Churchill War Rooms - Exhibitions And Displays - See Whats Here

Exhibitions And Displays

There's so much to discover at Churchill War Rooms. We recommend allocating two hours for your visit, so you have time to explore both the historic Cabinet War Rooms and the Churchill Museum.

Your ticket includes an audio guide and there is a café on site for when you need a break.

Below, read about the different displays and exhibitions inside Churchill War Rooms, take a look at our highlights and discover more about safety and facilities on site.

To help you plan your visit in advance, download a copy of the Churchill War Rooms map (PDF).

Churchill War Rooms highlights

See fascinating new displays

Combining images, footage and oral histories, five key areas have been transformed including the Chiefs of Staff Conference Room, where a new film projection and narration transports visitors back to the tense summer of 1944.
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Discover the Cabinet Room

“This is the room from which I will direct the war.” – Winston Churchill May 1940. Stand inches away from the room where some of the most important decisions about the course of the war were made.
Get up close to the world-famous door

See the original Number 10 Downing Street door in the Churchill Museum. Churchill first walked through this door as Prime Minister on 10 May 1940.
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56 years of marriage

Read letters between Churchill and his beloved wife, Clementine, and learn more about the woman behind the wartime Prime Minister.
Explore the Churchill Museum

The museum is divided into five 'chapters': War Leader, Cold War Statesman, Young Churchill, Maverick Politician and Wilderness Years. Plus a special exhibition on Churchill and the Middle East. Entry to the museum is included in your Churchill War Rooms ticket.
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Be guided through the War Rooms

Every ticket includes access to our audio guide that will take you through the top secret rooms and corridors of this historic Second World War site. Available in a selection of languages.
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As seen in the movies

Fans of the Academy Award winning film ‘Darkest Hour’ will notice that the War Rooms feature in the film. The place where some of its most dramatic scenes really happened, the cast and crew often visited to draw inspiration and ensure historical accuracy.
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The beating heart of the War Rooms

Walk through the top-secret rooms and corridors, once accessible only by those with the highest security clearance.
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Sweet tooth

Sugar cubes left behind by Wing Commander John Heagerty are now on display in the Map Room. They were discovered there in the early 1980s.
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Cooking up a storm

See how food would have been prepared in the War Rooms. Some of the pots and pans belong to Winston's cook, Georgina Landemare, who offered her services as chef to the Churchills for the duration of the war.
Private line across the ocean

The Transatlantic Telephone Room was disguised as a private toilet. In fact, the room was used to house a secure radio-telephone link between the Prime Minister of Britain and the President of the United States.
Hear rousing speeches

In the Churchill Museum, listen to some of the wartime Prime Minister's most famous and stirring speeches.
A quiet working environment

See one of the Remington 'Noiseless' Typewriters. Imported from the United States as an order from Winston Churchill to reduce unnecessary noise, these typewriters were in constant use in the War Rooms.
Browse our shop

The Churchill War Rooms shop has a wide selection of gifts, souvenirs and books.
Working for Winston

‘We were told never to tell our parents where we worked.’ Hear from some of the men and women who worked in this top-secret bunker during the Second World War.
Military efficiency

Marine orderlies would be used as guards and for setting up before important meetings. Before the war, ten Royal Marines were brought in, but by the end of 1942, there were more than 60 on site.
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Explore the corridors

Walk the once top secret corridors and follow in the footsteps of those who worked here during the Second World War, including Winston Churchill.
Wired for sound

See the BBC's Broadcasting Room. The equipment situated in Room 60 Left was connected directly to the BBC's Broadcasting House and made it possible for Churchill to deliver speeches from the War Rooms.
Free digital guide

Use the Bloomberg Connects guide to listen to curators unlock the stories of those who worked here and the importance of what they did for the war effort. Bloomberg Connects is available to download on the App Store and Google Play. You can start before your visit or download it at the museum using our free public WiFi.

Churchill War Rooms Displays

Things to do with your family

There's plenty for families to discover, learn and enjoy! Step back in time and explore Churchill's underground nerve centre.

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Discover Second World War secrets

Whether studying the Second World War in Year 6, or Churchill's wartime leadership at Key Stage 3, Churchill War Rooms is the perfect place to delve deeper into history.

More for families
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Get hands-on

Discover engaging interactive exhibits in the extensive Churchill Museum. Find out fascinating facts about Churchill himself and his extraordinary life.

More for families

Facilities

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's Park. Once inside, the historic Churchill War Rooms is wheelchair accessible throughout. For more information please follow the link to our accessibility guide below.

Our accessibility guide
Lockers and luggage

We are unable to store luggage as unfortunately we have no cloakroom or lockers. As our corridors are narrow we ask visitors not to bring in large items such as rucksacks, suitcases, pull along baggage or large holdalls.

The nearest place to store suitcases is Charing Cross Station.
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 to 5pm with last orders at 4.45pm, hot food served until 3pm. Please note our Café is only available with admission to the museum.

More information
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 gifts are inspired by our collections and the stories they tell. We accept cash and card.

Shop in branch or online using the link below.

Visit our online shop
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.
Audio guides

Audio guides are included in your admission price and provide an intriguing insight into Churchill’s Cabinet War Rooms.

Choose from the various language and descriptive audio guide options: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Hebrew, Portuguese, Mandarin, Russian, a family guide and a descriptive guide for visitors with visual impairment.
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.
Making the most of your visit

Look out for our friendly and knowledgeable volunteers (wearing red uniforms) to find out what's happening onsite on the day of your visit and to help you make the most of your experience.
Donations

IWM is a 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.

Donate Now

What's Here Churchill War Rooms

Exhibitions And Displays

Churchill War Rooms highlights

See fascinating new displays

Discover the Cabinet Room

Get up close to the world-famous door

56 years of marriage

Explore the Churchill Museum

Be guided through the War Rooms

As seen in the movies

The beating heart of the War Rooms

Sweet tooth

Cooking up a storm

Private line across the ocean

Hear rousing speeches

A quiet working environment

Browse our shop

Working for Winston

Military efficiency

Explore the corridors

Wired for sound

Free digital guide

Churchill War Rooms Displays

Things to do with your family

Discover Second World War secrets

Get hands-on

Facilities

Accessibility

Lockers and luggage

Eating and drinking

Shopping at Churchill War Rooms

Filming and photography

Audio guides

Safety at IWM

Making the most of your visit

Donations