Victoria Tunnel Tours
BEST FOR
Ages 5-15
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
Newcastle upon Tyne
What it’s like
A guided walk through a real WWII air raid shelter tunnel under the city, torches and all.
This one's underground properly, not a themed basement. You meet at 51 Lime Street for a safety briefing, then walk as a group down into the Victoria Tunnel, where you hear about its life as an air raid shelter first before working back through its earlier days as a coal wagonway. It's a genuine bit of Newcastle's history and the guides seem to lean into the atmosphere, which at a steady 12 degrees underground you'll feel soon enough.
Tours run at 1¼ hours or 2 hours, and kids need to be 5 or older, with anyone under 16 accompanied by an adult. The tunnel's only 6'3" high in places, so it's not one for buggies or wheelchairs beyond the first 50 yards, where WWII blast walls block the way. There's a virtual experience on offer instead if that rules someone out, which is a decent workaround rather than an afterthought.
Book ahead. Capacity's tight and they'll turn walk-ups away even at full price, so a timed slot is the only sensible way in. The upside of booking is the annual pass that comes with it, letting you back in free for another tour within 12 months, which softens the cost if you fancy doing the shorter and longer versions on separate visits.
Wear a warm jacket you don't mind getting a bit grubby and flat shoes, since the tunnel floor isn't exactly polished. Parking nearby is metered rather than free, on Lime Street or one of the small car parks close by, all charged by the hour.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 5 to 15, older kids will get more from the history
- Booking
- Advance booking required, timed slots available
- Parking
- Street parking on Lime Street 40p/hour max 4 hours
- Pushchairs
- Prams and buggies cannot go beyond 50 yards into tunnel past WWII blast walls
- Wheelchairs
- Level access to tunnel entrance but wheelchairs cannot go beyond 50 yards into tunnel past WWII blast walls
- Getting there by bus or train
- Newcastle Central Station 20 minutes walk or 11-minute cycle
- Worth knowing
- Annual pass: free return visits for 12 months after first booking
- Booking a tour unlocks an annual pass for free return visits within 12 months
- The tunnel entrance has level access but the tunnel itself doesn't stay accessible past 50 yards in
- Central Station is about 20 minutes on foot if you're coming by train
Plan your visit
How long is the tour?
You choose between a 1¼ hour or 2 hour version when you book.
Is it suitable for a toddler?
Not really, the minimum age is 5, and under-16s need an adult with them throughout.
Can we bring a buggy or is it wheelchair accessible?
Only for the first 50 yards, then WWII blast walls stop prams and wheelchairs going further. There's a virtual experience if that's a problem for anyone in your group.
Do we need to book in advance?
You do, and it's worth doing early since spaces are limited and they'll turn away walk-ups even if you're happy to pay full price.
What should we wear?
A warm jacket you don't mind getting dirty and flat shoes, the tunnel sits at a constant 12 degrees C.
Is there parking nearby?
Street parking on Lime Street and a few small car parks close by, all metered at around 40p an hour with a 4 hour max.
Can school groups visit?
School parties of up to 36 children and 4 adults can come along, split into two groups if there are more than 18 kids. It's £5 a child, adults go free, and they ask for at least two weeks' notice.
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