Cabinet War Rooms

Shortly after becoming Prime Minister in May 1940, Winston Churchill visited the Cabinet War Rooms to see for himself what preparations had been made to allow him and his War Cabinet to continue working throughout the expected air raids on London. It was there, in the underground Cabinet Room, he announced 'This is the room from which I will direct the war'.

In 1940, as the bombs rained down on London, Winston Churchill, his Cabinet, his War Cabinet, his Intelligence organisation and his staff met below ground in a fortified basement in Whitehall known as The Cabinet War Rooms.

They offered a shelter from air raids, a place to work, sleep and live for as long as necessary.

Today visitors can see it just as it looked during the war years.