Address: Kelvedon Hatch, Brentwood, CM15 0LA, United Kingdom
Phone: +441277364883
Rating: 4.5
based on 256 reviews.
Atmosphere & Experience
Pros:
"Fascinating, eerie, eye-opening place that should not be missed."
"Great place to visit and very scary when you see what could have happened if Nuclear War had ever broken out."
"It's creepy, a bit depressing at times and truly bizarre at others, but enjoy it!"
"Really amazing. Roamed at own pace. Lots to see."
"Wonderful experience. Well preserved and so interesting."
"Personally, I found it fascinating, and if I'm honest, a bit frightening."
"It's the second time we visited this place, atmospheric place, gives you a real feel of what it would have been like in a nuclear attack."
Cons:
"The whole place has a rundown, world weary feel to it which adds to the somewhat creepy atmosphere."
"Sometimes creepy with old mannequins around and not so amazing for tourists with claustrophobia."
"The canteen is frankly a bit if a dump, old carpet tiles and rattly fridges."
"The whole bunker would benefit from having all the walls replastered, carpets re-laid, doors re-hung, etc."
"The decor is tired, (to be fair, a lot of it is very old) this is still not an excuse for the general upkeep of the facility being somewhat... Lacking."
"It's definitely creepy being 125 feet underground in complete silence with no one else around."
"The whole concept was very depressing."
Accessibility & Location
Pros:
"Took me ages to find it, that's not even a joke! When we did find it we were blown away."
"The bunker is a little hard to find, not least because it's not actually in Kelvedon at all. However, once you get there, it's well worth the £7 entrance fee."
"It is located literally 'off the beaten track' through a farm."
"Well worth the entry price."
"The walk from the village is along a busy road though oddly a track that would be a short cut has a sign that says no trespassing."
"It's managed to escape modernisation and you will be amazed at how you enter the bunker."
"A fascinating place to visit. The place was virtually just as it was when sold by the government."
Cons:
"The bunker is a little hard to find, not least because it's not actually in Kelvedon at all."
"It is weird to access because there are private roads which some directory apps such as google maps will advise to go through and befuddle the driver."
"The pathways in the grounds are very poor and risky for the elderly - they warn you about that but can cause problems."
"We struggled to find this place following the satnav but after driving through a couple of fields we got there."
"Then half way round we encountered people filming with no clear idea of how to get around them or were to go so we gave up and left."
"The fact they have an ‘honesty’ box instead of admissions at the start makes you feel like the whole thing isn’t about the war experience but it’s about a man sitting behind a computer watching you walk around the place via cctv and seeing if you will pay at the end."
"What the heck? Some people can't let the paranoia of war go... A secluded cool spot yes, but value for money? Attitude? No..."
Value & Pricing
Pros:
"The secret nuclear bunker was very interesting and the pricing was fair."
"The price is also a very reasonable £7.50 per head which was very good."
"This place is a must go. £7.50 entry, great value."
"Great value and great thing to do especially when the weather is cold and wet."
"The cost to visit is much more reasonable than other similar places I've been to."
"Worth a visit. £7.50 adults £5 children, £18 family ticket."
"A great experience, and I get the impression it's not one that too many people do."
Cons:
"And I personally think £12 an adult, £10 a child is a bit pricey to visit and then on top £5 if you want to take a photo on your own phone is ridiculous."
"£5 to take photos when entrance is £10? That’s a bit steep."
"Have to pay £5 to take photos or videos like seriously we’ve paid £48 to visit so no way was I paying that."
"They charge extra if you want to take photographs."
"Photographs are prohibited, unless you pay a 5 pound fee, this seems extortionate and unfair."
"Would have been a 5 star had it not been the demand for £5 for a permit to take photos."
"YOU want to take a photo? On your phone? An Extra fiver... so 12.50? For an abandoned building."
Staff & Service
Pros:
"Run by volunteers it's real quirky as you pay at the end! and all payments are to an honesty box."
"Very helpful staff lent us their wheelchair for my injured companion."
"Staff friendly and responsible, different levels of difficulty depending on your preferences."
"The staff were friendly and place was well looked after."
"Staff were very friendly and helpful."
"Staff we brilliant, excellent service and support for our meeting."
"The staff are very friendly, and the setting is secluded and pretty."
Cons:
"A bit of a mess, the arrival isn't clearly signed, you take an audio guide and head into the bunker without any interaction with the staff."
"We said hello but he barely responded which seemed quite ironic as there were lots of photos of him in the hallway where he was smiling and interacting with celebrities."
"I like how any staff you might happen to see have a 'couldn't care less' attitude."
"No visible staff, cash only via honesty box, no photos unless you pay an extra £5."
"Visited this museum during Covid19 lockdown lift, and found quite a cold reception from staff who seemed reluctant to serve us."
"Spooky because there appear to be zero staff, even the canteen is fully self service."