Clapham South: Subterranean Shelter | London Transport Museum (original) (raw)

Discover one of London’s eight deep-level shelters that were built during the Second World War.

Opened in 1944, this secret underground maze was constructed to shelter over 8,000 people during air raids. Complete with a canteen, medical stations and sleeping quarters, it offered a safe haven in times of war – even though it’s completely hidden beneath the streets of South London.

This guided tour takes you behind the closed doors of this top-secret site to reveal its fascinating story. Learn how it came to be built, how it served as a wartime shelter, and how it was repurposed in the post-war years—including housing the first Caribbean migrants to Britain, who arrived on HMT Empire Windrush.

What to expect on this newly-revamped tour

Journey Below a Tube Station
Descend 11 stories underground and explore the mile of tunnels that are hidden beneath Clapham South station. Feel the rush of Northern line trains passing above your head and hear how it was secretly built in the 1940s.

Expert Guides Bringing History to Life
Our two expert guides include one portraying a 1940s ARP Warden. Follow in the footsteps of a South London family spending their first night in the shelter, learn about the vital role these shelters played during the war, and discover what it was like to spend your night there.

Wartime History Comes to Life
Discover what the shelter looked like during wartime and step into newly refurbished spaces including the warden’s cabin and the canteen, carefully recreated to their 1940s state by our historical experts based on exclusive findings from our archives.

Handle Authentic Second World War Artefacts
Get hands-on with genuine Second World War torches, discover what an Anderson shelter looked like, and sit on the original bunk beds turned benches that families would spend their evenings on during air raids.

Hear First-Hand Testimonials
Listen to the stories of those who worked and sheltered there in the post-war years, including the first Caribbean migrants arriving on the Empire Windrush and the visitors of the Festival of Britain. Spot the graffiti left behind by those who stayed here and see the beds where many spent their first nights in London.