An underground London wartime raid shelter has reopened to the public after getting a fresh revamp.
Visitors can now experience what life would’ve been like for Londoners in WW2 during the blitz like never before.
Clapham South shelter, which sheltered Brits during the Blitz, is now open for tours[/caption] The site is one of just eight shelters across the city of London hidden under the streets of the capital[/caption] Visitors can now experience what life would’ve been like for Londoners in WW2[/caption] The shelter that originally opened in 1944, was designed to hold and protect 8,000 people[/caption]With incredible details and immersive surroundings this experience is truly one of a kind.
The shelter that originally opened in 1944, was designed to hold and protect 8,000 people from the air raids above.
Throughout its 80 year existence the Clapham South shelter has held wartime Londoners, Caribbean migrants arriving on the Empire Windrush, and later visitors to the Festival of Britain.
The site is one of just eight shelters across the city of London hidden under the streets of the capital.
Visitors will need to make their way down a whopping 180 steps to reach the shelter from street level.
The historical site is also kitted out with genuine Second World War artefacts that have been carefully restored.
The shelter has been designed to follow reports from the war to make the experience as realistic as possible.
Tickets range from £35 to £38, which will include entrance to the shelter and a tour by a guide portraying 1940s warden.
The tour lasts 75 minutes and is not currently available for children 13 and under, with 14 to 16-year-olds needing to be accompanied by adults.
Hidden London, who are featuring the location on their tours, said: “Retrace the footsteps of wartime South Londoners spending their first night there.
“Get a sense of what the space looked and felt like 80 years ago thanks to meticulously recreated spaces such as the warden’s booth and canteen, which have been newly reconstructed based on historical photographs and extensive archival research.
“Handle authentic wartime artefacts sourced by historical experts, discover what an Anderson shelter looked like, handle genuine Second World War torches, and experience sitting on the bunk beds turned benches that families would spend their evenings on during air raids.”
The shelter has been designed to follow reports from the war to make the experience as realistic as possible[/caption] The historical site is also kitted out with genuine Second World War artefacts that have been carefully restored[/caption] Recreated spaces such as the warden’s booth and canteen, have been newly reconstructed based on historical photographs[/caption]