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Clapham South Shelter: WWII Underground Experience
4.6
27 Ratings
Greater London
Discover the expansive and distinctive underground area beneath Clapham South station, which served as a refuge for thousands during the Second World War.
Knowledgeable guides will lead you 30 meters below the surface to a maze of tunnels, allowing you to experience what life was like for wartime shelterers over 80 years ago.
Discover the expansive and distinctive underground area beneath Clapham South station, which served as a refuge for thousands during the Second World War.
Knowledgeable guides will lead you 30 meters below the surface to a maze of tunnels, allowing you to experience what life was like for wartime shelterers over 80 years ago.
Duration:
1 hour, 15 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Clapham South Deep Level Shelter - Travel back in time with a tour of one of the eight deep-level shelters constructed in London during the Second World War. Opened in 1944, this hidden underground labyrinth was designed to safeguard over 8,000 people, featuring canteens, medical stations, and sleeping quarters all concealed beneath London’s…
- Clapham South Deep Level Shelter - Travel back in time with a tour of one of the eight deep-level shelters constructed in London during the Second World War. Opened in 1944, this hidden underground labyrinth was designed to safeguard over 8,000 people, featuring canteens, medical stations, and sleeping quarters all concealed beneath London’s streets. Uncover this captivating history with two expert guides, including one portraying a 1940s warden to provide a firsthand account of what it was like to work and seek refuge there during the war. Follow in the footsteps of wartime South Londoners spending their first night there, and experience what the space looked and felt like 80 years ago, thanks to meticulously recreated areas such as the warden’s booth and canteen.
What's Included
- 75-minute guided tour
- Clapham South disused WWII subterranean air raid shelter
- 75-minute guided tour
- Clapham South disused WWII subterranean air raid shelter
What's Not Included
- Transportation to and from the site - please make your own way to the tour
- Transportation to and from the site - please make your own way to the tour
Additional Information
- Not suitable for children under 10 years old
- There is a maximum of four children (aged 10-15 yrs) allowed per adult
- All guests must bring photo ID
- Open-toed shoes are not allowed
- Please do not bring luggage or large bags - there is no cloakroom
- The tour involves a lot of walking, including areas of uneven ground and low lighting
- Tours are…
- Not suitable for children under 10 years old
- There is a maximum of four children (aged 10-15 yrs) allowed per adult
- All guests must bring photo ID
- Open-toed shoes are not allowed
- Please do not bring luggage or large bags - there is no cloakroom
- The tour involves a lot of walking, including areas of uneven ground and low lighting
- Tours are not suitable for guests with claustrophobia
- Tours are not step free and including walking up and down flights of stairs
- There’s no elevator
- No food or drinks allowed on the tour
Location
SW12 9EA
Balham Hill
The meeting point for this tour is in front of the Marks & Spencer Food Hall on Balham HIII, SW12 9EA. This is about a 2 minute walk from Clapham South tube station - just turn to the right upon exiting.
WhatsWords: ///really.orbit.beside.
Please arrive 15 minutes before your tour time.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.6
(27 Ratings)
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Sarahdr3512pl
Oct 20, 2025
Fascinating and fun experience - What I expected to be a rather dry but informative tour instead of fun, unexpected and engaging with the tour guides bringing stories to life. Highly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jamesbv9108bp
Aug 24, 2025
Incredible Hidden London Tour - Amazing tour!!
Highly recommend. Really interesting. Guides were friendly, knowledgeable and fun.
Make sure you have a reasonable level of fitness, cos the stairs back up are no joke.
Can’t wait to go on more Hidden London Tours!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ladygadabout
Aug 15, 2025
A Glimpse into the Past - Fascinating tour delving into the deep underground tunnels built to protect Londoners from the bombing during WWII. These huge spaces were utilised after the war for many different purposes - worth going to find out more. The tour guides were particularly good and really took you on a journey. Worth mentioning that there are about 180 steps down to the beginning of the tour and no lift for the way back. On a hot day, we learned something, stayed cool and got some exercise!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Katecox66
Aug 13, 2025
Great Great small tour of a unique part of London history - I really appreciated this tour. Small number on it. Great enthusiasm from museum team involved. Really interesting to see the scale of what was done and makes you think about what has happened in London. A lot of steps (there is a lift option) so also a good work out!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Vinsey123
Aug 6, 2025
Fantastic experience - Fantastic experience not to be missed. Amazing staff taking care of us with great knowledge.
5 star experience!
Nor to be missed!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
414lorrainel
Jul 24, 2025
Great experience - This was a really interesting tour. The main guide was informative and funny and her ‘sidekick’ was hilarious. The tours consist of reasonably small groups so it is easy to see and hear all information.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lucie02
Jul 20, 2025
Interesting tour - Interesting tour for anyone interested in social history. Brings the shelter to life and explains the various uses of the shelter. The spiral staircase down and back up is manageable. Friendly tour guides. Would recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Safari584570
Jul 19, 2025
Interesting and engaging - Really interesting and engaging tour - so surprised to see the vast tunnels under Clapham south that were a lifeline for so many people. A weird feeling be underground and hearing the tube above. Brilliant guides
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dickthebad
Jun 28, 2025
Remarkable! - Firstly, other visitors need to be aware that it is much cooler below ground than it is at street level. Many will, therefore, find it beneficial to take an extra jumper etc.
The underground shelter is extensive and perhaps surprisingly so. Be prepared for a lot of walking. The 180 steps are fine going down but are a great work-out going up at the end of the hour or so's walking around the tunnels.
The tour guides are excellent and bring to life what might otherwise be a rather dry experience. Their contribution made it worth paying the £38 admission charge.
Be aware that the ceilings are low and in one place I had to walk with bended head (I am 6' 2").
The only reason that I did not give this attraction a five start rating is that the user survey at the end seemed to contain some "political" options, the use/benefit of which was not clear.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Timopigo
Aug 15, 2025
A tour for the stair enthusiast. - I had high hopes for the Hidden Tube Walking Tour – Clapham South Subterranean Shelter, but sadly it was a huge let-down. For the steep ticket price, I expected something engaging, well-presented, and accessible — instead, it was none of those things.
First and foremost, there was absolutely no mention in the booking information of the 180 steps down and 180 back up. That’s a serious omission. I’m reasonably fit and still found it tiring; I dread to think how anyone older or less mobile would manage. This is not a minor detail to leave out.
Once inside, the subject matter was, frankly, dry and dull. It dragged on with little to capture the imagination, and I found myself checking my watch far too often. The atmosphere wasn’t immersive or engaging — just a long trudge through uninspiring spaces while listening to an unremarkable script. Nothing against the staff per say, but the acting aspect felt wooden and contrived.
Overall, this felt like very poor value for money: high cost (£111 for 2 adults and a child turned out to be ridiculous), low reward, and physically demanding with zero warning. I wouldn’t recommend it unless you have a particular fascination with underground bomb shelters and a love for climbing a lot of stairs.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
