A vast network of secret tunnels beneath London is scheduled to open to the public in 2028. Located in the Holborn area, about 30 meters underground, these tunnels were built in 1940 as a protective measure during World War II. The tunnels were first designed to protect 8,000 people during air attacks, but by 1942, other places had already been used as shelters. The tunnels instead became a top-secret base for the Special Operations Executive and later served as a communications center during the Cold War. Recent approval from local authorities will transform the 8,400-square-meter space into a historical complex featuring a military intelligence museum, a World War II memorial, and what is expected to be one of the world’s deepest underground bars.

The tunnels played a crucial role during times of geopolitical tension. In the 1950s, the tunnels became a key site for international telephone connections, including the emergency line between the United States and the Soviet Union created during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. Planners aim to educate the public on espionage, wartime bravery, and the evolution of global intelligence. Experts noted that one exhibit will explore the complex skill of identifying misinformation—an idea still relevant today. The Military Intelligence Museum will also relocate its extensive collection, which includes equipment and documents from covert missions. With an estimated 4.2 million visitors expected annually, the project aspires to be both commemorative and commercially viable, highlighting a previously concealed yet historically significant site.