A reviewer who stepped foot inside the eerie and dark underground tunnels of Manchester said the small fee of £5.50 was the “best she had ever spent.” Liv Clarke, a tourism writer for the MEN, took a trip underneath the busy streets of Stockport town centre.
She dubbed the underground tunnels one of the “most unique attractions”, with the historic tunnels dating back to being used as bomb shelters in World War Two now a little known experience for history buffs.
The town is built on sandstone rock, and within it is a network of tunnels stretching about a mile long, with the first of these shelters dating back to October 1939.
The largest could hold up to 6,500 people during air raids, she wrote in the Manchester Evening News. But in 1948, the tunnels were closed off from the public. Decades later, in 1996, the biggest shelter known locally as the Chestergate Hotel, was turned into a museum.
Now, you can go underground and explore the tunnels for yourself. Liv said: “On a recent trip to Stockport, I knew I wanted to see the air raid shelters. So, I bought a ticket for £5.50 and delved into the town’s history. It was an experience unlike any other.”
The entrance to the tunnels is on Chestergate, which is where the nickname comes from. It’s oddly located opposite a Primark and the Merseyway Shopping Centre. When I stepped inside, I was greeted by two friendly volunteers. I bought my £5.50 ticket and was given an audio guide.
The tour is completely self-guided, although you can book guided tours if you want to. The adventure began with a short audio-visual presentation in a darkened room which introduced the history of the tunnels (although a warning to anyone who isn’t fond of museum mannequins – be aware of the warden which appears halfway through).
After that I was left to wander around the tunnels at my leisure.
Interspersed along the twisting and turning tunnels are informative displays on the history of the tunnels, local context and general information on the Second World War. Every now and then there are checkpoints which connected to your audio guide and so you can listen to recordings giving the perspective of air raid wardens, children and more.
Along the way are areas showing how the nurses quarters would have been, toilets and even a kitchen area. Some of the tunnels are lined with rows of iron bunkbeds and it’s haunting to think of the hundreds of people sheltering down here during the air raids.
I was completely alone during my visit which added to the eerie atmosphere. Some sections are gated off and only open during selected tours, so it was even creepier to peer though the gates into the darkness.
The tunnels are like nowhere else in Greater Manchester; they feel cave-like with the damp, exposed sandstone but also manmade too. As I made my way around them (don’t worry about getting lost, there are signs to guide you) I felt a world away from the town above – and it was actually rather refreshing not having phone signal for a while.
Overall it’s an eye-opening and reflective experience. I did find it novel exploring the underground tunnels (because how often do you get to do that for just over a fiver?) and it’s something that you could take children to for an informative day out.
But it also makes you think of what it was like to shelter here all those years ago. It’s not all doom and gloom, however, as the displays and audio clips capture the Blitz spirit of the era.
Stockport Air Raid Shelters are open 1pm-5pm Tuesday to Friday, 10am to 5pm Saturday and 11am to 4pm on Sundays. They’re closed on Mondays.
There are special guided evening tours that let you explore areas usually off-limits to the public. These tours happen on the first Tuesday of every month from 7pm to 8.30pm. Tickets are £10 for adults aged 16 and over, and you need to book in advance. There are also family tours and private tours available – check out the Stockport Air Raid Shelters website for more info.
So if you’ve not already been, get yourself down to Stockport and pay a visit to the Chestergate Hotel. You won’t be disappointed.
Adult tickets cost £5.50, concessions (ages 60+ and students) cost £4, children under 16 with a paying adult are free, as well as Leisure Key pass holders. There is also no charge for companions of visitors with a registered disability.
