Day 8 27th May 2019 London – The Churchill War Rooms

This morning we went to the London War Rooms, Churchills headquarters during WWII.

This is the top tourist attraction in London. Neither of us are really interested in war, but we were surprised at how much we enjoyed the war rooms. We decided that it was more that it was about Churchill the man/PM than the war. The suggested time to go through the rooms was 1.5hrs, we took 1.75hrs, much better than the 30 mins I expected.

The tour began at the time Churchill became Prime Minister in 1940 after Chamberlain resigned after being fooled by Hitler. Churchill recognised the dangers of Hitler and was easily elected PM. Turned out he was the right man for the times, Churchill’s language and stirring speeches rallied the nation.

In 1940 Churchill decreed that these were to be his war rooms and they continued to be until March 1945. A 6 ft thick slab of concrete was poured over war rooms to help protect from the bombing.

All the staff that worked there lived there 24/7. The sleeping area below cabinet rooms was smelly and cramped. The War Rooms were guarded by royal marines. Because they were underground, signs were put up to let everyone know what the weather was like outside. If it was displayed as Windy (= frightened in ww2 speak.), everyone knew that bombs were dropping on London.

Churchill had a telephone room that was in direct contact to the us president.

We saw an actual Enigma machine, it was hard to believe that such a small machine, similar to a type writer was so valuable during the war.

Churchill had many quirks, he required cigars and alcohol everywhere he went with every meal. Churchill began wearing “onesies” for comfort  from 1930’s and continued in the war rooms, we saw a plush purple one on display.

Churchill the man was interesting from an early age. He was captured at the Boer War, he was a journalist and escaped. Made him a celebrity.  Elected to parliament 3 months after his return 1903. During his political career he moved between the Liberals and Conservatives. Churchill suffered from depression, which he called his Black Dog. He wasn’t  adverse to letting people around him know if the black dog was with him.

Churchill was born in 1874 and died aged 90 in 1965.

He won the Nobel prize for Literature in 1953. He was described as having “Mastery of historical and biographical description as well as brilliant oratory in defending exalted human values”

As we emerged from the War Rooms the Vitality London 10000 run finishing in the park near war rooms. Lots of people both running and watching.

We made our way into town and had lunch at the Duck and Waffle. And yes, Deb had the Duck and Waffle. ?

After lunch we walked to the London Library, making our way past Waterloo Place, a Grand Boulevard lined with statues. Unfortunately the library was shut for Bank Holiday, we walked a bit further to the London Ritz. We went in side and Deb asked about the bar to visit later in the day and was politely told, “there was a dress code”!, which very apparently we didn’t pass. From there we walked home, Mayfair and surrounds is another world. So many beautiful character buildings, I think we have seen every luxury car currently made. We have seen more Bentleys, Ferraris, top shelf Porsches, Lotus, Maserati, Tesla models s & x, etc. Mercs and BMW struggle to rate around here.

In the evening we took a bus and train ride to The Park Theatre in Finsbury Park, a very different suburb to Mayfair! The play we saw was called ” Beneath the Blue Rinse”, a very funny play about “growing old passionately and disgracefully”.

And so ended another busy day.

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