Frozen since 1945
When the lights went out in the Map Room on 16 August 1945, the rooms sat untouched for nearly four decades. IWM opened them to the public in 1984 — you now walk exactly where Churchill's war cabinet did.
Compare 2026 tickets · Whitehall, London
Churchill War Rooms Tickets
Descend into Churchill's secret wartime bunker — preserved just as it was left on 16 August 1945. Entry to the Cabinet War Rooms and the Churchill Museum in one ticket.
★★★★★ 4.7 (1,051)
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Why visit the Churchill War Rooms
Two attractions, one ticket
The historic Cabinet War Rooms and the award-winning Churchill Museum sit under one roof. Plan at least two hours — you'll want the full walk.
Right in the heart of Westminster
Steps from Big Ben, Downing Street, Westminster Abbey and St James's Park. Combine easily with a Westminster Abbey ticket and save 5% with the combo.
Inside the bunker
What you'll see inside the bunker
Best-selling combo
Add Westminster Abbey and save 5%
Britain's coronation church and Churchill's wartime bunker on one ticket — 5 % off vs booking separately. Both walkable in a morning. Over 77,000 bookings make this the most-picked way to visit both.
- Timed entry to Westminster Abbey
- Timed entry to Churchill War Rooms
- One combined booking — mobile ticket, instant confirmation
Live price comparison
Where to get the best Churchill War Rooms ticket
Prices refresh hourly from official partner APIs. We only earn if you book — that funds this comparison.
| Provider | Ticket | Price | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Best price
Headout
|
Standard entry ticket
No audio
|
£34.00 | Book | |
|
Headout
|
Entry + Political London Audio Tour
With audio
|
£48.30 | Book | |
|
Headout
|
Guided Tour: CWR + Westminster
Guided
|
£65.00 | Book | |
|
−5 %
Headout
|
Combo: Westminster Abbey + Churchill War Rooms
With audio
|
−5 % | Book | |
|
GetYourGuide
|
Entry + Political London Audio Tour
With audio
|
£34.00 | Book | |
|
Official IWM
Imperial War Museums
|
Adult · walk-in / official site
|
£34.00 | — | Book |
Nine secrets from the bunker
The stories the guidebooks miss
The Cabinet Room table was built for confrontation: three seats face the Prime Minister's chair directly, forcing the heads of Army, Navy and Air Force to argue their case eye to eye with Churchill.
The switchboard operators and typists were civilian women. During the Blitz many of them slept between shifts in the "Dock" — the cramped sub-basement below the War Rooms.
Sun lamps stood in the corridors — staff stripped to underwear between shifts to fight vitamin-D shortage underground.
Three sugar cubes were found in a drawer of the Map Room decades later — a Wing Commander's wartime ration hidden away.
A hand-drawn caricature of Hitler sits on a wall map in the Chiefs of Staff Conference Room to this day.
A small unmarked room housed the Transatlantic Telephone Room — a SIGSALY-encrypted line that let Churchill speak securely with President Roosevelt.
Churchill broadcast four wartime speeches live from a small bedroom in the bunker. Engineers were told to cut the line if any speaker deviated from the script — an order Churchill was, of course, allowed to break.
Churchill's War Cabinet met here 115 times — most often during the Blitz and the later German V-weapon offensive.
Weather boards hung in the main corridor to keep staff underground informed. During air raids, they were changed to "windy" as a running joke.
What visitors say
Verified reviews from real bookings
★★★★★
“The museum itself was incredible. So informative and unbelievably well preserved. One of those places you simply have to visit.”
★★★★★
“I'm a history lover with a particular interest in the Second World War. […] Walking through the underground bunker was fascinating.”
★★★★★
“All the instructions from the provider were clear and well organised. The war rooms were very interesting.”
★★★★★
“My husband and I were completely blown away from start to finish. […] We could have spent four hours or more in there.”
★★★★★
“I find the history of this place and of the people who lived in it fascinating.”
★★★★★
“Very well laid out and very comprehensive too. Highly recommended for anyone interested in history.”
Everything you're about to google
Frequently asked questions
When are the Churchill War Rooms open?
Daily 9:30–18:00, last entry 17:00. Closed 24–26 December. Occasional extended summer opening — check the IWM page before you go.
How much are Churchill War Rooms tickets?
The adult ticket costs £34 — this applies both at the official IWM counter and via Headout. Children 5–15 pay half; under-fives are free.
How long does a visit take?
The Imperial War Museums officially recommend at least two hours. Most visitors stay 90 minutes to two and a half hours between bunker and Churchill Museum.
How do I get to the Churchill War Rooms?
Address: Clive Steps, King Charles Street, London SW1A 2AQ. Nearest Tube stations St James's Park and Westminster (both a 3-minute walk). Whitehall bus lines 11, 24, 87, 88 and 159 stop nearby.
Can I bring luggage?
Suitcases and large bags are not permitted, and there is no cloakroom on site. The closest luggage storage is at Charing Cross Station.
Is the site wheelchair accessible?
Yes — step-free entry with lift access to the historic route. A small number of side spaces have residual steps; the IWM accessibility page has the complete detail. Some corridors are deliberately dimly lit for atmosphere.
Ready to walk in Churchill's footsteps?