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The Winston Churchill's Britain at War Experience closed in 2013.

Winston Churchill's Britain at War Experience is where you can find out how life was for civilians on Britain's home front during World War Two. There is a 'Blitz Experience' with sights, sounds and smells to explore.

The attraction is run as a charity and not affiliated to the other war museums in town so there is a charge to visit but you can visit for free with the London Pass.

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Britain at War Review

After being welcomed by friendly staff, you enter via a 'lift' that gives the impression of going down to a London Underground air raid shelter. There are mannequins sleeping in bunks and it all feels very atmospheric and you do feel transported back in time.

Rows of seats are available so you can watch a video which explains what happened in Britain during World War Two.

Before moving on, do check the Lending Library which has some interesting titles.

As this is a tribute to the ordinary people who lived through that time, the next room is a pub which was the heart of the community for many. Beer and tobacco were never rationed in World War Two as they were considered good for morale.

Educational

The museum is popular with school groups as they can learn so much more from a visit here than in the school classroom.

The memorable newspaper and magazine pages on the walls made fascinating reading and you can sit inside an Anderson shelter. There are no lights inside and you hear the sounds of planes overhead which, quite frankly, scared me and gave me greater respect for those you endured that on a regular basis.

If you take children, after they've tried sitting in the Anderson shelter let them explore the dressing up table which has uniforms, gas masks and tin helmets which again, really brings to life the era.

As well as an education for a generation who will hopefully never have to experience any of this for real, the museum is wonderful for nostalgia and I saw groups of people discussing the fashions in the 1940s shopping arcade and the toy collection. My grandmother was a Land Girl (sent to work in agricultural jobs from the cities while the men were away at war) so those exhibits helped me understand how her life had been.

The Blitz Experience

This is a full-size recreation of a London street in the Blitz after an bomb has gone off. It smells of smoke and it's dark. You can hear atmospheric sounds and there's a lot for your senses to take in.

The flooring is uneven so tread carefully and you'll find demolished homes, a shattered pub, a burst water pipe, people being rescued and even tea being served. It really is quite shocking when you think of the situation and as I tried to work out where I was I could imagine the fear you would feel if it was real.

Thankfully a door leads you out from wartime Britain back to the present and there's a small shop before you leave.

Conclusion
It's not a modern museum/attraction and there are no interactives as you go round but it is atmospheric. There are no windows so you are immersed in the era and there's plenty to see. There are no staff as you go round so you're free to spend time and explore each section for as long as you like. I stayed for about an hour and saw most things.

The admission charge may put some people off but a visit here does help you experience something of what it must have been like to live through those momentous years in Britain's history. I wouldn't recommend it for young children as I felt quite frightened in the Anderson shelter and the Blitz Experience but for those ready to understand about this time in our history a visit really brings it to life.

Address:
The Britain at War Experience
Churchill House
64-66 Tooley Street
London Bridge
SE1 2TF

Nearest Tube Station: London Bridge

Use Journey Planner to plan your route by public transport.

Tel: 020 7403 3171

Official Website:www.britainatwar.co.uk

• Visit this attraction for free with a London Pass
• Find out more about the London Pass | (Buy Direct).

Tickets: 10+ See official website for latest ticket prices.

Further along Tooley Street you can find the London Dungeon and the London Bridge Experience and London Tombs.

If you like scare attractions you might like to try a Ghost Bus Tour too.

 

As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary services for review purposes. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our Ethics Policy.