The London Tunnels project has announced a partnership with the Museum of Military Intelligence (MMI) which will put part of the museum’s collection on permanent display in the tunnels, showcasing the history of military intelligence and the military use of the tunnels.

London Tunnels are developing the former World War II tunnel complex 30 metres (98 ft) under Holborn, known as the ‘Kingsway Exchange Tunnels’, into a £220M tourist attraction for up to 3 million visitors per year.

The set of parallel 7.6m diameter tunnels were built as air raid shelters in 1940, but part of the complex also became a home for the Special Operation Executive (SOE) whose role was sabotage, espionage, and reconnaissance in occupied Europe. It has been suggested that Ian Fleming, who worked for British Intelligence* during WW2, used the tunnels as his inspiration for ‘Q Branch’ in his James Bond novels.

When the Second World War ended the Kingsway tunnels were adapted for use in the Cold War, housing a secure telephone exchange and serving as a node for the first transatlantic telephone cable, TAT-1, which also became the “hotline” between the White House and the Kremlin during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

When in use during the sixties and seventies, up to 200 people worked in the tunnels, supported by self-contained water and air conditioning systems, along with what is thought to be the deepest licensed bar in London, a restaurant with mock windows and a recreational room complete with snooker tables! However the site’s use as an exchange dwindled in the eighties as modern telecoms took over and the tunnels were shuttered.

The London Tunnels, who have taken over the tunnels from BT (British Telecom), will now develop the tunnels to host a series of experiences exploring their history, nature, science, and the arts. To that end they are allocating £80m of their budget on high-res digital displays, interactive screens, audio and sensory devices to create a fully immersive experience. While some of the tunnels will focus on technical exhibitions based on their former use, others may be used for more cultural events, performances and experiences. There is even a plan for a new bar!

For the Museum of Military Intelligence, it is a great opportunity to become more visible. The museum is located at an active Ministry of Defence base at Chicksands in Bedfordshire. It is open to the public**, but visits have to be pre-arranged and certain access restrictions apply.

The MMI exhibition will feature stories from the Battle of Britain and D-Day, the espionage operations of the Cold War and the fight for the Falklands to peace-keeping missions and the terrorist threat of the 21st century. A special exhibition, created by the Museum, will be dedicated to the Special Operations Executive (SOE), the clandestine force established in July 1940 under the orders of Prime Minister Winston Churchill to ‘set Europe ablaze’.

* The Naval Intelligence Division
** The MMI’s mission is to collect, conserve, record, and interpret the authoritative history of the United Kingdom’s Armed Forces Intelligence activities for public benefit.