This is a sponsored article on behalf of Churchill War Rooms.
London is always evolving. But some very special parts of it remain frozen in time. That includes the once-top-secret location where the course of the Second World War was forged, hidden beneath the streets of Westminster. Welcome to Churchill War Rooms.
This subterranean headquarters played host to the British government’s wartime cabinet, meaning Winston Churchill himself was a frequent visitor. Plenty of other men and women worked, ate and even slept here too, in rooms that have been left just as they were in 1945. We went underground to discover their stories, camera in tow:
First up? The labyrinthine Cabinet War Rooms. Their beating heart is the Map Room, where crucial strategic wartime decisions were made. Here, traces of Churchill’s top advisers remain. There’s the huge naval map, punctured with so many pinholes representing convoy movements that sections of it had to be patched up. There’s the manual calendar, set to 16 August 1945, which is the last day the room was occupied as a strategic site. There are even 80 year-old sugar cubes, left behind by Wing Commander John Heagerty.
The Cabinet War Rooms also include the bunker where Churchill’s war cabinet met (the clue’s in the name, isn’t it?) Highlights here include the Switchboard Room, which connected this subterranean HQ to the outside world; an alcove for transatlantic communication disguised as a private toilet; and Churchill’s own suite, reserved for the prime minister, his family and his staff.
You can find out more about Churchill’s life and impact in the Churchill Museum, housed within Churchill War Rooms. This interactive space is divided into six chronological zones, and boasts all sorts of intriguing artefacts. These range from one of Churchill’s famous ‘siren suits’ — the 1940s answer to a onesie — to the door of 10 Downing Street.
Believe it or not, we’ve barely scratched the surface of what Churchill War Rooms has to offer. Discover it all and more during your visit with the help of a multi-lingual multimedia guide, or opt for a guided tour. An early bird The Secrets of Churchill War Rooms tour offers an extra special experience, beginning before the museum opens to the public and allowing you to delve deeper into this fascinating space.
There’s a shop and cafe onsite if you fancy treating yourself. Oh, and speaking of food, Churchill War Rooms offers luxury afternoon tea experiences — just one of many special events that take place here throughout the year.
Churchill War Rooms, Clive Steps, King Charles Street (Westminster). Open 9.30am-6pm daily. Get your tickets today.
