London’s forgotten underground CITY – mile-long ex-WWII base that inspired James Bond lair set for huge transformation
London’s forgotten underground CITY – mile-long ex-WWII base that inspired James Bond lair set for huge transformation
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THESE mile-long WWII tunnels hiding underneath London are set to become a huge tourist attraction. The ominous Kingsway Exchange Tunnels are so eerie they're said to have inspired James Bond author Ian Fleming when writing his spy novels. The mile-long subterranean tunnels were originally built to shelter people during the Blitz.
![[Illustration of a £220 million attraction: a tunnel with a galaxy-themed immersive display, people exploring the space.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/220m-attraction-built-secret-tunnels-909521542.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
They're now the subject of a big investment plan which will renovate the passages along with various other potential tourist hotspot, the Mirror reports. If the whopping £150million plan takes shape, the tunnels will become one of a series of London landmarks which will satisfy historians and film buffs alike.
![[Interior of a London air raid tunnel with electrical equipment.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/housed-london-trunk-exchange-secure-967860309.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Other features of the tour would include checking out London's Blitz heritage and a trip to Britain's deepest public bar. Investors have taken keen interest in the tunnels as they were once used during WWII by Prime Minister Winston Churchill's espionage team - an offshoot of MI6.
![[Yellow sign indicating the direction to conference rooms.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/housed-london-trunk-exchange-secure-967860366.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Images of the mysterious tunnels make it clear why the site has piqued the interest of so many. Artificially lit hollow passageways glow dark yellow, with retro gadgets tucked to the side. Dusty control boards with various dials, joysticks, and knobs offer a glimpse into the life of workers stationed at the secret base.
![[Illustration of a bar in a tunnel-like space.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/220m-attraction-built-secret-tunnels-909520629.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
A step through an unassuming door on London’s hectic High Holborn would kick-off the tour. After bracing yourself in the lift to be plunged 100m you'll be met with a startling contrast to the busy high street. The tunnels are eerily silent quiet interrupted only by the occasional rumble of the London underground.
![[Person walking down a long, dimly lit tunnel.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/housed-london-trunk-exchange-secure-967860310.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
