The 20 biggest abandoned bunkers in the UK
Here is a list of the 20 biggest abandoned bunkers in the UK, known for their historical significance, scale, or unique features. These bunkers span various periods, including World War II and the Cold War. While some remain in a state of abandonment, others have been partially repurposed or preserved.
1. Drakelow Tunnels (Kidderminster, Worcestershire)
Purpose: WWII shadow factory and Cold War Regional Government Headquarters (RGHQ).
Features: 3.5 miles of tunnels.
Status: Abandoned; a portion is occasionally used for tours or urban exploration. Some areas are used by a storage company.
2. Kelvedon Hatch Bunker (Brentwood, Essex)
Purpose: Cold War RGHQ for government use during a nuclear attack.
Features: Three stories underground with extensive rooms.
Status: Now a museum, but nearby bunkers are abandoned.
3. RAF Holmpton Bunker (East Yorkshire)
Purpose: Cold War bunker for ballistic missile detection.
Features: A subterranean command center.
Status: Partially preserved but other associated bunkers are derelict.
4. Hack Green Bunker (Nantwich, Cheshire)
Purpose: RGHQ and nuclear fallout bunker.
Features: Underground communications center.
Status: A portion is a museum, but others in the area remain abandoned.
5. Burlington Bunker (Corsham, Wiltshire)
Purpose: Top-secret Cold War bunker to house the government in case of nuclear war.
Features: A 35-acre underground city with sleeping quarters, offices, and kitchens.
Status: Abandoned but largely intact.
6. Monks Park Quarry (Corsham, Wiltshire)
Purpose: Ammunition storage and military command center.
Features: Miles of underground tunnels.
Status: Abandoned, though some areas are restricted.
7. Dover Western Heights Tunnels (Kent)
Purpose: WWII military tunnels and bunkers for coastal defense.
Features: Extensive network of tunnels and fortified bunkers.
Status: Largely abandoned but partially accessible for explorers.
8. RAF Winkleigh Bunker (Devon)
Purpose: Cold War radar station and nuclear bunker.
Features: Reinforced underground rooms for command and control.
Status: Abandoned and heavily overgrown.
9. Anstruther Bunker (Fife, Scotland)
Purpose: Cold War command center for Scotland.
Features: 24,000-square-foot bunker underground.
Status: Partially preserved but with abandoned areas.
10. Paddock (Dollis Hill, London)
Purpose: WWII bunker for Winston Churchill and wartime command.
Features: Two floors underground with reinforced protection.
Status: Abandoned and inaccessible to the public.
11. Stenigot Radar Bunker (Lincolnshire)
Purpose: Cold War radar station as part of the “ACE High” system.
Features: Underground command center with radar structures.
Status: Abandoned, with radar dishes and structures remaining visible.
12. Cultybraggan Camp (Perthshire, Scotland)
Purpose: WWII prisoner-of-war camp with Cold War bunkers added later.
Features: Reinforced structures and underground bunkers.
Status: Partially abandoned.
13. Regional Seat of Government Bunker (Cambridge)
Purpose: Cold War bunker for local government in case of a nuclear attack.
Features: Reinforced underground facilities.
Status: Derelict and sealed.
14. Corsham Computer Centre (Wiltshire)
Purpose: Cold War bunker housing NATO computer systems.
Features: High-tech underground installation.
Status: Abandoned but partially accessible.
15. Orford Ness Bunkers (Suffolk)
Purpose: Atomic weapons research facility during the Cold War.
Features: Isolated reinforced structures and underground bunkers.
Status: Abandoned; managed by the National Trust.
16. RAF Barnham (Suffolk)
Purpose: Cold War nuclear weapons storage facility.
Features: Massive bunkers for housing nuclear components.
Status: Abandoned but occasionally used by wildlife.
17. Nancekuke Chemical Weapons Bunker (Cornwall)
Purpose: Chemical weapons production during WWII.
Features: Underground storage and production areas.
Status: Abandoned and largely sealed.
18. Seaton Delaval Hall Bunkers (Northumberland)
Purpose: Cold War military bunkers associated with local radar installations.
Features: Small underground command centers.
Status: Abandoned.
19. RAF Sopley (Hampshire)
Purpose: Cold War radar bunker for air defense.
Features: Underground facilities with reinforced protection.
Status: Abandoned, though partially accessible.
20. Scapa Flow Bunkers (Orkney Islands)
Purpose: WWII naval command and control bunkers.
Features: Coastal defenses and underground shelters.
Status: Abandoned and weathered by the elements.
Notes on Exploring Abandoned Bunkers
Many of these sites are privately owned, dangerous, or have restricted access.
Urban exploration of abandoned bunkers should be approached with caution and respect for local laws and property rights.
Some sites, such as museums or partially preserved bunkers, offer legal and safe opportunities to explore the UK’s bunker history.
