museum, sehr eindrücklich, sachlich und fundiert. Wer alles sehen möchte, kann gut und gerne einen halben Tag dort verbringen — hätte ich vorher nicht gedacht. Auch der Audioguide ist sehr gut.
Sehr zu empfehlen ist auch das Café, u.a. mit einem ausgezeichneten high tea, wenngleich es etwas bedrückend ist, in einem Bunker teatime zu machen

Um zu den Cabinet War Rooms zu gelangen, muss man ein wenig durch die Seitengasen des Regierungsviertels gehen. Allein das ist schon interessant, die Leute zu beobachten und auch die Gebäude zu betrachten.
Die Cabinet War Rooms liegen logischerweise unterirdisch, waren sie doch die Kriegskabinettsräume der Regierung Winston Churchills.
Auch hier ist der Audioguide im Eintrittspreis inklusive.
Es k ommen viele Zeitzeugen (zumindest durch Zitate aus den Biografien) zu Wort, so dass man sich sehr lebendig einen Eindruck von den Zuständen in den Cabinet War Rooms machen kann. Der Besuch ist sicher ein Must für jeden, der sich für Geschichte interessiert. Sehr beeindruckend ist, dass man einen Auszug aus einer Rede Winston Churchills anhören kann.

Mes enfants (11, 14 et 19) ont ADORE et nous les adultes aussi ! Le lieu souterrain est conservé et bien mis en valeur, le musée interactif un MUST! Tout est moderne, informatif et ludique en diable.
Petite pause super sympa dans la toute petite salle de restauration Soupe aux légumes de St-​James park, s’il vous plaît!
On y aurait passé la journée si on avait prévu plus de temps!

Auch von mir 5 Sterne für dieses einzigartige und sehr gut gestaltete Museum. Sehr bemerkenswert fand ich die liebevolle und (fast) originalgetreue Darstellung dieses historischen Ortes.

Die «Cabinet War Rooms» und das in den gleichen Räumen untergebrachte «Churchill Museum» liegen ein wenig abseits und versteckt. Versteckt deshalb, weil es sich um den Originalbunker aus dem 2. Weltkrieg handelt, in dem die Führung Englands, im besonderen Churchill, die Kriegsgeschicke führte.
Die Ausstellung ist nur wenig patriotisch oder glorifizierend. Man versucht hier vielmehr ein Gefühl dafür zu vermitteln, was in diesem Bunker während des Krieges passiert ist, wie die Leute gelebt haben und wie ihre Gedanken waren. Die Informationen zu den einzelnen Stationen werden einem über einen Audioguide (auch in Deutsch) näher gebracht. Es ist schon ein wenig bedrückend durch die engen Gänge zu gehen.
Ein großer Raum beschäftigt sich mit dem Leben Churchill, sowohl aus privater als auch aus militärischer und politischer Sicht. Beispielsweise war mir bis dahin unbekannt, dass Churchill die gescheiterte Landung englischer Truppen in der Türkei im 1. Weltkrieg leitete. Man erfährt einiges zu seinen Vorlieben und Marotten. Für diesen Teil der Ausstellung sind aber gute Englischkenntnisse von Vorteil.
Die «Cabinet War Rooms» haben auch ein Café, in dem eine kulinarische Pause eingelegt werden kann.
Rundum zwei gelungene Austellungen, die man als historisch interessierter Mensch auf jeden Fall in sein London-​Programm aufnehmen sollte.

Très instructif
C’est le cabinet de Guerre de Churchill pendant la seconde Guerre Mondiale avec le célèbre téléphone rouge qui permit les échanges transatlantiques secrets. Très bien pour les étudiants.

Sous tes reins
Les bombardements allemands avaient conduit les anglais à aménager des salles souterraines, abris servant de refuge aux services essentiels du gouvernement qui furent délaissés et refermés dès la fin de la menace. Cette longue fermeture a permis de les préserver, et ces pièces souterraines ont depuis été retrouvées, miraculeusement conservées, ce qui permet un voyage dans le temps, l’on se croirait à l’époque du Blitz. La visite est impressionnante, on croit entrer dans le décor d’un film de guerre, mais c’est du vrai, de l’authentique, là d’où Churchill résista à la menace nazie…