The Cabinet War Rooms:  In 1940, shortly after World War II began in August, 1939, Winston Churchill and his wartime Cabinet moved into a facility built hastily in a Whitehall basement.  There, Churchill had living quarters and much of the staff lived underground until the war ended in August, 1945.  When the facility was vacated, everyone seems to have just walked out and shut the door, leaving this wartime headquarters as a time capsule.  In 1948, an announcement in Parliament ensured that the rooms would be preserved as a wartime memorial.  For decades, however, only VIP's were taken on an occasional tour of the long-unused rooms.  Most people did not even know the Cabinet War Rooms existed.

In 1981, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was instrumental in planning public access to this facility.  Three years later, the Cabinet War Rooms were opened to the public for the first time. 

Over the years, the area has been expanded to include more and more of the facilities used during the war.  The phones, the maps on the wall, the furniture - all are original.  Currently, a new exhibit is being carved out; it will open in 2005. 

Did You Know? While Churchill had living quarters in the Cabinet War Rooms, he hated staying in them.  During the blitz, despite fears for his safety, he was known to go to the roof of the Office of Works's building above and watch the damage being done to the East End. 

A weather signal was installed in the Cabinet War Rooms, comprised of a series of wooden signs, each one with a weather condition printed on it.  The appropriate sign could be pulled out into view.  A favorite was "stormy", something blitz-time London certainly was.

Churchill had a hot line to US President Roosevelt and other wartime leaders.  As this was a top-secret room, it was disguised as a lavatory.  Only a few of those living in the Cabinet War Rooms knew it was anything more than this. Churchill's presence in the room was signified by the bathroom door showing "engaged".

Admission:  Adults £5.80, Seniors £4.20
Hours:  October 1 to April 30 - 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
             May 1 to September 30 - 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Nearest tube:  Westminster.  Take the tunnel out of the station towards Whitehall as far as you can go.  This will put you at the corner of Whitehall furthest from the river.  Turn your back to the river (and the Houses of Parliament - Westminster Abbey will be on your left) and walk until you reach the edge of St. James's Park, a long city block.  Turn right and walk towards the Horse Guards Parade Grounds.  About half-way there, you will find the entrance to the Cabinet War Rooms.

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