Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker - Brentwood

Address: Kelvedon Hatch, Brentwood CM15 0LA, United Kingdom.
Phone: 1277364883.
Website: secretnuclearbunker.com.
Specialties: Museum, Tourist attraction.
Other points of interest: Onsite services, Live performances, Assisted listening devices, Wheelchair accessible entrance, Wheelchair accessible parking lot, Wheelchair accessible restroom, Restaurant, Restroom, Good for kids.
Opinions: This company has 1495 reviews on Google My Business.
Average opinion: 4.5/5.

Location of Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker

1277364883

The Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker is a unique and fascinating museum and tourist attraction located in Kelvedon Hatch, Brentwood CM15 0LA, United Kingdom. The bunker was built in the 1950s as a regional government headquarters and secret nuclear bunker, and was designed to accommodate up to 600 people in the event of a nuclear attack. Today, it is open to the public as a museum, offering visitors a glimpse into the past and the steps taken to prepare for a potential nuclear disaster.

The bunker is located approximately 40 feet below ground and is accessed via a long, narrow staircase. Upon entering, visitors are greeted by a series of narrow corridors and small rooms, each filled with exhibits and artifacts that tell the story of the bunker and its history. Some of the highlights of the museum include the original operations room, where government officials would have coordinated the response to a nuclear attack, as well as the broadcasting studio, where BBC radio broadcasts would have been made in the event of an emergency.

The Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker also offers a variety of onsite services and amenities, making it a great destination for a day out. These include live performances, assisted listening devices, wheelchair accessible entrances, parking lots, and restrooms, as well as a restaurant and restroom facilities. The museum is also suitable for kids, making it a great option for families.

According to Google My Business, the Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker has received 1495 reviews with an average rating of 4.5/5, indicating that it is a highly-rated and popular attraction.

Reviews of Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker

Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker - Brentwood

Andrew Haycock

5/5

I found the visit to be immensely enjoyable. The price of admission was reasonable, although I would recommend taking some cash as there are drinks in certain places that you can buy. If you are interested in photography, be aware that there is a waiver to sign and a £5 charge. I am OK with this, especially as I am not a commercial photographer, but do note it. The audio wands are helpful and informative and there is a wealth of useful information provided. I took a good few hours going through and I would not mind coming again.

William Wilson

5/5

Been here a couple of times now, well worth a visit and needs to be preserved as a part of our Cold War history. I would say if possible visit on a weekday when it's not busy. Inexpensive for what you can see. A credit to its owner.

Iain Wilmington

5/5

Excellent audio tour with very dry/dark comments. Could do with the directional arrows being updated to match the commentary instructions. Bit strange that only one member of staff was apparently present on site, lots of honesty boxes throughout.

A E P

2/5

It was a different experience. There were 16 of us split in 2 groups. Unfortunately, none of it was frightening for most of the group apart for the few who jump at everything.
Felt it was a waste of my money as I paid for 6 of the tickets. The walk through the forest part to get to the bunker was better than the bunker itself.

Video Villain

5/5

It's a British cold war museum inside of a decommissioned bunker used by the Royal Observer Corps as part of Operation ROTOR. More commonly referred to as a "ROTOR bunker" though there are a few different kinds. This surviving one is a larger "R4" type ROTOR bunker and has plenty to offer.
The 3 floor complex is filled with artifacts and displays to interact with and a nice little cafe/gift shop at the end. You also pay on the way out after taking the tour, which is electronically guided using "audio wands" (which are very easy to use).
This is a particularly good visit for those interested in UK military history and exploring old buildings.
Older kids would enjoy it more than little ones generally. There is a separate high ropes attraction on the same site. Family day trippers may also be interested in this for a longer visit to the area.

Rebecca Lee

3/5

Firstly, this place is really interesting. We spent a few hours on a rainy day here.
From the outside, it's a small bungalow in the woods, but inside is a whole other story!
It started life as an RAF ROTOR station, then a civil defence centre, then a Regional Government HQ, and now a tourist attraction deep underground.
You pick up a self guided audio tour at the start (options for adults and kids), and you can do it as fast/slow as you wish. There are exhibits, videos and a small dress up area.
It's chilling to think 100s of people at a time were down there!

The reason for the 3 stars is, its £12 per adult for the ticket, but it feels that its easy money and its not going back in to the museum, it feels like there is no upkeep there (I may be wrong, but thats how it felt, which is a huge shame)
The path is not paved, so is muddy and a little slippery in the rain.
There was 1 staff member we saw at the end. It's all done on honesty boxes (and CCTV!), and you have to pay an extra £5 to take photos inside!!
There is a decent sized parking lot, several bathrooms, cafe (self-service, and honesty box again)
There is also a huge outdoor high ropes obstacle course that looks fun, but was too wet to explore when we went.

Michael Lees

5/5

And a well-kept secret it was too. Absolutely fascinating for many reasons, and surprisingly, it was not decommissioned until the 90's.
Walking around watching the public (mis)information videos produced to convince the populous to stay completely unprotected in their homes rather than attempt seeking shelter with the politicians was an eye-opener. Were we really gullible enough to think that filling bin bags with soil and staying inside for a week or two would save us from the fallout? Apparently they thought so.
The accompanying audio guide is very interesting and the site is well worth visiting for an hour or two.

Andrei Ursache

5/5

Super cool place to visit! Been already twice. Well recommended!