The Stockport Air Raid Shelters were built in 1939 to protect the town’s inhabitants from German bombing – and today, you can go inside.
Get a glimpse of daily life in 1940s wartime Britain (including how you went to the toilet during the Blitz!) and wander around these original tunnels in Stockport’s town centre. If you’re looking for an immersive museum experience like no other, this is your sign to head to Stockport Air Raid Shelters.
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Just 30 seconds from the town’s bustling Primark lies one of the most interesting remnants from WWII in Greater Manchester – the Stockport Air Raid Shelters, built into the Sandstone cliff of the mersey gorge.
For just £5.50, you can tour part of the mile-long tunnel network that has been authentically re-equipped to mimic the sights and sounds of Britain’s Home Front.
But the shelters aren’t just a great day out for history buffs. They’re also a must-visit attraction for children looking to learn more about the war – especially as children under 16 go for free with a paying adult.
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With much of the original furniture and everything else replicated as closely as possible, it’s easy to see what surviving the Blitz was really like for the residents of Stockport.
Triple metal bunk-bed frames, a hot water urn for making brews and even the tool store that doubled as room for drunks coming straight from the pub – you can see it all on the museum’s self-guided tours.
No (sand)stone has been left unturned at the shelters and the attention to detail is spectacular. Can you spot the tiny paw marks of a curious kitten or the recipe for potato sausages without any meat?
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See how ailments were treated at the shelter’s first aid post. There’s a rota that includes lice checks, a replica wireless playing old music and even a photo of the shelter’s original pharmacist and nurses.
The bay for nursing mothers and their babies is equally fascinating. And a children’s Mickey Mouse gas mask in the reception’s display cabinet gives further insight into what it was like to grow up in these turbulent times.
But the most intriguing place in the Stockport Air Raid Shelter is the toilets. Get a glimpse of the original flushing facilities, including the newspaper loo roll that was first read – then used to wipe!
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After your trip around the shelters, you’ll come back up into the gift shop where you can take a slice of history home with you in the shape of spitfire socks, V.E day teatowels and WWII propaganda postcards.
If you’ve got any questions, the incredibly knowledgeable staff are on hand to help. Make sure to ask about the child’s ball that was left behind in the shelters one night!
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For those who want to find out even more, check out the shelter’s fully guided evening explorer tours to visit areas of the tunnels not usually open to the public. For a true war-time experience, you’ve got to try this.
Where? Stockport Air Raid Shelters, 61 Chestergate Stockport, Greater Manchester, SK1 1NE.
How much? Self-guided tours are £5.50, free for accompanied under 16s and £4 for concessions – booking not essential. Explorer tours (16+ years) cost £10 and can be booked online.
Find out more: stockport.gov.uk/topic/air-raid-shelters
