In London, Secret World War II Tunnels Set to Open to the Public

The London Tunnels Foundation, led by CEO Angus Murray, has revealed ambitious plans to transform and open up a network of tunnels to the public. The organization intends to invest $267 million to convert kilometers of tunnels into a major tourist attraction.

As reported by CNN, the Kingsway Exchange Tunnels were constructed beneath London's subway system to shelter the city's residents during the Blitz bombings by Germany in World War II.

These tunnels were so secret that they were once protected by the UK's Official Secrets Act. The project to convert them will be led by a team of architects responsible for Singapore's Gardens by the Bay and London's Battersea Power Station, pending planning approval later this autumn.

These tunnels lie approximately 40 meters below Chancery Lane station in the Holborn area. After the war, they were closed to the public, as they housed a top-secret MI-6 Special Operations Branch and the United Kingdom's secret intelligence organization. During the Cold War, the tunnels were transformed into a telephone exchange, serving as a hub for a powerful network of 5,000 trunk cables. They even hosted a "hotline" directly connecting the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union.

The ATS (Automatic Telephone System) was home to this robust network of 5,000 trunk cables and 200 employees who maintained the telephone lines. British Telecom purchased this facility in the 1980s, creating the world's deepest licensed bar for government personnel, complete with a game room featuring snooker tables and a tropical fish aquarium, epitomizing the luxury of the 1980s.

As technology advanced, the telephone exchange became obsolete and was eventually closed.

However, Angus Murray, CEO of The London Tunnels, aims to bring the tunnel's history back to life for visitors. This will be achieved through impressive high-resolution screens, interactive structures, scent diffusion technology, and hundreds of speakers.

The project will involve an investment of $170.5 million for tunnel restoration and an additional $97 million for technological enhancements and exhibits. It is expected that tourists will be able to visit the tunnels in 2027.