York Cold War Bunker

I’d been meaning to visit the York Cold War Bunker for ages. As soon as I purchased an English Heritage annual pass, we visited, as it was then free to visit. Visits can only be booked as a guided tour and I have to say that I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. It’s not huge inside, but the tour was really interesting and it’s not every day you go into a Cold War bunker.

Hidden just beyond York’s historic streets lies one of English Heritage’s most intriguing and modern sites. Built in 1961, this semi-subterranean fortress once served as the regional headquarters for the Royal Observer Corps, tasked with monitoring nuclear explosions and fallout across Yorkshire during the height of Cold War tension.

Visitors today descend into its windowless corridors on guided tours to explore a remarkably preserved control room filled with original monitoring and communications equipment. You’ll pass through a ‘hot bed’ dormitory, where up to 60 staff took shifts, a plant room, a communications hub, and even a functioning sewage ejector unit, all designed to sustain life underground for around 30 days.

The bunker’s story is deeply rooted in Britain’s civil defence infrastructure. Operated by the largely volunteer Royal Observer Corps, it formed part of a nationwide network designed to plot nuclear strikes and radiation levels in real time. Despite its serious mission, the interior décor used “colour-psychology” to keep staff alert, with calming blue walls in the operations room, for example.

After being decommissioned in 1991, the bunker was restored and reopened as a scheduled monument presented as it was at stand-down. Tours last around an hour, blending factual storytelling with a compelling film to bring the site’s tense atmosphere to life.

Further Information: York Cold War Bunker

Is there food and drink available?

There is nowhere on-site nor nearby. You can purchase limited drinks and snacks from the small reception area.

What are the main things to do?

Cold War Bunker on the outskirts of York with guided tours around the decommissioned base

What are the ticket prices?

It is free for members of English Heritage – make sure you prebook onto a tour on the website first. For non-members, a tour costs £9 without donation for an adult and £5.40 for children aged 5-17. Other pricing options are available.