Churchill War Rooms (Imperial War Museum) · 런던 웨스트민스터
Location
Overview
The Churchill War Rooms are the secret underground bunker beneath the Treasury in Whitehall from which Britain's government directed the Second World War. The original Cabinet War Rooms, where Winston Churchill and his ministers and military chiefs met, are preserved almost exactly as they were left when the site was abandoned in August 1945. Run today by Imperial War Museums (IWM), the site pairs the historic bunker with the biographical Churchill Museum, making it one of Westminster's most popular history attractions. In 2026 it operates on timed-entry tickets, and its location beside Parliament, Westminster Abbey and Downing Street makes it easy to combine into a half-day history walk.
The Map Room: the round-the-clock nerve centre, where the Convoy Map is still peppered with tens of thousands of tiny pinholes tracking Atlantic supply convoys, frozen exactly as it was in August 1945.
The Cabinet Room: where Churchill and his ministers took decisions that shaped the war; scratch marks on the arms of Churchill's chair hint at how tense the meetings could get.
The Transatlantic Telephone Room: disguised as a private lavatory, it hid the secure line for Churchill's top-secret calls with President Roosevelt.
The Churchill Museum: a vast collection tracing his life, from a rattle he used as a baby and Graham Sutherland's sketch for his 80th-birthday portrait to the flag that draped his coffin at his state funeral.
Churchill's bedroom-office and the advisors' bedrooms, restored to convey what daily life underground was really like.
Good to know
RulesEntry is by timed ticket, so booking online in advance is essentially required. You may arrive within 30 minutes of your slot (a 10:00 ticket admits you up to 10:29), and early arrival does not guarantee earlier entry.
CautionBuy only from the official Imperial War Museums site (iwm.org.uk). IWM does not endorse third-party resellers, which may charge inflated prices or issue unreliable bookings.
SeasonIn the June-August peak, and over Easter, school holidays and bank holidays, morning and midday slots sell out weeks ahead; book 2-3 months in advance for summer. To avoid crowds, choose a weekday's first 09:00-9:30 slot or arrive after 3:30pm.
RulesA free audio guide is included, but it is offered mainly in English, several European languages and Mandarin. Plan accordingly if you rely on other languages, or look into a separate guided tour.
MannersThe bunker has narrow corridors and rooms preserved behind glass. Keep noise down, do not touch exhibits or barriers, avoid flash and tripods, and don't block the passageways for other visitors.
SafetyWestminster, Whitehall and the Underground are busy tourist areas where pickpocketing occurs; carry bags in front and keep valuables secure. The site is underground and can feel cool, so bring a light layer and allow at least two hours.
Practical info
The nearest stations are Westminster (Jubilee, District, Circle lines, about a 4-minute walk) and St James's Park (about 7 minutes); the address is Clive Steps, King Charles Street, SW1A 2AQ, and buses 3, 11, 12, 24, 87, 88, 159 and 453 stop nearby. For 2026 the site opens Sun-Thu 9:30-18:00 and Fri-Sat 9:00-18:00 (last admission 17:00), daily 9:00-18:00 from June to August, and is closed 24-26 December; opening hours and prices (adult roughly £25-33) can change, so check the latest on the official site before you go.
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