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Clive Steps, King Charles Street, Westminster,
2 reviews
1 review
Located in the basement of a government building in the heart of London, the Cabinet War Rooms were hurriedly converted on the eve of the Second World War to emergency underground accommodation to protect the Prime Minister and the British Government against air attack. In operational use from 27 August 1939 to the Japanese surrender in 1945, these rooms were to become the vital nerve-centre used by Winston Churchill, his War Cabinet and the Chiefs of Staff of Britain's armed forces.
Winston Church is much celebrated man but this museum is the first to remember is life and accomplishments. The museum merges revolutionary technology with rare and important historical artefacts. This permanent exhibition is displayed inside the distinctive setting of the Cabinet War Rooms, the hush-hush underground headquarters that fronted the British war effort between 1939 and 1945. It is amazing to think about the extraordinary events that took place here half century or so ago.There is also a great audio tour to accompany any visit as all guests are offered a free personal sound guide, available in English and for any tourists in French, German, Italian, Spanish, Hebrew, Dutch and Mandarin.
Carum
This is an excellent museum and not to be missed if you have any interest in WWII. The Churchill Exhibition is very well done with plenty to keep the whole family occupied (although young children may struggle). We only expected to be in there for an hour or two, but ended up spending close to 4 hours reading, listening and watching many of the exhibits. As is the case with many of the tourist attractions in London the entry can be a little steep, however if you have an Oyster Card (which I would recommend getting if you are visiting London) you can currently get 2 for the price of 1 entry.
Once visited, The Cabinet War Rooms are one of those places that you will never forget. Over the years I've taken many friends and family there on countless occasions and each time, I (we) experience something new. On my last visit, we had time to read the terrible casualty lists suffered by Londoners of all age groups during nightly bombing raids. These lists were written up daily by the London Fire Brigade and Police. Today they serve as a sharp reminder to all of us in one way or another as to what we think democracy and freedom is and the awful sacrifices made by past generations to ensure it was maintained ! Tourists, disabled access, audio equipment and personal assistance available.
Wheely