LONDON – A vast network of secret tunnels lying 30 meters below the bustling streets of central London, steeped in wartime history and even linked to the world of fictional espionage, is set to open to the public following approval from local authorities.
The subterranean site, spanning some 8400 square-meters, remained a clandestine facility for decades, known only to a select few. It is now slated for transformation into a major new tourist destination, promising visitors a unique journey through a hidden stratum of British history.
From Secure Exchange to Tourist Hub
Originally constructed during World War II to serve as a secure telephone exchange, the tunnels played a critical role in national communications. From the mid-1950s, the site became the terminus of the first trans-Atlantic undersea telephone cable, TAT-1. Crucially, this cable carried the famous “red telephone” hotline, establishing a direct communication link between the Pentagon in the United States and the Kremlin in the Soviet Union, famously installed after the heightened tensions of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.
The tunnels were more than just a communication hub during wartime. Up to 200 people worked underground during periods of intense conflict, operating within the secure environment. The site also contained a bunker designed to shelter the government in the event of a nuclear war.
After British Telecom (BT), which had inherited the site, moved out by the 1980s, the tunnels were largely forgotten, their existence fading from public memory. They remained dormant until 2023 when BT sold the labyrinthine property to a private equity-backed group led by Angus Murray.
Preserving History and Offering Unique Experiences
The approved plans for the site’s future are ambitious and multi-faceted. They include the establishment of a significant intelligence museum, which will house Britain’s Military Intelligence Museum. This relocation will bring a collection covering over 300 years of intelligence history from its current home at a military base north of London into the heart of the capital’s historical underground.
Alongside the museum, visitors will encounter an interactive World War II memorial, designed to honor the sacrifices of the era. The plans also incorporate a poignant memorial specifically dedicated to the more than 40,000 civilians in London killed by German bombing during the war.
Adding a touch of modern intrigue and leisure to the historical depth, the development will also feature what is expected to be one of the world’s deepest underground bars, offering patrons a beverage literally dozens of meters below street level.
Echoes of Espionage
Angus Murray, chief executive of The London Tunnels, the group spearheading the development, highlighted the site’s profound historical significance during the planning process. He specifically referenced the tunnels’ unique atmosphere and operational nature, drawing a parallel to “the Q Branch of James Bond,” the fictional research and development division responsible for supplying Agent 007 with his array of gadgets and vehicles. This nod to popular culture underscores the site’s historical link to the secretive world of Cold War-era operations that have long captured the public imagination.
The transformation of this once-secret government facility into a publicly accessible museum and leisure destination represents a significant moment for London’s historical landscape. It offers a tangible connection to critical moments in 20th-century history, from the wartime struggle to the precarious balance of the Cold War, while also embracing modern tourism and memorialisation practices. The planned opening is set to reveal a hidden layer of the city’s past, bringing decades of clandestine activity into the light for residents and international visitors alike.
