York Cold War Bunker

What it was for

The bunker was the headquarters of the Royal Observer Corps No. 20 Group. In the event of nuclear attack, volunteers here would have plotted blasts and fallout and passed warnings on. It was manned for exercises from 1962 until the Royal Observer Corps stood down in 1991, and it is now a scheduled monument.

Inside the bunker

Behind the blast doors you pass through decontamination rooms, air filtration and generator plant, a kitchen and canteen and dormitories. The heart of it is the two-level operations room, with illuminated perspex maps, display boards and a balcony overlooking the plotting floor, plus radio and 1980s computer equipment. English Heritage restored the site and opened it to visitors in 2006.

Planning your visit

Entry is by guided tour only, so book a slot in advance and arrive 10 to 15 minutes early. The bunker is in a residential part of Holgate, west of the centre, so combine it with the National Railway Museum on the same side of the city. It suits anyone interested in 20th-century history and older children studying the Cold War. Allow an hour or so for the visit.

Highlights

• 1961 Royal Observer Corps nuclear monitoring HQ
• Original operations room with perspex plotting maps
• Guided tours by English Heritage
• Scheduled monument

Good to know

• Visits are by pre-booked guided tour only.
• Arrive 10 to 15 minutes before your tour time.
• English Heritage members go free but still need to pre-book.

Frequently asked questions