Churchill War Rooms — Museum Review | Condé Nast Traveler
"Zoom out. What’s this place all about? The Churchill War Rooms, situated just next to Green Park and the Mall, are legendary. These were the secret underground headquarters where British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill lived and managed the war effort from during WWII. Best of all it's all underground. A modern bunker 75 years ago, it's fascinating to wander through and consider all that occurred down here, and the fateful decisions made. What will we find in the permanent collection? The war rooms were the nerve centre of British government operations during Second World War. Alongside that, the attraction also doubles as the Churchill Museum where you can find out about this iconic figure's 90-year long life and legacy. This is a place where you'll easily find yourself spending three hours, discovering everything from the Cabinet War Room intricately preserved with its maps and documents to the original door of Number 10 Downing Street. All the rooms were once top secret and the Map Room in particular fascinates with its plethora of geographical charts, as well as the Transatlantic Telephone Room. Disguised as a private toilet it housed a secure radio telephone link direct to the President in the White House. In fact, anyone who's seen the recent Churchill movie The Darkest Hour will recognize that much of it was filmed here. The museum also features numerous documents and artifacts from Churchill's personal life including letters and a noiseless Remington typewriter on which state documents were printed. Any temporary exhibits worth seeing? There are regular temporary exhibits like the ‘Wartime London : Art of the Blitz’ show, with drawings and paintings from the likes of Henry Moore, Eric Ravillious and Evelyn Dunbar. Remember this is an underground bunker, so it's not the easiest place to host an art show, but that doesn't detract from the art itself. What did you make of the crowd? Kids love the war rooms (they are underground after all) and there's lots of step-back-in-time things to see and imagine. Anyone who has a passion for WWII, history, and Churchill of course will also love the place. Entry is timed so you won't be crowded and it's easy to get around and see everything. On the practical tip, how were the facilities? The museum is fully wheelchair accessible. An underground museum dating from the 1940s is of course going to be more difficult for anyone with mobility issues, but it's still doable. (Otherwise, don't expect to do much sitting here.) Any guided tours worth trying? The audio guide comes with your ticket and provides an extra insight into the operations that went on during the war, including sounds and speeches of the time. It's a fabulous guide to how the place actually functioned. How's the gift shop? It's mostly books and t-shirts, and Union Jacks, very Blitz spirit indeed. Is the café worth a stop, or should we just plan on going elsewhere? If you fancy a tea or coffee there is a cafe here, but it's not much to write home about. And considering you're minutes away from Covent Garden and Soho above ground, it might be best to save your food and drink cravings for the massive choice of places outside. Any advice for the time- or attention-challenged? While you'll probably stay longer you could get round the Churchill War Rooms if you just wanted to look at the space and not read much, but once you get into it I kid you not you'll be reading everything, and listening to some of Churchill's commanding speeches is mesmerizing." - Ramsay Short
