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Scotland's Secret Bunker

Museum | St Andrews | Scotland | United Kingdom

Scotland's Secret Bunker is an underground museum near St Andrews, Scotland, offering a fascinating insight into the Cold War era. The bunker was built in 1953 by the Royal Air Force as part of the ROTOR system and served as a secret command center for the Scottish government in the event of a nuclear attack.

Key features of the exhibition:

Underground facility: The bunker spans 24,000 square feet and is located 100 feet below ground. It includes various areas such as offices, communication centers, sleeping quarters, and a mess hall, all of which have been faithfully restored to preserve the atmosphere of the 1950s.

Interactive exhibitions: Visitors can explore the different rooms of the bunker, including the operations room, communication center, and sleeping quarters. There are also exhibitions that shed light on the history of the Cold War and the role of the bunker during that time.

Events and activities: The museum regularly organizes events such as lectures, workshops, and special exhibitions focusing on Cold War topics and the history of the bunker.

Scotland's Secret Bunker offers a unique opportunity to learn more about the history of the Cold War and the measures that would have been taken in the event of a nuclear attack. It is a significant site for history enthusiasts and provides a deep insight into the geopolitical tensions of the mid-20th century.

Contact details

Web

Phone

Address
Scotland's Secret Bunker
KY16 8QH St Andrews

Map view

Reviews

1646 Reviews

Chloe Coppin
04.02.2025

We were a little underwhelmed by this bunker. Not to say that it's not interesting there is plenty of very informative areas! Just felt a lot of it was shut off, and there was a lot of wasted space. The restaurant wasn't great unfortunately. My partner ordered a hotdog and because it was microwaved the bread was really hard and the napkin hat got stuck to it all and we couldn't get it all off for him to eat it all.
Bradley McAulay
02.02.2025

Undoubtedly one of the best museums in Scotland. The bunker is fascinating and offers an eerie glimpse into Cold War history. Scotland’s Secret Bunker is an incredible experience, offering a real sense of what life would have been like during a nuclear crisis. The exhibits are well-preserved, and walking through the underground tunnels feels like stepping back in time.
Petr Benda
01.02.2025

Extremely well preserved Cold War bunker with lots of equipment. There is also a restaurant and a gift shop. There is parking available on site.
Danilo Capitanio
22.12.2024

Bunker storico oramai trasformato in una sorta di museo super realistico con ancora tutti gli arredi originali. Affascinante l’atmosfera che si respira all’interno e molto interessante leggere nozioni storiche sugli anni di utilizzo del bunker. Visita assolutamente consigliata!
Claire Dragon
15.12.2024

Not quite a secret any more! This doesn't look like much above ground but it's a huge site below ground & depicts so much history of various eras. Definitely recommended. Parking is free & not too far from the entrance allowing you to save your energy for walking around inside.
Rebecca Mallaburn
11.11.2024

Very interesting. Bit expensive as only took an hour to go around.
Carol Mackie
04.11.2024

2 Adults Went Sunday pm not too busy Got audio books on this visit which was helpful as a lot to take in was there for under 3 hours very interesting 5/5 Cafe expensive(soup not edible) Coffee ok
Helen Doherty
30.10.2024

Very interesting place.
Sadie Taylor
25.10.2024

Good place to visit
Simon Fraser
22.10.2024

Enjoyed a visit here . amazing to see what you hope would never be needed. Thankfully not required but necessary in the event of the unthinkable.
Yohan Mac
20.10.2024

Very interesting
Karen Greechan
18.10.2024

Great place for an educational day
Conor Bolton
16.10.2024

Not exactly a secret but a great place to visit on a cold rainy day.
Susanne Wilkinson
16.10.2024

What a place !!! Highly recommended !!!
Peter Royle
14.10.2024

A great experience. Such an interesting place to visit. So well presented. Using the portable explanatory devices proved a great idea, it was a great aid to guide us around. The staff were all very friendly and helpful. The cafe was well stocked, the food and drink was nice and fresh and once again the staff were helpful and friendly.
Gordon Hayes
14.10.2024

Hugely interesting place however did confirm that a nuclear war would be totally pointless.
Jo Carran
10.10.2024

A fantastic, if chilling, place to visit. If you are a military buff or just curious about nuclear Britain, visit. You will not be disappointed. I don't want to say to much in the review because it's best left to discover for yourself.
Mike Watson
10.10.2024

Great for all ages.
Henry Wichman
09.10.2024

Really cool, a part of history, oh and Dave was pretty nice
Charlie Vaughan
08.10.2024

Really thought provoking trip to the secret bunker
Petra May
08.10.2024

Gaaf museum waar je naar toe kan op een regenachtige dag. Veel te zien, te lezen en luisteren. Ook voor kinderen heel interessant.
Deb St.Peter
06.10.2024

This is a very important part of history to see for sure. The details of information given is "top notch", but the overlapping of having a head phone (rent) when entering is not only redundant because they have vocal demonstrations anyways in some rooms it is impossible to listen to both at the same time....So paying £3 each for these rental devices is just not necessary.
Sarah Quinn
05.10.2024

Fabulous place, so much history and breathtaking visual displays of technology back then. Really worth a visit. Oh and the cats.... just so beautiful.
Epicurus
29.09.2024

Excellent 👏🏻😁
Monty Motorhome
27.09.2024

Excellent site, lots of info. Wanted to go for a while glad we did.
Gavin Bamford
26.09.2024

Brilliant place to visit. Great experience.
Irene Fair
24.09.2024

Very interesting place to visit!
mike swinburn
22.09.2024

Well worth seeing if you have an interest in cold war history. Was surprisingly larger than I had an impression of from the Google images. We spent around an hour and a half there, however I reckon if you are really into this type of history you could spend mich longer. Artifacts are well preserved. Would advise taking the audioguide (we didnt) for the small additional cost of the ticket.
Mattia Piana
21.09.2024

Great historic place, a daunting dive into the past and the history of the cold war in the UK. Incredibly well rebuilt, you can spend there two hours easily. There's a cafe that opens from 11:15 and serves lunch and snacks. I recommend taking an audio guide that will make the visit much more informative.

 

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