The Attentive Traveler – London, England – Churchill War Rooms

This excellent sight offers a fascinating walk through the underground headquarters of the British government’s WWII fight against the Nazis in the darkest days of the Battle of Britain. It has two parts: the war rooms themselves, and a top-notch museum dedicated to the man who steered the war from here, Winston Churchill. It was an excellent final stop on our visit to London.

The 27-room, heavily fortified nerve center of the British war effort was used from 1939 to 1945.

Churchill’s room, the map room, and other rooms are just as they were in 1945.

As you follow the one-way route, the excellent audioguide explains each room and offers first-person accounts of wartime happenings here.

Be Patient – it’s well worth it. 🙂

While the rooms are spartan, you’ll see how British gentility survived even as the city was bombarded – posted signs informed those working underground what the weather was like outside, and a cheery notice reminded them to turn off the lights to conserve electricity.

It was absolutely amazing what they did from right here… underground.

Don’t bypass the Churchill Museum, which occupies a large hall amid the war rooms.

It dissects every aspect of the man behind the famous cigar, bowler hat, and V-for-victory sign.

It’s extremely well presented and engaging, using artifacts, quotes, political cartoons, clear explanations, and interactive exhibits to bring the colorful statesman to life.

You’ll get a taste of Winston’s wit, irascibility, work ethic, passion for painting, American ties, writing talents, and drinking habits.

the exhibit shows Winston’s warts as well: It questions whether his party-switching was just political opportunism, examines the basis for his opposition to Indian self-rule, and reveals him to be an intense taskmaster who worked 18-hour days and was brutal to his staffers (who deeply respected him nevertheless.

A long touch-the-screen timeline lets you zero in on events in his life from birth (November 30, 1874) to his first appointment as prime minister in 1940. When World War II broke out, Prime Minister Chamberlain’s appeasement policies were discredited, and – on the day that Germany invaded the Netherlands – the king appointed Churchill prime minister.

Many of the items on display – such as a European map divvied up in permanent marker, which Churchill brought to England from the postwar Potsdam Conference – drive home the remarkable span of history this man influenced.

Imagine: Churchill began his military career riding horses in the cavalry and ended it speaking out against nuclear proliferation.

Churchill guided the nation of Britain through its darkest hour. His greatest contribution may have been his stirring radio speeches that galvanized the will of the British people.

It’s all the more amazing considering that, in the 1930s, the man I regard as the greatest statesman of the 20th century was seen as a washed-up loony ranting about the growing threat of fascist Germany.

Give the war rooms a chance.

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