This is a wonderful museum, but so uncomfortable (lack of air, very hot in summer, poorly lit, overcrowded) that I could only stay for a few minutes. I would have liked to stay much longer, as the displays were interesting. I understand that this museum is in a bunker, which may impose limitations on how good of an airconditioning system can be installed. In that case, visitor numbers (at any given time) should also be limited.

The museum displays were interesting, but various design choices made it diffucult to access them. Firstly, in a cramped system of underground tunnels, the corridor walls were filled with information panels, meaning that people stopped in the corridors to read them. This often blocked tunnels, which also meant that people could not get in and out of the ‘cells’ that lead off them. Secondly, the lighting was low and poor everywhere. I understand that this contributes to the historical atmosphere of the museum, but it also means that visitors’ bodies cast shadows onto the text of the displays. Some visitors, including myself (I have no vision loss, and don’t wear glasses), took to using their mobile phone torches to read the text on the walls. Thirdly, the exit was not well signposted enough, for a cramped, poorly-lit, overcrowded underground space. The exit is also, in my view, dangerous. After a narrow, low-ceilinged door, a queue forms as people are confronted with a push-button turnstile. If ever people wanted to leave this place in a hurry - and there must have been at least a hundred people down there at once - this turnstile could cause a panic. Fourthly, the air quality was low. It was very hot and felt airless in the tunnels - which implies that too many visitors have been allowed in at once. I don’t suffer from claustrophobia but it was simply very uncomfortable. I recommend that visitor numbers be capped, that the displays be lit with LEDs, that the air system be improved, that exit signage be improved, and that the exit turnstile be moved back to create a space where people can flow out of the tunnels in an emergency.