Go everywhere, Do everything

Headquarters of the Royal Observer Cops No. 20 opened in 1961 under the threat of nuclear war, it was one of 31 similar bunkers across the country with the role of monitoring and observing in the case of nuclear attack. There were over a thousand nuclear observation posts built across the UK which link up to the 31 larger stations that co-ordinate the observations of the nearby smaller posts.

York Cold War Bunker was designed for a team of 60 to work continuously for 30 days on 8 hour shifts in the event of a nuclear strike. It was open from 1961 to 1991 and then acquired by English Heritage in 2000, restored and opened to the public.

This is the only bunker of its kind left in the country, the others have all been dismantled, sold off or repurposed so visiting is a unique opportunity.

Visit

Due to the lack of space and need for preservation, access to the bunker is by guided tour only. The tour lasts approximately an hour and includes a short film about the Cold War and the affects of nuclear radiation and a tour of the main areas of the bunker. Much of the information on the tour comes directly from personal stories of the volunteers that worked there as part of the Royal Observer Corps and brings to life what it would have been like in the bunker.

The tour is a mixture of information about the engineering and technology used to build the bunker and monitor the radiation levels outside and the human side of living in an underground bunker and was done really well.

Tours last an hour and start on the hour throughout the day. The bunker is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday. You need to arrive about 15 minutes early as the tours start promptly.

Accessibility

Due to the age and layout of the building, there is no accessible entrance to the bunker. Entry is via a steep set of steps up to the main door and then down steps to the bunker.

The tour is in English and the film does not have subtitles.

Toilets

There are toilets in the bunker that can be used.

Parking

There is some parking outside the bunker although this is also parking for the next door apartment complex so not guaranteed. Free parking is available on the main road (Acomb Road) which is a couple of minutes walk away.

Is the tour suitable for children?

The tour would not be suitable for younger children. The bunker is very small and you are asked not to touch any of the items due to their age and the need for preservation. The short film at the beginning has some graphic image of nuclear explosions and the affects of radiation. this part can be skipped though if you feel it would be upsetting. Pip enjoyed the and found it very interesting.

Tickets

The bunker is maintained and run by English Heritage. Tickets can be booked online via their website.

Gift Shop

There is a tiny gift shop in the bunker with an interesting selection of Cold War literature and some souvenirs.

We visited in September 2023 when Pip was 11.