Churchill War Rooms

The Churchill War Rooms are a preserved underground bunker in Westminster that served as the command center for the British government during the Second World War. The complex spans several levels and includes offices, sleeping quarters, a map room, and technical facilities that enabled operations beneath the surface.

The facility was built in 1938 as a secret government refuge and remained in continuous operation during the air raids on London from 1940 onward. After the war ended in 1945, the rooms were sealed and only opened to the public as a museum decades later.

The underground complex shows rooms left as they were on the final day of use, with wall charts, telephones and typewriters still in place. Visitors see the plain furniture that reflects life under constant threat, along with personal items belonging to staff who spent months below ground.

Entry is through a modern entrance hall from which visitors descend into the historic rooms, which are kept at a constant temperature. Audio guides in several languages accompany the route through the narrow corridors and low ceilings of the bunker.

A separate museum section is devoted entirely to the prime minister's life and features an interactive timeline tracing his entire career. The original door to his office still bears scratches from visitors who knocked in haste.

Location: City of Westminster

Inception: 1984

Official opening: 1984

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Part of: Imperial War Museums

Address: Clive Steps, King Charles Street

Phone: +442079306961

Website: https://iwm.org.uk/visits/churchill-war-rooms

GPS coordinates: 51.50222,-0.12930

Latest update: December 4, 2025 23:41