WWII Tour: Churchill War Rooms & Westminster

World War II was a difficult time in London. A time when rations were scarce and Nazi bombings split families, sending unaccompanied children to take shelter with guardians in the countryside. As the people of London struggled to stay alive, their leader Winston Churchill battened down the hatches. He took his most trusted cabinet ministers and assistants to a secret bunker under the treasury, where they set up planning rooms wallpapered with maps and carefully planned the downfall of Hitler.

Learn about some of the most important events in recent history and hear stories of great personal sacrifice and triumph on our Churchill War Rooms tours. We combine a guided Westminster tour with a visit to Churchill War Rooms to introduce you to what life was like in London during World War II. With an expert guide on hand throughout (specially chosen for their passion and knowledge of this fascinating time), you’ll travel through the political heart of London, getting acquainted with one of its most controversial leaders and with the personal stories that bring this fascinating time to life.

The tour begins with a guided walking tour of Westminster. Here you’ll explore British politics at 10 Downing Street and hear an introduction to Winston Churchill, a man who inspired love and hatred in equal measures. Your guide will tell you about his close relationship with President Roosevelt and how the two leaders worked together to defeat Hitler. You’ll see Westminster Abbey, the iconic clock at Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and the Cenotaph – the national monument for victims of war.

Westminster was the base for the exiled government and its spies, who gathered here to plot the overthrow of Hitler and his fascist allies. We’ll take you to the heart of this underground world when you visit the Churchill War Rooms.

Left exactly as they were in 1945, with pots still on stoves, maps hung on walls, and beds made up and ready for Churchill and his ministers, these corridors offer a glimpse into this time. You’ll use the official audio guide to hear speeches by Churchill and personal testimonials from those who worked here. You’ll see original furnishings like the special sun lamps they used to ensure that they got enough Vitamin D, and the meeting rooms where D-Day was planned.

You'll learn about the men and women who risked their lives to work here, transferring transatlantic calls to President Roosevelt and carefully plotting the routes of the Allied forces. Of course, the biggest character in this story is the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill.

Using the fantastic interactive displays at the Churchill Museum – including video excerpts, original radio broadcasts, newspaper caricatures, and testimonials – your expert guide will teach you all about the man behind the overthrow of Hitler. Famous for his inspirational (and often irreverent) speeches, Churchill is a man whose words you won’t soon forget.

With small groups of only 20 people or fewer, our Churchill War Rooms tours will be personal and unhurried, with a helpful guide that's easy to interact with. Travel back to another time in London’s history and get acquainted with the men and women who helped to shape, not just the course of the city, but the world as we know it today.