Until now the only sizeable museum dedicated to Sir Winston Churchill has been that in Fulton, Missouri, USA, where he made his famous ‘Iron Curtain’ speech. Both Chartwell, his home, which is preserved by the National Trust, and Blenheim Palace, his birthplace, have displays about aspects of his life, but neither is comprehensive. For a figure so dominant in British history and so widely acclaimed throughout the world, the lack of a proper museum in his name seemed to represent a gap in the nation’s heritage.

Thus the Imperial War Museum took the decision to establish such a museum in 900m² of the Cabinet War Rooms made available by HM Treasury. The Rooms are an appropriate location, since it was here that Churchill met with his War Cabinet during enemy air attacks in 1940-41 and 1944-45, and it is here that his wartime underground bedroom and ‘hotline’ link to the US President are preserved.

The museum tracks Churchill's life in five chapters, with a computer-generated 'timeline' of his life running through its centre. The aim is to provide as comprehensive a picture of Churchill's life as is possible within the available space, employing a mixture of simple, sophisticated and even playful technology. The story is presented in an engaging but comprehensive fashion with a wide appeal, regardless of gender, age, nationality or ability.  The iconic objects, images and sounds with which his name is automatically connected are there - including the 'siren suit', the cigars, the writings, the paintings, even the original wooden door to No 10 Downing Street. 

The museum cost £6 million which was raised entirely from donations by private individuals, trusts and corporations.

Visitor comment: “I have never spent this much time in a single museum. What a fantastic way to see and hear about Churchill’s life and his contributions to our world!”

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