We are committed to ensuring Churchill War Rooms is accessible to all visitors. We hope the facilities we have introduced enhance your visit.

Churchill War Rooms Interior Hall

Accessibility guide

We have partnered with AccessAble to create an accessible guide to the Churchill War Rooms. Access the guide below (opens in new window).

General information

  • Unfortunately, the Churchill War Rooms does not have any cloakrooms or lockers. Therefore, we are unable to admit visitors with suitcases, pull along baggage, or large holdalls/rucksacks.
  • To keep everyone safe, all bags, rucksacks, packages and personal items may be searched before entry.
  • We have one baby changing facility near the start point of the tour. There are also highchairs available in the café, subject to availability.
  • The Churchill War Rooms can be very busy during weekends and peak holiday/tourist seasons. This may make the site unsuitable for those do not like crowds or are claustrophobic.
  • An air ventilation system helps keep the building at a comfortable temperature, however the number of people on site can change temperature levels. If you are concerned about heat in the summer months, we’d recommend visiting after 15:00, when there are usually less visitors. If you are concerned about the cold in the winter months, we'd recommend visiting around midday, when there are usually more visitors.
  • There is a video playing in the Chiefs of Staff Room which contains loud sounds of bombing and air raid sirens.
  • Please ask any volunteer or member of staff if you have any questions or need assistance. We will be happy to help you.
     

Audio Guides

Audio guides are provided with all general admission tickets. You do not need to bring your own headphones or devices; all necessary equipment will be provided when you arrive.

Audio guides are available in the following options:

•    English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Hebrew, Russian, Dutch, Portuguese, Mandarin, Swedish, and Ukrainian.
•    Audio described tour
•    British Sign Language (BSL) tour
•    Family tour, recommended for ages 12 and under. This is in English only.

 

For Wheelchair Users and visitors with limited mobility

  • Step-free access to the entrance is via Horse Guards Road by St James Park.
  • There are 15 steps between the basement and street level.
  • There is a lift to and from basement and street levels.
  • The Churchill War Rooms is wheelchair accessible throughout. However, please note the narrowest point of the tour is 68cm, and the tightest corner is 90 degrees.
  • Two wheelchairs and three foldable chairs are available to request at the ticket desks for anyone who needs assistance during their visit. These are subject to availability.
  • Wheelchair users need to be self-propelled or supported by a member of their party. Staff are not allowed to support visitors by pushing wheelchairs.
  • There are accessible toilets at basement level.
  • Seating is available at intervals throughout the building.
  • For disabled parking, the nearest Blue Badge bays are on Matthew Parker Street (215m), Old Queen Street (220m), and Queen Anne’s Gate (290m).
  • For the closest accessible public transport, please visit the Transport for London website.

For Blind and partially sighted visitors 

  • There are low and varied light levels around the historic War Rooms and the Churchill Museum. 
  • Audio described guides are available which provide additional directions and descriptions during your tour.
  • A large print transcript of audio guide content can be provided at the audio guide desk, subject to availability. These are available in English (adult and family tours), French, German, Italian, Spanish, Hebrew, Portuguese, Mandarin, and Russian.
  • There is a large print guide for the film playing in the Churchill and the Middle East section of the Churchill Museum, found on the right-hand side as you enter the room.
     

For visitors who are deaf or have hearing loss

  • The audio guide has a British Sign Language tour option. This includes closed captions in English.
  • Induction loops can be provided at the audio-guide desk, subject to availability.
  • Transcripts of the audio guide content are available at the audio guide desk. These are in English (adult and family tours), French, German, Italian, Spanish, Hebrew, Portuguese, Mandarin, and Russian. 
  • A large print transcript can also be provided at the audio guide desk, subject to availability.
  • There is a large print guide for the film playing in the Churchill and the Middle East section of the Churchill Museum, found on the right-hand side as you enter the room.
  • Videos throughout the Churchill Museum are subtitled in English.
     

For neurodivergent visitors

  • The Churchill War Rooms can be very busy during weekends and peak tourist seasons. This means the site may be more crowded, warmer, or noisier than usual, and may be uncomfortable for those who do not like being in crowds or queues.
  • There is a video playing in the Chiefs of Staff Room which contains loud sounds of bombing and air raid sirens.
  • There are low and varied light levels around the historic War Rooms and the Churchill Museum. 
     

Assistance animals

We hope that everyone who visits IWM enjoys their experience and are committed to welcoming and embracing the diversity of our guests and ensuring accessibility for everyone. 

We understand that some visitors will require the support of an assistance dog and we are happy to admit trained assistance dogs. 

Where possible, we encourage assistance dog owners to bring identification from organisations such as:

  • Assistance Dogs International (ADI)
  • Assistance Dogs UK (ADUK)
  • The International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF)

We also ask that assistance dogs are wear the appropriate tabard or harness. Not carrying ID or wearing a jacket is not a condition of entry but can help visitors by enabling staff to identify those who may need additional assistance. In cases where your assistance dog is not registered with ADI, ADUK, or IGDF, please understand that if it demonstrates inappropriate behaviour, we reserve the right to deny entry to ensure the safety and comfort of our staff, volunteers, and visitors. 

If you plan to bring more than one assistance dog or have multiple assistance dogs within your group, we request that you contact us in advance. This will help us ensure there are no delays in gaining access and we can meet the needs of the entire party.

For those intending to visit us with an assistance animal other than a dog, please contact us in advance to discuss your request. This is so that we can ensure there are no delays to your admission and we are able to facilitate your visit.

Water bowls can be provided at the café.

Animal safety at our branches 

Our branches are unique and historical spaces. They are unusual environments which can confuse or distress animals. Churchill War Rooms is an underground bunker with no natural light and long, narrow corridors. 

The accessibility pages for each of our branches contain more details on what you can expect and can help you in identifying any potential areas of concern prior to your visit. We also offer AccessAble guides for all our branches and our customer service centre can answer any questions you may have.

Contact Customer Services on: 0207 091 3067  or via our contact us form.