Secret Bunker

Frommer's Review

Scotland's best-kept secret during 40 years of the Cold War, this amazing labyrinth, built 30m (100 ft.) below ground and encased in 4.5m (15 ft.) of reinforced concrete, is where government and military officials would have run the country if the United Kingdom had been involved in a nuclear conflict. It has a guardhouse entrance designed to look like a traditional Scottish farmhouse. You can visit the BBC studio, where emergency broadcasts would have been made, and the switchboard room, set up to handle 2,800 phone lines. The bunker could allow 300 people to live, work, and sleep in safety while coordinating war efforts. It now contains two cinemas showing authentic Cold War films, an audiovisual theater, a cafe, and a gift shop.

You can wander freely through the underground labyrinth, but 30-minute guided tours depart daily at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm. For some amazing reason, since the bunker was decommissioned in 1993, the chapel has been the site of several local weddings.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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