Plans unveiled for cultural experience at London’s spy tunnels
Plans to convert an underground tunnel system in London once used by spies into a cultural experience have been revealed.
The London Tunnels group is looking to transform the mile-long Kingsway Exchange Tunnels into a space for entertainment businesses, artists, performers, and curators, in a project worth £220m.
The site has been purchased from British Telecom, which has owned the tunnel system since the 1980s.
Originally constructed for Londoners during the Blitz, the 86,111 sq ft tunnel system under Holborn was later repurposed during the Cold War to serve as a secure long-distance telephone exchange.
It was once occupied by the Special Operations Executive – an offshoot of MI6 and the inspiration for ‘Q Branch’ in the James Bond novels.
Subject to approval, The London Tunnels Group will look to bring the history of the tunnels to life, installing high-resolution large-scale curved immersive screens, as well as interactive structures, scent-emitting technology, and hundreds of individual pinpoint speakers.
It could also see the return of Britain’s ‘deepest licensed bar’, 40 metres below ground.
The group says the project, which is expected to open in 2027, could host an operational capacity of 2 million visitors a year.
Paul Baker, director of architecture firm WilkinsonEyre, said: “WilkinsonEyre are delighted to bring our experience designing visitor destinations to this unrivalled location, in the heart of London, but unknown to most. These secret spaces present the opportunity to tell extraordinary stories that helped shape the 20th century, alongside awe-inspiring digital immersive experiences.”