- Duration
- 1.5–2 hours
- Guide
- Audio guide included
- IWM's own guide
- Access
- Reserved time slot
- Step-free by lift · no large bags
- Ticket
- Mobile ticket
- QR code on your phone
Free cancellation · Full refund up to 24 h before
- Reserve now, pay later
About this ticket
Timed entry to the basement rooms where Churchill's War Cabinet met 115 times, kept much as they were in August 1945, with IWM's audio guide and the Churchill Museum.
- Walk the basement corridors where Churchill's government ran the Second World War
- See the Map Room, its wall maps still in place since the lights went off in August 1945
- Peer into the Transatlantic Telephone Room, disguised as Churchill's private lavatory
- Explore the Churchill Museum, tracing his life from Victorian childhood to state funeral
What you'll see
- Cabinet Room: where the War Cabinet met 115 times, with the Chiefs of Staff seated round a central well facing the Prime Minister
- Map Room: staffed day and night from 1939 until the lights went off in August 1945; its wall maps are still in place
- Transatlantic Telephone Room: a small cupboard made to look like Churchill's private toilet, hiding his secure line across the Atlantic
- Churchill's bedroom: where he made 4 of his wartime speeches
- Churchill Museum: opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 2005, telling the story of his whole life
Good to know
- Hours
- Daily 9:30–18:00, last entry 17:00. Closed 24–26 December. Our slots run hourly 9:30–16:30.
- Getting in
- Clive Steps, at the St James's Park end of King Charles Street, reached from Horse Guards Road. A lift links the street to the basement, 15 steps down.
- Bags
- No cloakroom or lockers: suitcases, wheeled luggage and large rucksacks aren't admitted. Bags may be searched.
- Ages
- Children 5–15 must come with an adult; from age 16 the adult price applies. Under-5s go free.
- Space
- Corridors are narrow, 68 cm at the tightest point, and can feel crowded. Free wheelchairs can be booked online.
The story
The Cabinet War Rooms became fully operational on 27 August 1939, a week before Britain declared war on Germany. Churchill became Prime Minister on 10 May 1940, and his War Cabinet met here 115 times, most often during the Blitz and the later V-weapon attacks.
Staff kept the rooms running day and night until August 1945, when the Map Room lights were switched off for the first time in 6 years. Imperial War Museums opened the rooms to the public in 1984, and Queen Elizabeth II opened the Churchill Museum in 2005.
How it works
- Book your date and timeReserve now and pay later: your booking is confirmed at once and we send a secure payment link within 24 hours.
- Enter at your slotShow your ticket at the King Charles Street entrance and collect your audio guide inside.
- Show your QR ticketOn your phone at the entrance or meeting point once your booking is paid. No printing needed.
What's included
Included
- Timed entry to Churchill War Rooms and the Churchill Museum
- IWM audio guide (included in admission)
- Temporary displays open on the day
Not included
- Guided 'Secrets of Churchill's War Rooms' tour
- Food and drinks
- Transport
Know before you go
- No cloakroom: suitcases, wheeled luggage and large rucksacks aren't admitted.
- Allow at least 90 minutes; corridors are narrow and can feel crowded.
- The entrance has 15 steps; step-free access is by lift from Horse Guards Road.
- Children (5–15) must be with an adult. Visitors aged 16 and over pay the adult price.
- Bring ID for children in case it's checked.
- Closed 24–26 December.
Questions travellers ask
Can I cancel?
Free cancellation. Full refund up to 24 h before.
Where do I go?
Churchill War Rooms, Clive Steps, King Charles Street, London SW1A 2AQ. The entrance is by Clive Steps, at the St James's Park end of King Charles Street. Arrive 10 minutes before your slot.
How long does it last?
1.5–2 hours.
Which languages?
Audio guide included (IWM's own guide)
What's included?
Timed entry to Churchill War Rooms and the Churchill Museum; IWM audio guide (included in admission); Temporary displays open on the day.
Do I need to print my ticket?
No. Your ticket is a QR code that you show on your phone.
When do I pay?
Reserve now and pay later: your booking is confirmed at once and we send a secure payment link within 24 hours.
Where to go
Churchill War Rooms, Clive Steps, King Charles Street, London SW1A 2AQ
The entrance is by Clive Steps, at the St James's Park end of King Charles Street. Arrive 10 minutes before your slot.
Why book with us
- Flexible Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Cancel or reschedule online from your booking.
- Mobile ticket Your QR ticket appears on your phone once your payment is received.
- Secure checkout Encrypted checkout. No booking fees.