The UK, steeped in history, boasts countless creepy locales. Medieval pubs, Tudor mansions, and ancient abbeys lurk around every corner, a testament to human habitation stretching back roughly 850,000 years. But what lies beneath, untouched by sunlight? Discover the unsettling underground places in the UK!
What about the caves, buried settlements, and abandoned structures hidden deep within the earth? These mysterious, dark spaces are more common than you might think. How much do we really know about what exists beneath our feet?
Here are ten truly unsettling underground places in the UK.
Hellfire Caves
In Buckinghamshire, a seemingly harmless church and mausoleum sit atop a sunny hillside, surrounded by rolling countryside. However, beneath this hill lies an ancient network of hand-hewn tunnels and chambers, rumored to have been used for nefarious purposes in the 18th century by Sir Francis Dashwood.
Wealthy and with time to spare, Dashwood expanded the existing caves under his land, creating a secret underground space to host gatherings of his infamous “Hellfire Club.” This secretive, members-only group allegedly engaged in unchristian vices, including monk-themed sex parties, pagan rituals, and human sacrifice. The club’s secretary burned the records on his deathbed, leaving the true extent of their activities a mystery.
Today, you can explore Dashwood’s elaborate creation, including a Great Hall and an Inner Temple. Benjamin Franklin, a friend of Dashwood, visited the caves on multiple occasions. [1]
Mary King’s Close
Edinburgh, Scotland, is no stranger to ghost stories. With its ancient castle, dark alleyways, and time-worn cobbled streets, even on a bright summer day, visitors might feel a chill. But the real horrors lie beneath the city.
Edinburgh’s Old Town is famously built over a maze of hidden vaults and chambers that once housed the city’s poor. Life in these slums was miserable, overcrowded, and dangerous, with rampant crime and disease. Space was limited, and families lived in cramped, one-room houses. As the city modernized, the slums were built over and eventually sealed off. Rediscovered in the 1980s, many are now open to the public.
Mary King’s Close, a preserved 17th-century street now deep underground, has been open to visitors since 2003. Named after a fabric merchant who made her way as a widowed mother, the close became a prominent trading area. During Mary’s time, it was the second-largest street in Edinburgh, second only to the Royal Mile! [2]
Secret Wartime Tunnels, Dover
Beneath Dover Castle lies a network of man-made tunnels extending into the White Cliffs. Some tunnels date back to medieval times and have been used in times of war and conflict throughout history.
During World War II, the area around Dover was vital for the country’s defense, especially after France fell to Nazi soldiers in 1940. Old tunnels were repurposed, and new ones were built to house a naval base and army headquarters. Operation Dynamo, which evacuated 338,226 Allied troops from Dunkirk, was coordinated from here.
In 1941, an underground hospital was built inside the White Cliffs to support the war effort. Located closer to the surface for easier access, it treated injured pilots and provided first aid to casualties from nearby air raids in Dover. The hospital’s underground location ensured safety from bombing or shelling, allowing staff to carry out their duties unhindered. [3]
City of Caves
Nottingham, England, boasts a vast network of subterranean passages beneath its modern surface, earning it the nickname ‘City of Caves’. With over 800 discovered caves, it is the UK’s largest known network.
Evidence suggests that these sandstone caves were manually carved and have been used for thousands of years. Archaeologists continue to find artifacts from previous settlements. Throughout history, the caves have served as homes, alehouses, brothels, prisons, storehouses, breweries, escape routes, and secret passages. A tannery operated there in medieval times, and during WWII, they were used as air raid shelters. One cave, beneath the old John Player tobacco factory, can fit 8,000 people!
Many modern pubs and bars in Nottingham have their own caves where customers can toast to departed spirits. It’s no wonder Nottingham was known in Ancient Britain as Tigguo Cobauc, meaning “Place of Caves.” [4]
Cheddar Caves
Cheddar Gorge in England, the country’s largest gorge at 400 feet (122m) deep, began forming during the last Ice Age, about a million years ago. The gorge contains a vast cave network.
Humans have inhabited the Cheddar Caves for an estimated 40,000 years. The oldest skeleton ever discovered in Britain, dubbed the “Cheddar Man,” was found there in 1903 and is believed to have died 10,000 years ago.
The Cheddar Caves contain evidence suggesting that human beings were once cannibals. Scientists have discovered 13,000-year-old bones with markings indicating they had been eaten. [5]
Abandoned Tube Stations
London has a vast tube network, with Transport for London operating 272 underground stations across 11 lines. However, there are approximately 40 disused stations dotted around, often forgotten in the dark.
Aldwych station, closed in 1994 due to low passenger numbers, is a favorite with production companies and has been used in well-known film and television shows, including Sherlock and Atonement.
Beyond transportation, Aldwych station served other purposes. During WWI, the National Gallery’s priceless art collection was stored there for safekeeping, and during WWII, it housed artifacts belonging to the British Museum. [6]
Wogan Cavern
Pembroke Castle in Wales, dating back to 1093, has a colorful history and political significance. Built directly over a large vault named Wogan Cavern, which predates the castle, it was also the birthplace of Henry Tudor, father of Henry VIII.
Artifacts found in the cavern date back to prehistoric, Roman, and Medieval eras. Experts believe the cavern was inhabited as far back as the last Ice Age, discovering even the bones of a woolly mammoth! [7]
Churchill War Rooms
The historic Churchill War Rooms lie deep beneath Westminster, London, near 10 Downing Street. Here, Churchill and his government coordinated the British war effort in WWII.
Visitors can explore the Churchill Museum and the Cabinet War Rooms to discover what life was like during WWII at the heart of the British government. You can even visit Churchill’s bedroom, where he entertained visitors and took afternoon naps. It was the only room in the complex with fitted carpeting. [8]
Little Compton Street, London
Described as “London’s buried street,” Little Compton Street is only visible from a small traffic island near Old Compton Street in Soho, London. Peering through the island’s sewage grate offers a glimpse of an old Victorian-style street sign in the murky depths.
This buried road was once a bustling thoroughfare connecting Old Compton Street and New Compton Street. In 1896, the area was remodeled to construct Charing Cross Road, and Little Compton Street was built over. Sadly, it is now inaccessible, covered by an office block. [9]
Lawrence Hill
Dave Stephenson grew up hearing rumors of an abandoned Victorian street beneath Lawrence Hill in Bristol, England. Legend had it that a drunk man once fell down a tunnel and found himself transported back to Victorian England.
In 1999, Dave investigated and found the rumors to be true. The street had been built over in the late 1800s during the construction of new railway lines. Photos from his visit reveal abandoned shop fronts and forgotten back rooms filled with old bikes, ladders, furniture, and an antique wheelchair.
Knowledge of this underground time capsule remains limited due to safety concerns, and the site is currently off-limits. Even Dave’s original entry route has been closed off. [10]
From ancient caves to wartime tunnels and buried streets, the UK’s underground spaces hold secrets and stories that continue to fascinate and unsettle. These hidden depths offer a glimpse into the past and a reminder of the mysteries that lie beneath our feet.
Which of these underground locations intrigues you the most? Leave your comment below!
