Churchill's Room

Bed in Churchill's room, Cabinet War Rooms

Although his room in the Cabinet War Rooms boasted comforts of a higher standard than anywhere else in the complex, he preferred not to sleep there. However, he was occasionally obliged to spend the night when his military advisers and his personal detectives managed to persuade him that it was too dangerous to return to his official residence at No. 10 Downing Street.

The Prime Minister appreciated the value of the War Rooms. He insisted on having as close access as possible to the Map Room and his office was sited right next door to it, with a communicating door. On four occasions during the dark days of the second half of 1940, after the majority of central Europe had fallen to Hitler's armies, it was from this office that Churchill broadcast to the nations of the world. It was here he met the Heads of State, the politicians and military figures who visited the Map Room.