New spy museum for The London Tunnels

Image: courtesy of London Tunnels

A new museum of military intelligence is to be created in a series of underground tunnels built to shelter Londoners during the Blitz, according to the Museums Association.

The Kingsway exchange tunnel complex, under High Holborn in the City of London, was constructed between 1940 and 1942 in order to protect people from aerial bombardment, but due to the changing nature of the war it was never used for its original purpose.

The complex instead housed the Special Operations Executive, a clandestine organisation established by prime minister Winston Churchill in 1940 to conduct espionage and sabotage in Nazi-occupied Europe. The tunnels are believed to have inspired the Q Branch in Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels.

Museums Association reports:

'The project is being led by The London Tunnels company, which has announced a new partnership with the Military Intelligence Museum in Chicksands, Bedfordshire, to create a heritage attraction on the site exploring the history of military intelligence.

'The Military Intelligence Museum, which is located on a military base and only open to the public for advance bookings, will use its collections and expertise to help develop the "world's most authoritative" spy museum in the London tunnels.

'The new attraction will include original artefacts, equipment, weapons, documents and images, and will feature stories from the Battle of Britain and D-Day, as well as espionage in the Cold War and the Falklands, and terrorist threats in the 21st century. A special exhibition will be dedicated to the Special Operations Executive.'

Jim Hockenhull, commander of strategic command and colonel commandant of the Intelligence Corps, said: “The UK has long been at the forefront of military intelligence.

“Skills developed over centuries by thousands of brave, imaginative and determined men and women, have defended Britain and the world from those who threaten us. They continue to protect us today and will do so in the future, but their exciting and fascinating operations have remained hidden. It is time that, where we can, we allow our forebears to tell their story.

“I am delighted that, through a partnership with The London Tunnels, we can now do so and will see in London the world’s most authoritative permanent exhibition of military intelligence. The tunnels will provide a dramatic and historic backdrop for an exciting new approach to telling the story of the past, present and future of military intelligence.”

The trustees of the Military Intelligence Museum said: “This partnership with The London Tunnels marks a new chapter in the museum’s history. In a long-term partnership with such a historically significant and evocative location, we are not only preserving the legacy of military intelligence but also bringing it to life in a way that will captivate and educate future generations. We are thrilled to create a space where the public can engage with the rich history of intelligence operations in a truly inspiring setting.”

Angus Murray, CEO of The London Tunnels, said the exhibition would provide access to an “important and unique collection which has until now been largely hidden”.

He said: “The tunnels, built and designed to protect Londoners during the Blitz, are the ideal backdrop to tell the remarkable, and untold, stories of the men and women who played a vital role in protecting Britain then, and the role of the armed services protecting Britain today.”

The exhibition will be part of a wider subterranean development that aims to “offer a combination of historical heritage experiences and a cultural, beautifully designed, multi-sensory, digital experience”, as well as an underground bar billed as the UK’s deepest licenced premises.

The proposals have received full planning permission from the City of London Corporation’s Planning and Transportation Committee, and the attraction is scheduled to open to the public in 2028.

The London Tunnels believes the site could draw up to two million visitors a year.

Its website says: “The tunnels’ historical significance, expansive scope, and prime position where London’s West End meets the historic Square Mile could position them as one of the most thrilling global destinations. They have the potential to significantly contribute to enhancing the capital’s cultural and heritage allure, potentially drawing up to two million visitors annually.”