Second World War
A Short History of The Cabinet War Rooms
Second World War
A Short History of The Cabinet War Rooms
During the Second World War, a group of basement offices in Whitehall served as the centre of Britain’s war effort. The complex, known as the Cabinet War Rooms, was occupied by leading government ministers, military strategists and Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
IWM HU 43777
Activity
Operation Black Door
Activity
Operation Black Door
26 November 2020
Churchill War Rooms
It’s the height of the Second World War. You are needed as part of Churchill’s top-secret workforce for a covert mission in his hidden headquarters, deep under the streets of Westminster. Join us for an after-hours immersive experience within Churchill War Rooms.
Top Five Churchill War Rooms Shop Products
Top Five Churchill War Rooms Shop Products
We have hand-picked some of our best sellers from the IWM online shop that will keep you entertained and captures the spirit of Churchill War Rooms.
©IWM
Churchill and the 1945 Election
Churchill and the 1945 Election
Winston Churchill is arguably Britain's greatest wartime leader, having led Britain from its 'Darkest Hour' in 1940 all the way to victory over Nazi Germany in 1945. So why, just months after VE Day, did he lose the 1945 General Election?
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Step back in time
Step back in time
Walk the labyrinth of rooms and corridors that stretch below Westminster that sheltered Winston Churchill and his war cabinet from the German bombing raids, and explore the Churchill museum to learn the story of his life and legacy.
London's Hidden Gem
©IWM
London's Hidden Gem
History was made in Churchill War Rooms – the underground nerve centre that allowed Britain’s leaders to plot the allied route to victory during the Second World War. Step back in time and walk the top secret corridors of the Cabinet War Rooms.
Get up close to artefacts revealing Churchill’s personal and political journey in the interactive Churchill Museum, which uncovers the influences and pressures that shaped his life, leadership and legacy.
How long will you stay?
© IWM
How long will you stay?
We recommend you give yourself at least 90 minutes to look around the Churchill War Rooms. However, with our on-site café and the amount of information to be found in the Churchill Museum, lots of people come for half a day or more.
Please note that queue times are longer during peak periods such as weekends and school holidays.
JOIN IWM TODAY - BECOME A MEMBER
JOIN IWM TODAY - BECOME A MEMBER
Help us continue to tell stories that deserve to be heard by supporting us as a member and uncover a host of benefits including free standard admission to Churchill War Rooms, HMS Belfast and IWM Duxford.
Location
Address
Churchill War Rooms
Clive Steps
King Charles Street
London
SW1A 2AQ
- St James's Park
- Westminster
Facilities
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Accessibility
We are committed to ensuring Churchill War Rooms is accessible to as many visitors possible. If you have mobility issues we recommend you make your way to our front entrance via Birdcage Walk by St James Park. Once inside, the historic Churchill War Rooms is wheelchair accessible throughout. For more information please follow the link to our accessibility guide below.
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Shopping at Churchill War Rooms
Our shops offer a wide range of inspiring and unique gifts, from books, clothing and accessories to vintage posters, homeware, toys and souvenirs, all inspired by our collections and the stories they tell. Shop in branch or online using the link below.
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Eating and Drinking
Our café specialises in classic British food, home-cooked pies, stews and tarts alongside a range of deli sandwiches and fresh seasonal salads. Open daily from 10am-5pm with last orders at 4.45pm, hot food served until 3pm. Please note our Café is only available with admission to the museum.
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Donations
IWM is a registered charity and relies on your support to help us preserve our unique collections for future generations. To help us preserve our collections you can donate cash or make a quick and easy contactless donation with a credit or debit card by tapping it at various locations around the museums. Alternatively you can donate online now on the link below. Thank you for supporting IWM.
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Filming and photography
You are welcome to take photos and video at our museums for personal, non-commercial use but please refrain from using flash or tripods. Our museums can get busy at times and we therefore ask that you do not film people without their permission. Please observe signage indicating where photography and filming is not permitted.
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Audio Guides
Audio guides are included in your admission price and provide an intriguing insight into Churchill’s Cabinet War Rooms.
You can choose to use your own headphones that will connect to our audio guides via the 3.5 mm standard jack.
Choose from the various language and descriptive audio guide options: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Hebrew, Portuguese, Mandarin, a family guide and a descriptive guide for visitors with visual impairment.
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Lockers and Luggage
We are unable to store luggage as unfortunately we have no cloakroom lockers. As our corridors are narrow we ask visitors not to bring in rucksacks or other large items, such as suitcases.
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Safety at IWM
The safety of our visitors and staff and the preservation of our collections are of the upmost importance to IWM. We therefore kindly ask that you allow sufficient time on entry to our museums for our staff to complete their security checks to ensure this is maintained. Please do not bring any prohibited items with you as they will be confiscated. If you see any unattended bags or packages or have concerns about security issues on your visit please report this to a member of staff.
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Floor Plan
To help you plan your visit in advance, please see the below link where you can download a copy of the Floor Plan.