By Carl Dombek
We started our recent trip in to Europe, where we would indulge our grandson’s passion for World War II history, in London.
One of our first destinations was the Imperial War Museum’s Churchill War Rooms, from which Prime Minister Winston Churchill ran England’s involvement in the war. Because we were staying in The Strand, it was a pretty comfortable walk from Trafalgar Square down Whitehall Street toward our destination.
Along the way, we passed the Royal Horse Guards. You may have seen viral videos of tourons getting too close, only to have a horse grab the person’s clothing or munch their hair. Nothing like this time, thankfully.
Farther along, there were monuments to other noteworthy participants in the war, including one honoring “The Women of World War II.” Just north of Downing Street, the home of the Prime Minister, it depicts several helmets and uniforms that appear to be hanging from pegs around the outside of the monument. This in one of the newer monuments, having been unveiled in 2005.
Those who are so inclined can peer through the iron gating at the head of Downing Street to see if they could glimpse the entrance to No. 10. One can barely see the guard standing out front at the end of the road. Rather anti-climactic.
Farther down, Whitehall Street became Parliament Street and we were directly across Parliament Square and one of many statues of Winston Churchill.
We could also see Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, and what is commonly – and inaccurately – referred to as “Big Ben.” The name “Big Ben” refers to the largest of five bells in the Elizabeth Tower. The 13.7-ton bell chimes an “E” note on the hour, according to the U.K. Parliament. The others chime on each quarter hour and replicate portions of the familiar Westminster Chimes.
Over the years, the Cabinet War Rooms have become increasingly popular. If you’re inclined to visit, purchase tickets on line well before your trip. You’ll have to decide on an entry time because the facility is capacity-controlled to avoid crowding too many people into a too-small space.
Once inside, guests collect an audio guide, which is available in several languages. Signs are posted along the route with numbers. Guests press the corresponding number on their device for a brief explanation of what they’re seeing. Those who want more detail can select additional offerings or simply move along to the next stopping point.
I hesitate to call this an “exhibit” because it is from these underground rooms, which are tucked in a discreet corner of a large government building just across the road from St. James’s Park, that Churchill ran England’s portion of the war in consultation with U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt.
Visitors see the rooms used for conferences, maps, meetings, eating and sleeping almost exactly as they were during WWII.
One notably quirky feature is behind Door No. 63. The sign above it says, “KEY with the Duty Office; Map Room” and it was commonly thought that was Churchill’s private bathroom. Just above the handle in the picture is a “vacant/engaged” indicator, adding credibility to scuttlebutt about the room’s purpose. In fact, it was the trans-Atlantic telephone room in which he held secret conversations with Roosevelt.
A museum dedicated to the life of Sir Winston Churchill was added to the War Rooms in 2005 and is well worth the additional time needed to explore it.
On the walls next to many of the roads leading to the war rooms are plaques to the man whom many refer to as England’s Greatest Hero.
Of course, there are monuments, plaques and memorials too numerous to mention all around London. Your appetite and interest are the only things limiting how much and how many you see.
Certainly, London isn’t all about World War II. As the writer Samuel Johnson said, “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life for there is in London all that life can afford.” A little over-the-top, perhaps, but not by much.
It’s a beautiful city with many sites ranging from the familiar...
…to some that may be less familiar. This building is called The Shard and it’s the tallest building in the United Kingdom.
Walk along Whitehall Street, the Embankment along the Thames, check out Piccadilly Circus, pop into a pub and hoist a pint to go with your fish ‘n’ chips. Visit art and history museums, see a play at a theatre in Leister Square. Whatever strikes your fancy, you’ll find in London.
Bon voyage!
Visit my main page at TheTravelPro.us for more news, reviews, and personal observations on the world of upmarket travel.
Photos by Carl Dombek
Click on photos to view larger images
We started our recent trip in to Europe, where we would indulge our grandson’s passion for World War II history, in London.
One of our first destinations was the Imperial War Museum’s Churchill War Rooms, from which Prime Minister Winston Churchill ran England’s involvement in the war. Because we were staying in The Strand, it was a pretty comfortable walk from Trafalgar Square down Whitehall Street toward our destination.
Along the way, we passed the Royal Horse Guards. You may have seen viral videos of tourons getting too close, only to have a horse grab the person’s clothing or munch their hair. Nothing like this time, thankfully.
 |
| Queen's Horse Guard |
Farther along, there were monuments to other noteworthy participants in the war, including one honoring “The Women of World War II.” Just north of Downing Street, the home of the Prime Minister, it depicts several helmets and uniforms that appear to be hanging from pegs around the outside of the monument. This in one of the newer monuments, having been unveiled in 2005.
 |
| Women of WWII Monument |
Those who are so inclined can peer through the iron gating at the head of Downing Street to see if they could glimpse the entrance to No. 10. One can barely see the guard standing out front at the end of the road. Rather anti-climactic.
 |
| No. 10 Downing Street from Whitehall Street |
Farther down, Whitehall Street became Parliament Street and we were directly across Parliament Square and one of many statues of Winston Churchill.
 |
| Churchill statue in Parliament Square |
We could also see Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, and what is commonly – and inaccurately – referred to as “Big Ben.” The name “Big Ben” refers to the largest of five bells in the Elizabeth Tower. The 13.7-ton bell chimes an “E” note on the hour, according to the U.K. Parliament. The others chime on each quarter hour and replicate portions of the familiar Westminster Chimes.
 |
| Elizabeth Tower and the famous clock |
Over the years, the Cabinet War Rooms have become increasingly popular. If you’re inclined to visit, purchase tickets on line well before your trip. You’ll have to decide on an entry time because the facility is capacity-controlled to avoid crowding too many people into a too-small space.
Once inside, guests collect an audio guide, which is available in several languages. Signs are posted along the route with numbers. Guests press the corresponding number on their device for a brief explanation of what they’re seeing. Those who want more detail can select additional offerings or simply move along to the next stopping point.
I hesitate to call this an “exhibit” because it is from these underground rooms, which are tucked in a discreet corner of a large government building just across the road from St. James’s Park, that Churchill ran England’s portion of the war in consultation with U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt.
Visitors see the rooms used for conferences, maps, meetings, eating and sleeping almost exactly as they were during WWII.
One notably quirky feature is behind Door No. 63. The sign above it says, “KEY with the Duty Office; Map Room” and it was commonly thought that was Churchill’s private bathroom. Just above the handle in the picture is a “vacant/engaged” indicator, adding credibility to scuttlebutt about the room’s purpose. In fact, it was the trans-Atlantic telephone room in which he held secret conversations with Roosevelt.
.JPG) |
| Entrance to trans-Atlantic telephone room |
A museum dedicated to the life of Sir Winston Churchill was added to the War Rooms in 2005 and is well worth the additional time needed to explore it.
On the walls next to many of the roads leading to the war rooms are plaques to the man whom many refer to as England’s Greatest Hero.
Of course, there are monuments, plaques and memorials too numerous to mention all around London. Your appetite and interest are the only things limiting how much and how many you see.
Certainly, London isn’t all about World War II. As the writer Samuel Johnson said, “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life for there is in London all that life can afford.” A little over-the-top, perhaps, but not by much.
It’s a beautiful city with many sites ranging from the familiar...
 |
| The Thames at twilight |
…to some that may be less familiar. This building is called The Shard and it’s the tallest building in the United Kingdom.
 |
| The Shard; the tallest building in the U.K. |
Walk along Whitehall Street, the Embankment along the Thames, check out Piccadilly Circus, pop into a pub and hoist a pint to go with your fish ‘n’ chips. Visit art and history museums, see a play at a theatre in Leister Square. Whatever strikes your fancy, you’ll find in London.
Bon voyage!
Visit my main page at TheTravelPro.us for more news, reviews, and personal observations on the world of upmarket travel.
Photos by Carl Dombek
Click on photos to view larger images
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