Battle of Britain Bunker — Attraction in London

My last visit here was many years ago when you joined a usually long queue and were admitted in a group (? 10 or 15) and given a time period to have a look. At that time, the Bunker was not generally open and certainly not to the General Public. Nothing really to see apart from the Bunker itself. Today (15 May 2022) I could not believe how things had changed. Firstly, an amazing Visitors Centre detailing the RAF in World Wars 1 and 2; the development of the RAF system of fighter reaction and deployment; in WW2 the inclusion of aircrew from the Commonwealth and beyond to assist our offensive and defensive efforts; and the communications necessary to achieve everything, a world first. Be prepared to spend a couple of hours in this area alone. Great visual guidance to help your understanding of the times and the key players involved. Adjacent to the Visitors Centre is a refreshment area selling soft drinks, teas, coffees and cakes etc. This new Centre is very visitor friendly and can cope with people with a range of impairments with ease. It also has the capability of a very good audio-visual experience about the Bunker for those not able to cope with the Bunker visit itself. Now onto the Bunker itself, located 18 metres (60 feet) underground and accessed by 76 stairs in and again out. Meaning that this is not really suitable for those with physical impairments eg heart, lung or mobility issues. The Bunker is now open to public tours and also for private groups upon payment of a fee which can also cover the Visitor Centre exhibition. Unlike my my earlier experience, this is now much better with guided and directed tours. Key features pointed out include security precautions; resilience to being bombed and local situations; the layout within the Bunker; key players and teams involved manning this 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; and a very quick visit in 1941 by some Royal personages (requiring some modifications to the Bunker). The tour takes over an hour and pieces together the history of the time; the organisation behind things; and events of 15 September 1941 (the Battle of Britain 🇬🇧). I picked up so many more things on this second visit. Overall, well worth a visit as the Visitor Centre is now open 1000 - 1630 seven days a week and tours running every day. The Visitor Centre can interest all ages, whilst the Bunker is perhaps for those aged 10+ interested in History. There is a small car park on site. Access via public transport involves trains and some walking. Check out the website for details of pricing etc. Souvenirs are available from a small shop in the entrance foyer to the...

The Battle of Britain Bunker in Uxbridge is a profoundly moving and meticulously preserved piece of British wartime history. The highlight of the visit is undoubtedly the underground operations bunker, which was the nerve centre for No. 11 Group RAF during the Battle of Britain.

Located 60 feet below ground, the bunker was built in the late 1930s and played a pivotal role in the coordination of fighter aircraft during some of the most intense air battles of the Second World War. It is here that Air Vice-Marshal Keith Park and his team directed RAF squadrons during critical engagements, including 15 September 1940, now commemorated as Battle of Britain Day. Even Winston Churchill observed operations from this very room, famously declaring, “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.”

The operations room has been painstakingly restored to its wartime configuration, with the original plotting table, clock, coloured lights, and wall maps all recreated or preserved to extraordinary effect. Visitors get a real sense of the pressure, coordination, and teamwork that went into every radar report and fighter dispatch. Period sounds and commentary complete the experience, offering a chillingly realistic insight into the 24-hour operations that took place here.

Access to the bunker is by guided tour only, which is a real strength of the experience. The guides—many of whom are veterans or passionate historians—bring the space to life with personal stories, strategic explanations, and poignant details about the individuals who worked there under immense pressure.

The descent into the bunker itself is via a long staircase, adding to the atmosphere of secrecy and security. While the stairs might be a challenge for some, the team is very accommodating and can offer alternatives if needed.

Combined with the excellent modern visitor centre and museum above ground, the bunker tour is a powerful, evocative, and educational journey into one of the most critical chapters of Britain’s wartime defence. Whether you're a history enthusiast or a casual visitor, it’s an...

The actual Bunker is a truly unique, fascinating place to tour around, and played a pivotal role in defeating the plans of Hitler’s Germany during WW2.

It’s a great time to visit now, as there’s plenty of availability and at £9 such fantastic value.

I am really pleased with the tour I had here. I began by going around the museum. This is housed in a new, modern, light, airy and warm building next to the Bunker entrance.

There is plenty to see here, and gives some useful background information about the Bunker as well as the RAF personnel and machinery available at the time.

There’s plenty of interesting exhibits as well as some interactive opportunities to wear uniforms and see historic film footage.

My Bunker tour started at noon. My volunteer tour guide was great. He provided a short history of the site itself outside, before we then went down into the Bunker. The steps down were not too difficult. They are split into three sections with good lighting and hand rails both sides.

At the bottom we went through into the Plotter Room, where we spent around 30 minutes. The guide explained the building’s conception and construction, and then how the Dowding System was devised and how it worked. Seats are provided and at times I stood to see the map table more clearly.

Although the Plotter Room is the biggest single area it is only a part of a very extensive suite of rooms. We finished off by looking around the rest of the rooms on the mezzanine level over looking the plot table. The whole is a real time capsule with all the original fixtures, fittings and even some personal effects.

As a 62 year old I was a bit concerned about the climb back up but it was very manageable as long as you pace yourself.

A really...