Important information

There is currently no step-free access to Churchill War Rooms. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

We are working to get this issue resolved as soon as possible. If you have any queries, please contact our customer services team on 020 7091 3067 or via the contact us form. 

We are committed to ensuring Churchill War Rooms is accessible to all visitors. Each of our branches has a dedicated accessibility page with detailed information to help you plan your visit.

Access Guides

We have partnered with AccessAble to create an accessibility guide to Churchill War Rooms. 

Quieter times to visit

Churchill War Rooms can sometimes be crowded and noisy, especially during weekends and peak tourist seasons. This means the site may be busier, warmer, or noisier than usual. It may be uncomfortable for those who do not like being in crowds or queues.

The quietest times to visit Churchill War Rooms are in the afternoons after 3pm, although the museum may be busy with large groups throughout the day. 

Museum entry

  • Museum entrance and exit

    • Find us using What3Words: ///arrive.mime.rocky  
    • All access, including step-free access to the entrance is via Horse Guards Road by St James Park. 
    • There are 15 steps between street level and the basement. A lift is available for step-free access between these levels. 

  • Security and bag searches

    For the safety and security of all visitors, bag searches may be conducted before entry. 

Facilities

  • Accessible parking

    There are no parking facilities onsite. The nearest public Blue Badge parking bays are located on: 

    • Matthew Parker Street (215 metres)
    • Old Queen Street (220 metres)
    • Queen Anne’s Gate (290 metres) 

    These are not managed by IWM. 

  • Borrow a wheelchair

    Manual wheelchairs are available for loan, free of charge and they can be booked on our wheelchair reservation page.

    Wheelchair users need to be self-propelled or supported by a member of their party. Staff are unable to support visitors by pushing wheelchairs.

  • Lockers

    Churchill War Rooms does not have any cloakroom, locker facilities or pushchair/stroller/pram parking. We are unable to admit visitors with suitcases, wheeled luggage, or large holdalls/rucksacks.

    This is due to the historic nature of the site and limited space available. 

  • Lifts

    Churchill War Rooms has one lift to and from basement and street level. 

  • Toilets

    All toilet facilities are located at the start of the tour. 

    Accessible toilets available are:

    • Three gender-neutral accessible toilets, including one baby changing facility. 

  • First Aid

    If you require First Aid during your visit, please approach a volunteer or member of staff. They can contact one of our trained First Aid responders. 

  • Seating

    Bench seating is available in the Churchill Museum. 

    Folding stools are available to borrow from the ticket desk, subject to availability. 

Information for wheelchair and mobility aid users

Churchill War Rooms is wheelchair accessible. However, the narrowest point of the tour is 68 cm, and the tightest corner is 90 degrees.

Visitors may wish to transition to an IWM manual wheelchair. 

Gallery information

  • Lighting

    There are low and varied lighting levels around throughout Churchill War Rooms. 

  • Gallery temperature

    An air ventilation system helps keep Churchill War Rooms at a comfortable temperature, however, the number of people on site can affect the temperature level.

    If you are concerned about heat in the summer months, we’d recommend visiting after 3pm, when there are usually less visitors. If you are concerned about the cold in the winter months, we'd recommend visiting around midday, when there are usually more visitors. 

  • Audio Guides

    Audio guides are provided with all general admission tickets. 

    You do not need to bring your own headphones or devices; all necessary equipment will be provided when you arrive. 

    The audio guides are available in accessible versions in the following languages: 

    • English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Hebrew, Russian, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Mandarin, Swedish and Ukrainian.
    • Family tour recommended for ages 7 and over. This is in English only. 

  • Large Print Guides

    A large print transcript of our audio guide content can be provided at the audio guide desk, subject to availability. These are available in:

    • English (adult and family tours), French, German, Italian, Spanish, Hebrew, Portuguese, Mandarin, and Russian. 

    There is a large print guide for the film playing in the Churchill and the Middle East section of the Churchill Museum, found on the right-hand side as you enter the room. This is also available online

  • Subtitles

    Videos throughout the Churchill Museum are subtitled in English. 

  • British Sign Language (BSL)

    The audio guide has a British Sign Language tour option. This includes closed captions in English. 

  • Induction loops

    Induction loops can be provided at the audio guide desk, subject to availability. 

  • Audio Description

    Audio described guides are available on our audio guide which provides additional directions and descriptions during your tour. 

Assistance animals and animal safety

We understand that some visitors will require the support of an assistance dog and we are happy to admit trained assistance dogs into our branches.

Where possible, we encourage assistance dog owners to bring identification from organisations such as:

  • Assistance Dogs International (ADI)
  • Assistance Dogs UK (ADUK)
  • The International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF)

We also ask that assistance dogs wear the appropriate tabard or harness. Not carrying ID or wearing a jacket is not a condition of entry but assists staff to identify those who may need additional assistance.

In cases where your assistance dog is not registered with ADI, ADUK, or IGDF, please understand that if it demonstrates inappropriate behaviour, we reserve the right to deny entry to ensure the safety and comfort of our staff, volunteers, and visitors. 

If you plan to bring more than one assistance dog or have multiple assistance dogs within your group, we request that you contact us in advance. This will help us ensure there are no delays in gaining access and we can meet the needs of the entire party. 

For those intending to visit us with an assistance animal other than a dog, please contact us using our form in advance to discuss your request. This is so that we can ensure there are no delays to your admission, and we are able to facilitate your visit. 

Water bowls are provided at the café. 

Our branches are unique and historical spaces. They are unusual environments which can confuse or distress animals. Churchill War Rooms is an underground bunker with no natural light and long, narrow corridors.   

Churchill War Rooms is next door to St James Park. If your assistance dog needs to relieve themselves, please use the park space outside the museum. 

If your assistance dog needs to relieve themselves, please leave the museum space.   

Further information

If you have a question or need any further details, contact customer services on: 020 7091 3067 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm UK time) or fill out our contact us form.