Churchills War Rooms a Must See?

Eleanor,

Things to do/see is a subjective matter.

If you all dont like WWII history or see where London's WWII version of "Cheyennes Mountian" is, then dont go.

just my opinion and 0.02.

How much is expensive? You all are spending THOUSANDS of dollars to go over there for some reason. The entrance fee for an adult is about 30 USD (United States Dollars). For me to get over there (just round trip flight only) will cost me 1300 USD. that entrance fee of 30 USD is < 5 % of what it cost me to go over there and i cant go to the local corner museum in my home town to see one like it. Again, if no one in your party is interested in WWII or Churchill, then dont go. Thats how i do/see things.

Also, its a "guide" book, not a Bible. There are assumptions in any guide book and books for that matter. So take all of the recommendations with a grain of salt.

Happy trails.

Time is limited when you travel. I would not spend my time that way unless I had seen everything else I wanted to see and do...also....I agree. X4. It is pricey. Better way to spend money doing what you want.

For us, a "must see" as our interest level is high. That being said, I wholeheartedly agree with what Emma said: if there's no interest, don't spend the money. Such a subjective choice should be made by you and/or each of your traveling companions.

The War Rooms were one of my favorites. But I have an interest in WWII and Churchill, and history in general. Just think, if one well-placed large bomb or a cluster of bombs had landed right, for the Germans, during the London Blitz, Churchill and a large part of his military high commend would have been killed and the English would likely have surrendered, leaving Hitler free to turn all his forces against Russia and probably won the war. So, yes, the Churchill War Rooms are very important. For an idea of what that would have been like, you might want to read a novel by Len Deighton, "SS-GB." But, people have all sorts of reasons for visiting London. If modern history is not one of them for you, then I would recommend skipping the War Rooms.

Don't forget you can get 2for1 admission if you show a national rail ticket on entry http://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/

Also I think they are a place that inflate the admission with a 'voluntary' donation which you can decline.

There is no such thing as a "must see." You should go to the places that interest you and are worth your limited time and money. Of course, it is always good to expand your horizons and see things you wouldn't ordinarily experience, but it's your vacation.

The museum is very good on Churchill's biography and on WWII. And the vignettes are interesting to see a bit of what life might have been like down in the bunker during the Blitz. But if none of that interests you, then don't go and don't feel guilty about it. I've never been to the Tower of London...

Just there two weeks ago. My wife and I and our 23 year old enjoyed the war rooms very much. Yes its a bit of money. So develop your list of things to see and move items up and down a little. Albert and Victoria museum (free) was on our list but we didn't make it. We did make the British Museum (free) and enjoyed that. This is a large crowded exhibit so plan more time there.
If you can swing it take 2 unlocked phones with you and walk in almost any store when you get there and buy a sim card for texting. Cost us 15 lbs to use two phones for two weeks. This allowed us to split up. Very important? But very nice
Across the street is the Museum Bar where Karl Marx hung out. Nice little pub where you can get cider and beer. More fun for dad than the museum.
Maybe consider getting oyster cards as soon as you get there. At Heathrow. You can take the tube in to London and save big bucks. Use this savings to pay for a tour? I am not a subway rider. We went everywhere on the tube and only took one wrong turn. This is where packing light matters.

My British friend just went back home last May and told me that this is a sight that we should see. She loved it and recommended it. That said, we are going to London in a couple of weeks and because we have only so many days to see so many things in London, we are going to take advantage of most of the free attractions, but have picked out at least two sights, Tower of London and the War Rooms to see and pay for. We may still try and go to Windsor Castle depending on how we do in London. But all this depends on what your family is interested in. Several years ago we went to France with two other couples and the guys were so excited about seeing Normandy. I thought it was low on my list and in the end was almost my favorite part of the trip.

My suggestion is to visit the Imperial War Museum. Admission is free! The museum covers more history - from the late 1800s with Great Britain's conflict in South Africa to World War II with added material on contemporary conflicts particularly those involving ethnic cleansing - so if the displays about a particular war aren't too interesting your family can move to to another conflict. The Churchill War Rooms, as I recall, really looks like an office setting while the Imperial War Museum will let you experience, for example, trench warfare in WWI or inspect weapons such as tanks and mini-subs up close.

Definitely agree with Geor. Imperial War Museum is excellent. And The National Army Museum is also packed with lots of exhibits. Both museums are free.

I have been to the Secret Wartime Tunnels at Dover Castle and thought those were a lot more interesting than the Churchill War Rooms.

We thought the Churchill Museum was very good, for some of the reasons others have given, and, FWIW, I thought it was much more interesting than the tunnels at Dover Castle (which were also good, to be sure). But if it doesn't sound interesting to any of your family, for heaven's sake don't go just because someone calls it a "must see." I wonder how much pleasanter many museums, castles, etc. would be without all the people who are taking up space there only because they "must see" them. Follow your own interests on your own trip.

It's sometimes a good idea to branch out a little and explore something that might not be on your list or anyone's "must see" list. We "discovered" the London Museum and Sir John Soames' Museum that way and were glad we did, but we struck out with the Science Museum and the Victoria and Albert (I know, I know, it's a "must see"). But that kind of exploration requires spare time and is easier if the admission is free or cheap. Follow your own path, just be sure to remember to LOOK RIGHT when you step off the curb!

The true must-sees are always personal, for me. In London that included Portobello Road (thanks to reading the Paddington bear books 40 years ago), the Blue Plaque on P.G. Wodehouse's home and the War Rooms--love British history and that era in particular. I won't spend money anywhere to see something I'm not interested in on a personal level.

I saw them when I was in London last summer and really enjoyed them. The attraction is actually two related exhibits – the war rooms and the Churchill museum. If you have an interest in 20th century history I think this site worth a visit. The war rooms are essentially preserved as they were at the end of the war and the Churchill museum is really thorough and interactive presentation on one of the great leaders of that era. The audio guide which covers both and is included in the ticket price is pretty good and was a favorite of my kids. However, if this site doesn't make the cut for your list don't stress it. I skipped them during my first visit to London many years ago.

Good luck!

Eleanor,

They were a "must see" for me as I'm very interested in WW-II history. Whether they will be interesting to your family will probably depend on your interest level and also the ages of your children. If you do some "homework" prior to the trip to learn the history of the Cabinet War Rooms and what took place there, it will probably make the visit a lot more interesting.

Everyone else has beaten me to it, but I'll just reinforce that RS guidebooks are only his opinion, that the only "must see's" are the places you personally must see, and that you cannot see everything in London in one trip (or many trips), so you must always be selective. If reading about a sight (from several sources, not just RS) doesn't make it sound inspiring, then skip it in favor of one that calls to you.

And don't overlook the possibility that a place you don't have any interest in now will be of great interest on a future trip (that's happened to me in various ways, several times).

Eleanor, What made them a "must see" for me was simply that I'm an acute Anglophile and wanted to learn as much as I could about what London went through during WWII. Rick mentions a lot of "must see's" but there is not always time for all of them. The IWM is excellent. And free. We saw The 1940's house when we went. If you go there and it sparks your interest, The Cabinet War Rooms might become a must see for you, and after that Bletchley Park.

Don't spend any money going someplace someone else tells you to go. I'm glad to see you're actually doing research. Lots of people do not,

We visited London in 2011 and visited the War Rooms. I went in not expecting much but I was highly impressed going through it. I had no idea what the people of England went through in WWII. For example, each person had a weekly food ration that wouldn't fill a salad plate. The people of London gave up food so that the troops could eat. It was moving and facinating. That being said, it does take time to go through the War Rooms. Allow a minimum of 2 hours, and if you really want to read all the exhibits and take it all in it could take 3 or 4 hours. There is so much to see in London. Budget your time well. If WWII interests you I think you will enjoy this. But it needs to fit into the schedule of all the attractions you want to see in London.

My husband and I really enjoyed our visit but he is a WWII buff and knows a lot about the entire war.

If you are still undecided, go to YouTube and search on Churchill War Rooms and you can watch a 6:44 video with the director. He does a brief tour showing Churchill's bed, chair, maps, etc. and you can get an idea of what it has to offer.

I am not that much of a war buff but I thought it was fascinating. You can easily see it in an hour or less if you don't linger in the room that is dedicated to the ENTIRE life of Winston Churchill. I think the war rooms are unique...many things are exactly as they were left when the place was sealed the day the war ended. It's a snapshot of an extremely important time in the history of the western world. If you have the time to fit it in without it bumping something else off your list that you really want to see, then I think it's worth the time and $$.

One more opinion here....I've been a couple of times, the first time or 2 was back in the 80s after it first re-opened and there were no audio guides. I loved my most recent visit with the audio guides and the audio stations dotted throughout. I thought hearing the interviews with some of the secretaries and others who worked there, their views of Churchill, and how it was to live/work underground in an absolutely secret location (in the middle of London!) really brought the whole war effort to a very personal level. The disclaimer on my opinion is that I am the child of parents who were both in the military during WWII and already felt a personal connection to American contributions but this really helped me understand a little of what Londoners might have experienced in the dark days.

Having said that, I also agree that must see is in the eye of the beholder/visitor.

If you don't make it this time...you can pick it up on the next trip!