This was by far the most interesting site we visited in London! We bought tickets a few days in advance and came at 3p. There was no line and someone came to the door to get us. We checked in and grabbed out audio tour. There was a kid's version of the audio guide and it was great! You start off walking through the space and learning a bunch of history. A little before midway is the museum, which we spent of our time in. The exhibits and displays were very well put together and interactive. From there, we continue on the one-way path and saw where they did the mapping, which was largely unchanged and was my favorite room. We were there about 2 hours and felt that we saw everything. read more

We wanted to see the London Version of the War rooms. All underground and in place the same as the last day of the WW2. Now we ve seen both. I never knew he held so many military titles. And so many military authority positions. You really learn his whole life here. read more

Churchill War Rooms - front door - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - London, XGL

The Churchill War Rooms were one of the most memorable parts of my trip to London. It's amazing how well everything has been preserved. Walking through the underground bunker feels like stepping right into World War II. You can almost imagine Churchill and his team working tirelessly down there during some of Britain's toughest days. The exhibits are really well done and full of interesting details, from the maps still pinned with battle plans to Churchill's personal office and bedroom. The audio guide is fantastic too and its easy to follow, with just the right mix of stories and facts. Even if you're not a huge history buff, it's a fascinating experience and gives a real sense of what life was like during the war. I left feeling inspired and with a whole new appreciation for that period of history. Definitely worth a visit if you're in London. :) read more

Churchill War Rooms - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - London, XGL

If you are a fan of Winston Churchill you must go to the Churchill warm rooms. This is the command central for World War II and Churchill command center. It is well preserved and has interesting memorabilia about Churchill himself and various World War II information and pictures. They actually have his hat and cigar here preserved. It was a tad expensive but well worth it if you are a Winston fan. read more

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Since we are history fans, in particular WWII history, we looked forward to this tour as we booked it far in advance. The tour did not disappoint. It was very interesting to see the war room facilities and how they set them up. Most interesting is it's not a bunker and incredibly was not hit by bombs during the war. It's also fascinating these rooms were forgot about until 1981 and several of them are exactly as they were found. Much respect for Winston Churchill, the Allies, and this entire generation of people who all put their lives on the line to defeat the Axis powers. This place takes you there! read more

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Among the most fascinating and evocative of London's historic sites are the perfectly preserved Churchill War Rooms Set below the heart of the government buildings in London, this huge underground bunker is where Winston Churchill directed the majority of the war effort during World War 2. The nerve-center from which Prime Minister Winston Churchill directed British military campaigns and the defense of his homeland throughout World War II, their simplicity and cramped conditions underline the desperate position of England as the Nazi grip tightened across Europe. it is covering both the life and times of Churchill, as well as providing insight into the rooms themselves and the people who spent so many years of their lives working away in secrecy underneath London during the war years. You'll see the tiny cubicle where Churchill slept and the improvised radio studio where he broadcast his famous wartime speeches read more

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If you're a history buff, especially the WWII era, then you will like visiting the CWR. After entering, you will receive headphones and a device to give you an audio tour which can be as short as 1 1/2 hours or longer if you want to read all the displays like me. Choose your own adventure. Before WWII began, Churchill understood the real threat that Nazi Germany posed to the WORLD and had the daunting task of convincing not only the UK, but the US and USSR, too to join forces to defeat the sociopathic megalomaniac. While the prickly Churchill wasn't a perfect person (and who is?), he was the right person at the right time to gather unlikely bedmates to unite and defeat the tyranny that could have changed our world forever. During the audio tour, you have the opportunity to hear from people who worked at the CWR which was interesting to hear about life underground. When the war ended, the CWR was closed up just the way it had been left and was re-opened as a museum when the powers that be understood that there was great interest in the CWR. read more

This exhibit came highly recommended from 3 people and it didn't disappoint. Chock full of history and interesting information guided by an audio tour it's a can't miss!! read more

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I had been waiting to return to London for 25 years, and I had never been as an adult. When this changed in May, I knew I had to return to one of my favorite sites, as a history lover. In no way did it disappoint. Clearly this museum has gone from strength to strength! The audio guide works well and is easy to follow for everyone involved (take notes, Tower of London). Everyone working there is super helpful, too, if you are confused! The displays are easy to understand, yet descriptive without shying away from complex explanations. I am happy to report that the already-outdated-in-2000 wax figures have been updated tastefully and now reflect advances in wax figure technology (or however you'd phrase such a science!). Nothing looks hokey or contrived. The movement around the tight hallways can be annoying when it's busy, but I can understand that they want to preserve the historical footprint to ensure its accuracy. It is a bit odd that the museum devoted solely to Churchill (as opposed to the War Rooms overall) is entirely within the space, positioned to be in the middle of the War Room wandering plan. This breaks up the flow a bit. It would've been better if this came at the beginning or end, though this also might have to do with preserving the historical layout. Also, the Churchill museum part is terrific, since it goes into immense depth about Churchill and provides incredible artifacts, from the flag draped over his casket to the original 10 Downing Street door from his era, replaced a few decades later due to IRA threats. I cannot recommend this museum highly enough! Don't go in a rush - there is so much to learn. read more

During our recent stay in London, one of the highlights was visiting the Churchill War Rooms. This was where Winston Churchill (who later was Queen Elizabeth's 1st Prime Minister) and his staff directed their WW2 efforts from this subterranean bunker. Hundreds of people served in this underground command center over the course of 6 years. We saw and were fascinated by the map room, Churchill's phone hot line room (disguised a bathroom), his bedroom, and many other spaces (largely untouched) that helped the Allies win the war. Helpful Docents were readily available to tell stories and help fill in some blanks. From the street, the entrance to the Churchill War Rooms is rather plain, which even today speaks to the hidden nature of this place. There's also a comprehensive Churchill Museum as part of the tour, plus a cafe and gift shop. Gayle and I were here for a full 2 hours and found the size and scope of what we saw to be very manageable. read more

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Overcrowded. Disorganized. Expensive. Seems like the entire set up is designed to run as many people through as possible without regard to being able to actually gain any insight into life in the bunker. The self guided audio is disjointed and certainly not intuitive. I gave up on it since it was constantly requiring my attention to function. Many exhibits are not visible due to crowds of three or four people standing with their noses glued to the window while the constant flow of new arrivals pressures you to move on. The number of people with huge backpacks effectively increases the space required for 30% more people and makes crowd navigation much more difficult. All in all it was an unpleasant experience, though it might make a good place for incubation of infectious disease. read more

Terrific view into what the British dealt with during WWII. The AV guide is excellent and the Churchill museum is really good, if hard to figure a way through. I would not want to be in there with a very large crowd of people as it can be pretty tight, but it was a fascinating look at how they managed the war efforts, especially during the Blitz. read more

This is considered a hidden gem housing the underground nerve center where the British government directed the WWII & the Churchill Museum. We walked through the top-secret corridors & imagined what life would have been like during the tense days and nights of the war. We saw Churchill & Clementines b rooms, map room, dining room, kitchen, secretaries room, security, switchboard, typing pool for 11 women .... The headset brought the experience to life. In the museum we moved through his birth to death; it was fascinating! The audio headsets & interactive exhibits were very well done. I learned & remembered many forgotten facts. We passed a large cafe & ends in an extensive gif shop.. read more

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This was a much larger museum than I had originally thought. What a wonderful place to visit even if you are not typically a fan of WWII . The story behind the way Churchill settled on this location and directed its renovation is quite fascinating. If you have 2 hours available I do suggest swinging into this museum read more

Totally fascinating and worth it. You don't even have to be a WW2 history buff to appreciate this place. Being underground and seeing the actual rooms where Churchill directed the war efforts was incredible. The included audio tour was very helpful, informative and entertaining. There is also an additional Churchill museum downstairs that is part of the exhibit, which is very interesting. I highly recommend booking tickets in advance online and still getting there early to line up. I didn't have tickets in advance, but arrived 20 minutes before they opened and was third in line. Once they opened, they let waves of people with reservations in first, then one party at a time in the non-reservation line. I only waited for about 10 minutes once they opened. read more

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Great start to our river cruise (London/Paris/Normandy beaches) to visit here. I am pretty sure I visited the rooms in early 70s but if so it looks very different now. Our tour was able to enter at 8am so we got ahead of the usual crowd. And there was a crowd at 10am. Take advantage of the self-directed audio tour and get a lot of what is shown. Remarkable that UK was able to run there part of WW2 just 10 feet underground in such cramped quarters for six years. The back part of rooms is all about Churchill from birth to death. You get quite a lot of his history making achievements in the exhibits. read more

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Fascinating preservation of an essential part of WWII history. The rooms are interesting to peruse, and the free audio guide is very well done and engaging, including snippets of interviews with people who actually worked there during the war. We arrived an hour prior to closing, so we only spent time in the war rooms, rather than looking through the museum exhibits. Staff was friendly. Admission is a bit pricey, but considering the free admission to other great London museums, I guess it balances out. Keep in mind that this is essentially a bunker, so the hallways can be a little narrow and confined. If you're a little claustrophobic, this may not be right for you. read more

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What an amazing tour. Rooms and facilities exactly as it was during WWII. Rich history of the blitz and Churchills life throughout. Interactive and superbly organized. Audio tour included in admission price. Lovely cafe and gift shop on premise. This is a MUST DO item on any London visit. read more

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On the day New Year's Eve (2024) we went here early (10AM) to explore things before the night celebration. The museum is very close to Big Ben and parliament and in the middle of everything. So great location. The museum is in a subterranean location that was built just before WW-II. They have tried to preserve it as much as possible as it was originally. It gives you a great sense of all the different functions needed to coordinate a major war effort in a time with limited technology. It gave a nice perspective on Churchill as a person, the cabinet and staff around him, and how they tried to stay on top of things. The walk through the cabinet room, staff offices, bed rooms, ... was very interesting and the audio head-sets gave a nice narration of the various rooms and associated activities. Certainly, good use of 2-3 hours of time if you are in the center of the city. read more

I REALLY wanted to love this tour. I'm a huge fan of WW2 history and Churchill as a leader. I took the guided tour and learned absolutely nothing that couldn't have been included on a headset. When I went back through WITH the headset, it was deeply disappointing. No details about what decisions were made or the process of decision execution, etc. The Churchill museum was a complete mess. Instead of a logical layout, it takes you through a maze of Churchill artifacts that are (loosely) grouped by time period--starting with WW2. Instead of laid out in the form of a story, you bounce from one exhibit to the next without truly grasping the decades of service this great man gave to his country. Churchill would be horrified by the lack of order and precision. As arguably the greatest leader of the 20th century, he deserves better than a basement museum with a muddled story. read more

Definitely unique among the grand Victorian architecture and brawling beautiful parks and squares is a somewhat darker history of the underground offices of Winston Churchill and his team planning out what to do for the country during WWII. I did not buy tickets in advance and arrived first thing in the morning and the line wasn't too bad. There is a separate line for ticket holders and non-ticket holders. Later in the day the lines were longer when I left, so be there first thing or be prepared to wait. They only let limited people in at a time and the obvious reason is these are narrow, claustrophobic hallways that a number of people lived in for long periods of time in order to serve their country. The audio tour guides around as one part is on meeting rooms and living quarters and the rest is an exhibit on the life of Churchill. The timeline is a little out of order, starting with WWII then going to his childhood, but you get a nice delve into his life before, during, and after the war. It is cramped for sure, and of all my tourist visits it's the least pretty and romantic space, but it's an important look into what life was like trying to run a war while the possibility of being bombed was very real. You really have to respect everyone from the phone operators to the very top decision makers trying to keep a level head and keep morale up in what must have been smoky, dank, sunless, joyless rooms. A lot of the rooms were just as they were left, as when the all clear was given, I imagine people couldn't wait to get out and never come back. Definitely an important and meaningful visit for any history fan in London and worth getting in early. read more

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Big WWII buff, so this tour was a must for me while in London. Not a bunker, but a basement, this is the actual place where the legendary PM called the shots during WWII...in a basement right below the large treasury building. Saw "Our Darkest Hour" a week before, so I was super jazzed to see the actual location where some of the scenes were based. It's a popular tour, so it's best to get your tickets online. Otherwise you'll have to wait a while. The tour is well organized and takes about an hour and a half or so, depending on your attention span. The museum itself isn't so large, but it's very well organized. It's a bit tight in some areas, so if you're claustrophobic, you might want to pass on this. At the beginning, they give you a phone-like device that gives you an audio tour at each station. If you want the full experience, it's best to follow the numbered signs and listen to the phone. Otherwise, you can just walk through and look around, which is perfectly fine as well. Yes, some of the rooms have been restored for obvious reasons, but others have been kept the way they've been since the war era. One of the last rooms you'll see, other than the gift shop, is Churchill's bedroom, the largest and most comfortable looking one in the basement for obvious reasons. Great tour, reasonably priced and fun! read more

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Absolutely a must for any war enthusiasts or Churchill lovers! I've avoided this jewel for several years before finally visiting it and quite happy I did. First off, get the city pass, you will save quite a bit of pounds doing so as it includes other great spots as well! Secondly, expect large lines due to the small size of the museum. Once you do get in though, expect to spend at least two to three hours inside as there is so much to see! If you are a war enthusiast, it will fit the bill, but more so if you are a Churchill fan. I spent so much time learning more than I thought I'd ever about the greatest leader of Britian. It does not lean on the times of war in Britian and Churchill, but basically the entirety of his life, so quite fascinating. Bring some hand sanitizer as there are a lot of interactive screens and devices, so just a pro tip! Make sure to have this marked for a visit if visiting London anytime soon! read more

This was my husbands only request for our trip to London and so we got a private guide to go here for 2 hours. It was honestly my least favorite attraction in London, but more so cause it's not really my thing...I did like it more than I expected. My favorite part was seeing the war rooms, which hasn't been touched much since the Churchill days. The museum part was interesting, but massive and took a lot of time to get thru it all - this is where we found our guide super helpful. 1 out of 3 kids was a fan, but coming here made my husband happy and he said it was definitely a highlight. In fact, he enjoyed it so much he followed it up with a trip to the imperial war museum while i took the kiddos to Hamleys toy store. So everyone was happy that afternoon! read more

My wife and I visited in early September 2024. We booked our tickets in advance and arrived in plenty of time to be at the front of the queue before the museum opened. Thankfully. I would not recommend doing otherwise. Being our first vacation without child, we expected all the kids to be back in school so attractions like the War Rooms would be practically empty. How wrong we were. Every other couple now without kids had the same idea as us, and the place (as was every attraction we visited this trip) was PACKED like sardines. This slightly took the edge off our enjoyment of the tour and museum as we were constantly tripping up and avoiding people. It was hard to get to see everything in the museum, and the audio tour felt rushed as the throng of visitors piled up behind us. We spent two hours here and most of that was dancing around other guests. For the price I don't feel this was overall good value. All that aside - it's an unavoidable side-affect of a hugely popular attriaction - the museum is a fascinating insight to the life and work of a man we all know by name, but whom I knew very little actual fact about. The War Rooms tour takes you back to that time, and paints a vivid picture of what it was like down in the bunker, and the sacrifice those working there made. The fact the rooms were left in the state they remain, as the day the war ended, tells us how quick (and no doubt happy) they all were to get out of that place. read more

This is an underrated must-see during your trip to London. The Churchill War Rooms came highly recommended from a few friends, but was on our "if-we-have-time" list. Needless to say, I'm so glad we ended up being able to make it! In addition to getting to see the actual war rooms, they have a museum space set up with a ton of artifacts from Churchill's life and daily routine including a few of his suits, the flag from his funeral, and more. It really gives you an exclusive view into Churchill's life before and as Prime Minister. If you don't know a lot about England's role in WWII, go with an open mind and you'll learn all about it. If you're so-so on this, or don't have it on your itinerary, add it immediately! This is one of the pricier museums in London at £30 for adults, but it includes a donation that they will happily remove, bringing the price to £27.25, or £24 for students. It's absolutely worth it! I'm not typically huge on audio tours, but this one really gave a great perspective. If you've ever been to the Sixth Floor JFK museum in Dallas, this audio tour and setup reminded me a bit of that. read more

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It seems that not many people know of this museum. My husband is a Churchill fan, so I did. This is a very thought provoking and nicely laid out museum. If you are a history buff, you MUST visit here whilst in London. read more

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I visited the Churchill War Rooms on my last day of a 2-month visit to London. Even though it's close to Westminster Abbey, the IWM site is more or less inconspicuous -- I suppose this is to play into the covert and secretive nature of its history. The Churchill Museum was neatly detailed and covers everything from his early life, political experience, relations with other leaders, writings and speeches, and of course the role he played in WWII and why exactly the War Rooms were such an important site. However, the cost of this detail was the maze-like layout and disorganization of the exhibit. It is very easy to miss parts, and the chronology of information is not the best. I'll still maintain that if you come here to learn a lot, you will. I felt that the audio tour, while free, was intended for a more younger audience. There were signs indicating which recording to press, but sometimes I skipped over it because I knew I'd get more utility out of reading the panels. My favorite part was the Map Room and seeing all the living quarters (especially Churchill's) which gave me a glimpse into what the "War Rooms experience" was like. On that note, I enjoyed the balance of educational material and the existential displays of how people lived and worked underground If you plan to visit, I would recommend visiting the Imperial War Museum in Southwark first. read more

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This museum in Westminster provides an amazing walk-through of the underground headquarters of Churchill and his staff during the Second World War. The ticket is pricy - especially considering its connection to the Imperial War Museum, which is free - but it comes with a great audio guide! Many of the rooms in the museum are on display exactly as they were left at the end of the war, down to the pins on the maps! At the middle of the museum is a chronological exhibit on Churchill's life and provides a good opportunity to sit down. One thing to note is that some of the rooms were quite narrow and they get crowded easily, so if you get claustrophobic you might want to arrive early to enjoy an empty museum. read more

I have to admit, the lady friend really wanted to go. You can get spoiled because you didn't have to pay for the Tate and other museums, but if you can get past the admission fee, this is a definite spot for history buffs (and I am one). The bunker rooms are well-maintained and I especially loved seeing the map room. There is an interactive area where you can see the various periods of Churchill's life. There are spots where you can feel claustrophobic, but for the most part, the museum is well-lighted and clean. It's worth the $. read more

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Calling ALL you Buff Men and Women out there that know and understand that Knowledge is Power and that learning from our past makes our present & future even stronger. I'm talking about you History Buffs! I myself wouldn't consider myself a history buff, but I certainly do appreciate history and understand its value. During my first trip to London, I was dumbfounded by the magnificent monuments before my very eyes that I had previously only seen in movies or on t.v. In that moment, I was staring at these monuments live, in person and was even taking the infamous selfie with things like Big Ben, Parliament, and Buckingham Palace. All of these famous sites are deep rooted in Britain's beautiful history and tourists from all over the world flock here every year to be immersed in the real life fairytale of London's history. We found out about the Churchill War Room via the London Go Pass and we are so happy we did. This hidden gem of a tourist site turned out to be one of my favorite parts of the trip and I'm not really a big museum guy. Showcasing the life of Winston Churchill during WWII and how he lead Britain to Victory through the 2nd World War, the War Room will give you an in-depth insight into what went on and how his legacy proceeds him today. It felt like you were stepping back in time as you got a small glimpse of the War that changed the world we live in today. Definitely a must see if you go to London! read more

Churchill War Rooms - Such a fun experience! - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - London, XGL

Nicely laid out....good informative signs..the audio is helpful..(people stopping to listen blocking narrow passage ways). Amazing all the items that have been preserved. As Americans it was revealing to see the War from the British perspective and all the things Churchill accomplished. The hidden gem is there little cafe...reasonable prices and very good items for sale..the women working there are quite lovely also. read more

My favorite place I visited in London! I could spend a week here. I'm not sure if they have multi-day passes but I hope so for when I come back next time I can spend hours/days here. They have done such a tremendous job of displaying so much memorabilia and the attention to detail they have put shown is incredible. Can't wait to come back. read more

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London certainly has a plethora of fun and interesting sites to visit. This one should be on your "Must-see" list. I feel the the name "Churchill War Rooms" is a bit misleading and does not do this facility justice. There are rooms after rooms and displays after displays of historical war exhibits to satisfy even the most intense history buff. But the appeal also extends to novices like myself, who enjoyed how well the information was presented. The reason I think the name should be more descriptive is because the facility has a lot of information about Churchill's entire life (not just his war activities). We spent three hours there and still did not see everything. I don't recall the admission fee, but it was reasonable. read more

We knew our history buff son would enjoy this museum, but it turned out the entire family enjoyed it. It is very well done and certainly worth the price paid. read more

This was on my list of must do things in London, and was non-negotiable. Although the visit of President Trump thwarted our plans one day, we were able to visit the day after. I was with someone in a scooter, as he is handicapped, and we got in immediately. There is also a caretaker admission, which is basically for the price of one, two people can enter the museum. The place is so magnificent. First, you are shown a few of the underground war rooms, then it opens up into this wonderful museum. There are some interactive exhibits, but the learning you do once inside is incredible. I never knew Churchill was an artist, and he was impressively good. They have his entire collection for you to see on a screen. They also have various correspondences between his wife and him, and it is evident he loved her very much. It was nice to see the human side of Churchill, not just the force. Following the main museum with artifacts, there were more parts to the war rooms. The gift shop was great as well. This was definitely the highlight of my trip to London and I would recommend this to anyone over 12. read more

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Of all the museums, tours, and other tourist attractions I've done in Europe, the Churchill War Rooms take the cake. Everything is incredibly well done, from the preservation of the rooms to the Churchill Museum. It really makes you want to learn more about Churchill. Take my dad for example. In my entire life, I don't think I've ever seen him read a biography or history book. As soon as we walked out of the War Rooms, he told me he was going to read a Churchill biography. As far as must-see attractions go, this is right up there. It is not flashy but full of substance. Don't leave London without making a trip here. read more

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Could have been so much better. Sophie at the front door was unbelievably rude. If you hate your job, don't work with people. Tour is audio based. Then there are guided tours in the middle blocking up the halls and clogging up the rooms. It's all poorly executed. read more

A unique and fascinating look into the tremendous effort and sacrifices that went into winning the war. Made me think how tough people can be when their lives depended on it, or simply that people were a lot used to living in an era when digital electronics and media didn't inundate our lives. It's a rather small museum but each stop along the audio guide is filled with engaging information. Expect to spend at least an hour here as you navigate to the various rooms that once housed key players in the war effort. In the gift shop, I picked up a tiny book that was issued to American GI's entering the UK. It's an interesting book about what to expect in terms of cultural differences between Americans and the British. I found most of those differences still exist today. read more

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quite the museum - divided equally between the war rooms and churchill hagiography. both were really well done. technology was integrated very well into the churchill part. the experience really brings to life just how many consequential decisions he made each day. puts into perspective just now inconsequential no wartime jobs like mine are read more