Wartime shelter tunnels dug deep underground could soon be turned into a visitor and cultural attraction.
The wartime tunnels would host a permanent 'Heritage Experience' where visitors can learn about World War II and the Cold War, temporary exhibition space, and the UK's deepest underground licensed bar, on the Camden-side of the London site.
Plans for the new attraction reveal how the underground museum could be used for exhibitions James Bond, as author Ian Fleming's wrote about the subterranean network in his first book of the secret agent.
At street level, multiple buildings will be connected to form a grand main entrance to the experience. The aim is to create a fully accessible visitor attraction, which will appeal to all ages and contribute to the transformation of the High Holborn as a seven-day-and-evening destination.
With the plans still needing to get the go-ahead, it is not known when the attraction might open to the public.
Brighton beach evacuated as bomb squad blow up 'World War 2 shell' near pier
Plans also hope to build the deepest licensed bar in the UK, on the Camden-side of the site (WilkinsonEyre)Known as the Kingsway Exchange Tunnels, the site is located 40 metres below Chancery Lane tube station and were once so hush-hush they were protected by the Official Secrets Act. According to The London Tunnels website: "The London Tunnels aims to partner with leading names in entertainment and technology, to inspire exploration and imagination. It plans to become the destination for engaging stories about the capital and its people throughout the 20th century."
Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s Planning and Transportation Committee, Shravan Joshi, said: “I am incredibly excited by these plans and hope that LB Camden feels the same way... As we work to transform the Square Mile into a seven-day-a-week destination, developments like the one proposed for the Kingsway Tunnel site will become global attractions for a variety of visitors, which are projected to rise substantially.”
The tunnels were originally built in WWII as shelters from bombs but they never used by the public. Later, they were then converted into deep-level telecoms exchange during the Cold War. In 2008, they were put up for sale, however, it wasn't until recently that interested emerged.
Fund manager Andy Murray bought the tunnels and is now planning to open them to the public. Both the tunnels and the surface building cross borough boundaries in Camden, and therefore, the project will require planning permission from Camden Council, which is currently still pending.
If the project goes ahead, the new owner plans to invest around £140 million into restoring, preserving and fitting out the site. A further £80 million would also be allocated to installing the immersive technology and screens. Providing this worked out, The London Tunnels could open to the public in 2027.
The tunnels would be expected to attract over two million visitors per year.
Check out by signing up to our free weekly newsletter.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
