LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 27: Wax work models are positioned in The Map Room in Cabinet War Rooms bunker, which has been preserved entirely unchanged since the second World War, on August 27, 2009 in London, England. Today marks the 70th anniversary of the day when the Cabinet War Rooms were used for the first time by Winston Churchill and his War Cabinet a week before the German invasion of Poland. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)
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Beneath the world’s great cities lies a hidden history, one of buried secrets, ancient passageways, and forgotten worlds. For adventurous travelers and history lovers alike, these underground spaces offer a rare chance to step back in time. The Subterranean Tourist Series is your guide to the hidden history that lies just below the surface of the world’s iconic cities. Here’s a look at London’s buried past.
Churchill War Rooms/Cabinet War Rooms
Beneath the bustling streets of Westminster lie two of London’s most powerful historical sites — the Churchill War Rooms and the Cabinet War Rooms. Prime Minister Winston Churchill and his cabinet directed the British war effort during World War II from this secret underground complex.
Preserved exactly as it was left in 1945, visitors can walk through the Cabinet Room, peer into Churchill’s quarters, and explore the attached museum, which chronicles his life and leadership. It’s a moving experience that brings wartime London vividly to life.
How to Get There: Nearest Tube station is Westminster (Circle, District, Jubilee lines). From the station, it’s a short walk along Horse Guards Road. Ticket Information
The Postal Museum & Mail Rail
Hidden beneath the streets of Clerkenwell lies a marvel of underground engineering — the Mail Rail. Part of the Postal Museum, this unique miniature railway once transported millions of letters across London in complete secrecy. Now, visitors can ride through the original tunnels on a specially designed train and see audio-visual displays that tell the story of this subterranean delivery system. The museum showcases postal innovation, with hands-on exhibits for all ages.
How to Get There: Nearest Tube stations are Farringdon or Russell Square. Ticket Information
Clink Prison Museum & Underground Vaults
Underneath Southwark’s cobbled streets, near London Bridge, the Clink Prison Museum offers a unique look into London’s dark past. Built on the original site of the Clink Prison, which dates back to 1144, this underground museum recreates the grim conditions endured by inmates. Visitors can explore dimly lit corridors, view replicas of torture devices, and hear chilling tales of medieval justice. One of England’s oldest prisons, it became a notorious symbol of cruelty, giving rise to the slang term “the clink.”
How to Get There: Nearest Tube station is London Bridge. Ticket Information
The Vaults/Leake Street Arches
Beneath Waterloo Station is a subterranean world of art and immersive creativity. The Vaults, an underground arts venue situated in former railway tunnels, is renowned for its experimental theatre productions, interactive performances, and neon-lit street art. With ever-changing exhibitions and events, the Vaults blur the line between performance art and history.
How to Get There: Nearest Tube station is Waterloo. Ticket Information
LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 13: Queen Elizabeth II views stacks of gold in the vaults below the Bank of England with Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh on December 13, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Eddie Mulholland – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
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Bank of England Museum/Gold Vault Tours
Nestled beneath one of London’s most important financial institutions are the Bank of England’s rarely seen gold vaults. Although access is limited, occasional special tours allow visitors to glimpse the staggering quantity of bullion stored below ground. The museum, located above ground, explains the history of money and the role of the central bank, featuring interactive displays and historic artifacts.
How to Get There: Nearest Tube station is Bank. Ticket Information
London Transport Museum Depot
The Acton Depot features exhibits on the history of the London Underground, including decommissioned Tube trains and subterranean service vehicles. It showcases the behind-the-scenes workings of the system that keeps London moving. The depot houses rare posters, architectural models, and artifacts from every stage of the network’s development.
How to Get There: Nearest Tube station is Acton Town. Ticket Information
Euston Tunnels
Beneath the modern bustle of Euston Station lies a ghostly network of unused tunnels, platforms, and passageways that once formed part of the early Underground. Now only accessible via special Hidden London tours, these forgotten spaces feature original signage, tiling, and eerie echoes of commuter life long since vanished.
How to Get There: Nearest Tube station is Euston. Ticket Information
Old Aldwych Tube Station
Once a branch line station off the Piccadilly Line, Aldwych Station was closed in 1994 but still feels alive thanks to film shoots and special tours. The station served as a World War II bomb shelter and has been preserved in near-original condition. Period posters still adorn the walls, and rusting signage leads to tunnels that haven’t seen commuters in decades. The station is a hidden cinematic icon, featured in films such as “V for Vendetta” and “Atonement.”
How to Get There: Nearest Tube stations are Temple or Holborn. Ticket Information
London, England, United Kingdom – September 05, 2023 : Ancient stone staircase leading to the catacombs located under the colonnades of Brompton Cemetery. Sunlight. Natural colors. Architect : Benjamin Baud (1806 – 1875). Brompton Cemetery was established in 1840 and is located in West London. Abandoned since 1966, the cemetery is part of the “Magnificent Seven”, a set of 7 former London cemeteries. It is owned by Royal Parks.
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Chislehurst Caves
Beneath the quiet suburb of Chislehurst lies a sprawling maze of 22 miles of man-made tunnels known as the Chislehurst Caves. Dug initially for chalk and flint, the caves were later used for a variety of purposes, including a World War II air-raid shelter that housed thousands of Londoners. They’ve also served as a concert venue for The Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix.
How to Get There: Nearest rail station is Chislehurst (Southeastern Railway). Ticket Information
Brompton Cemetery Catacombs
Hidden beneath one of London’s most atmospheric Victorian cemeteries lie the Brompton Catacombs — a shadowy underworld of vaulted chambers and crypts. Initially built in the 19th century to meet the growing demand for burials, these catacombs were designed to resemble ancient Roman catacombs.
How to Get There: Nearest Tube station is West Brompton. Ticket Information
Greenwich Foot Tunnel
Built in 1902, the Greenwich Foot Tunnel allows pedestrians to walk under the River Thames from Greenwich to the Isle of Dogs. A marvel of early 20th-century engineering, the tunnel has remained open to the public since its completion.
How to Get There: Access the tunnel near Cutty Sark DLR or Island Gardens DLR. Ticket Info
London tower at Thames River water front
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Tower of London
Contrary to urban legend there is no network of underground tunnels at the Tower of London. There are however a variety of subterranean spaces, not all of which are open to the public. Visiting them, you’re surrounded by centuries of royal secrets, scandals, treasonous plots, and the fearsome power of England’s monarchy.
How to Get There: Nearest Tube station is Tower Hill. Ticket Information
Imperial War Museum/Underground Air-Raid Exhibit
Located within the larger Imperial War Museum, the reproduction of an underground air-raid shelter exhibit offers visitors a chilling sense of what life was like during the London Blitz. Reconstructed bunkers and immersive audio recreate the fear and resilience of civilians who took refuge below ground.
How to Get There: Nearest Tube station is Lambeth North. Ticket Information
St Bride’s Crypt
The crypt beneath the historic St Bride’s Church on Fleet Street contains Roman pavements, medieval foundations, and even plague burial sites. It offers guided access to centuries of hidden London history. Visitors walk among ancient walls and tombs, uncovering stories that span from Roman London to World War II.
How to Get There: Nearest Tube stations are Blackfriars or St Paul’s. Ticket Information
Thames Tunnel/Brunel Museum
The Thames Tunnel was the world’s first passage built through soft ground beneath a navigable river. Designed by Marc Brunel and completed in 1843, it paved the way for modern tunneling techniques. Visitors can descend into the Grand Entrance Hall, which was once used for underground fairs and markets. The nearby museum explains its significance in London’s growth, while the tunnel itself showcases the ingenuity of Victorian engineering.
How to Get There: Nearest Tube stations are Rotherhithe or Canada Water. Ticket Information
These hidden gems reveal just a fraction of the history buried beneath London’s streets. Mysterious, fascinating, and often overlooked, they offer an unforgettable entry point into the city’s underground past. For any subterranean tourist ready to explore the layers beneath the surface, this is where the adventure begins.
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