The Clapham South tunnels, constructed during World War II, were designed as deep-level shelters to protect Londoners from Nazi air raids. Completed in just 18 months and equipped to house up to 8,000 people, the tunnels offered bunk beds, canteens, and medical facilities. Only accessible to the public since 1944, these shelters were part of a vision for a new express Tube service that never materialized. Today, guided tours allow visitors to explore their historical significance, experiencing the cramped and eerie conditions that Londoners endured during the Blitz.
But for those who know where to look, a second entrance reveals a hidden staircase that spirals even deeper down into the ground. At the bottom, lies a sprawling labyrinth of gloomy tunnels, each 16 feet high and 400 metres long.
Commissioned by the Government during the Blitz, the shelters were completed within 18 months, but only opened to regular Londoners in 1944 with the advent of the V-1 flying bomb.
At one time, there were plans to connect all of the deep level shelters to form a new express' Tube service under the Northern line.
Guided by a costume actor in Civil Defence warden uniform, tourists are walked through the history of the tunnels from construction to the present day.
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