Retreating Underground

Despite the snow slowly vanishing, the weather remains rather cold! One solution was to visit the cabinet war rooms, a selection of underground rooms built beneath Whitehall during World War Two to protect Sir Winston Churchill and other ministers from the London Blitz while they directed all of the British armed forces..

The control centre or 'Map Room' had an impressive and colourful selection of telephones!

This was the rather modest 'Cabinet Office' where the war cabinet met and discussed future plans and strategy. Winston sat in the centre of course.

This was the Prime Minister's bedroom. Winston liked his maps... He would also breakfast in bed and all his early morning appointments were conducted while still in bed! Many of his famous speeches were broadcast from this desk.

And this door just down the door, with a typical toilet lock on it, was rumoured to be Winston's private WC.

However, inside there was actually a hotline linked directly to the American President, kept secret from everyone working in the complex!

Above ground, at the Horse Guards Parade.


And of course this photo's obligatory on any trip to London!