The London Tunnels: Underground WWII Bunker Is Set To Become The City’s Hottest New Experience

An image of crowds looking at digital screens surround by wartime displays.

The London Tunnels will combine technology with real memorabilia.

Deep beneath London’s streets (nearly 100 feet down, to be exact) lies one of the city’s most fascinating hidden gems — a wartime bunker that once held classified operations — and it's now getting ready to unveil its hidden history. 

The London Tunnels are a £120 million project transforming the historic Kingsway Exchange Tunnels into a world-class visitor attraction. Joining the ranks of unique subterranean experiences like the Abandoned London Underground Stations, these tunnels are set to become one of the most talked-about things to do in London.

Think immersive digital experiences, jaw-dropping underground architecture, and quite possibly the deepest licensed bar in the UK, all wrapped in fascinating wartime history. 

What Are The London Tunnels?

Built between 1940 and 1942, these wartime bunkers were intended to shelter Londoners during the Blitz, but didn’t end up being used for that purpose. Instead, parts of the tunnels became a hub for secret World War II operations. To make them even more intriguing, author Ian Fleming, who worked in British Naval Intelligence, is said to have drawn inspiration here for James Bond’s legendary Q Branch. 

Soon, these tunnels will be open to the public as an immersive installation, letting you step into a world of wartime and its hidden history.

What to Expect In The London Tunnels

Visitors will descend in LED-wrapped lifts featuring large digital screens. Inside, the atmospheric tunnels are open to explore, where original wartime pipes and generators meet exciting new technology. Highlights include:

  • Immersive tunnels where guests can explore 8,000 square metres of historic underground passages.

  • Multi-sensory experiences like high-resolution screens, 360-degree sound, and immersive scents. 

  • Walk-through exhibits that fuse creative displays with the tunnels’ wartime heritage, showing off art, nature, and technology.

  • The UK's deepest licensed bar, serving up Vesper Martinis in a uniquely eerie setting. 

Where Are The London Tunnels?

Guests can access the London Tunnels via entry points located at 8–41 Furnival Street and 31–33 High Holborn. The Tunnels stretch for a mile, 100 feet beneath High Holborn and Furnival Street in central London, near Chancery Lane Tube station.

When Will the London Tunnels Open?

The London tunnels are set to open early 2028. Designed in partnership with architectural firm WilkinsonEyre (the team behind the Battersea Power Station transformation), the attraction aims to welcome up to three million visitors a year. 

Looking for other quirky things to do in the city? Check out our list of unusual London attractions.