London, England was a favorite target of the Nazis in World War II. A long and intense bombing campaign levelled large portions of the city, More than 18,000 civilians were killed with approximately 3.5 million homes wiped out. Given the level of destruction, it is surprising that more civilian lives weren't lost. That is in no small part due to the Kingsway Exchange Tunnels, located 30 meters underground and used as shelters during the Nazi bombing attacks.
After World War II, the tunnels were sealed off from the public and have remained that ways for years. Now, there are plans to reopen the tunnels. They will be transformed into a museum, exhibition space, and entertainment venue, with potential opening date in late 2027. At it's core, the entire project is intended to be a memorial to resilience and determination of the British people during the Blitz bombing campaign. But there is more to the tunnels history than that.
These tunnels also served as the headquarters of the Special Operations Executive, an arm of MI6 that has been speculated to be the inspiration of Q Branch from the James Bond franchise. While there are certain aspects of that time that are likely to remain classified, this key piece of history will hopefully play a role in this new project. If the goal is to create a new tourist attraction in London, connecting it back to James Bond in any capacity sure couldn't hurt.
What exactly will be in the new facility has not been specified, keeping in mind that the opening date is nearly three years away. As the project progresses, more details will be released to the public. For anyone with an interest in World War II history, simply being in these tunnels will be a big deal. It will hopefully be an experience that adds a new dimension to a London trip.