Winston Churchill is quite possibly the best known British Prime Minister to have ever lived, in part because of his role in rallying the Allies in the fight against the Nazis during World War II. Many people might not know that he was actually Prime Minister twice, between 1940 and 45 and between 1950 and 55. As a Tory Prime Minister, he’s remained an inspiration to many and captured the imaginations of people around the world. With that in mind, it’s easy to see why guests of bayswater accommodation might want to explore the many landmarks and museums concerning the wartime leader of England.
This blog will explore some of the many ways in which guests of the Park Avenue Bayswater Hotel can learn more about Winston Churchill during their visit to London. From memorials and landmarks to entire museums, this is your definitive guide to Churchill in London.
Churchill War Rooms
The Churchill War Rooms is a museum set within the underground Westminster bunkers that became Chuirchill’s base of operations during World War II. during the six years of the war, this series of tunnels still hosts the famous Map Room and was used to contact various battalions across European theatre of war. The Churchill War Rooms also includes an exhibition exploring the life of Winston Churchill himself. Galleries in this part of the museum take a step back from the war to show snippets of Churchill’s daily life, and include pieces of his clothing, cigars and letters that he sent to his wife Clementine.
Madame Tussauds
With a history in London dating back to 1835, Madame Tussauds is a waxwork museum that, you guessed it, has its own lifelike model of Winston Churchill on display. What’s more, Madame Tussauds even had a Churchill waxwork on display way before he became Prime Minister, from 1918. There’s a lot of other major historical figures to see here too, as well as celebrities and functional characters too. Though it’s all fun and games, this is as up close and personal as you can ever get to Churchill! With plenty of family friendly hotels near Madame Tussauds, this is an especially easy sell if you’re visiting with children.
St Margaret’s Church
This beautiful church is just next door to Westminster Abbey, and dates almost as far back as the iconic cathedral. It is also the location of Winston Churchill’s marriage to Clementine Hozier in 1908 and his VE day speech, making it a significant landmark in the history of Churchill.
Royal Albert Hall
This beautiful Victorian music hall was a mainstay of Churchill’s speech tour, and also hosted him as a guest as well as a performer. Between 1931 and 1959 it is reported that Churchill visited or was part of an event at the hall at least 16 times. Guests of hotels near Royal Albert Hall can book private tours of the beautiful music hall, and can book tickets to see its always-stellar calendar of events. You’ll find a mural near the ticket office that includes an image of Churchill too.