Churchill’s War Rooms

This morning after breakfast I helped Jenn and Susan get ready to sign and sell books at the convention, then took the Tube to Westminster, and walked to Churchill’s War Rooms.

The War Rooms were set up in a basement beneath a government office building in the early months of World War II to provide those running the war effort some protection from German bombs. Over the years of the war the rooms were expanded and fortified, although largely kept secret.

After the war the rooms were largely abandoned, but 40 years later it was decided to open them to the public. I spent about three hours looking through the main rooms and the Churchill museum, which was set up in a large block of office that were the last constructed. Although it was fairly pricey at £33, it’s definitely worth the cost for those interested in the history of WWII.

Afterwards I wandered by some of the government buildings, including Downing Street. It was pretty crowded due to a “Pride” parade happening nearby, but I managed to avoid the worst of it, and had a late lunch in a nearby pub. 

I made my way back to the Excel on crowded Underground trains and waited a hour or so for Susan and Jenn to finish, then helped them pack up. They were both too tired to go anywhere for dinner and all the food places at the Excel closed with the convention, so we just went back to our hotel and had snacks for dinner, then hung out til bedtime.