Battle of Britain Bunker Thoughts?

I visited the bunker last year and really enjoyed it. It’s not a monument or a reconstruction but the real thing. The plotting table, information boards and indicator panels are set up to show the position at the height of the battle. I was part of a 20 strong party which had a guide to ourselves but I believe that individuals are taken down in groups with volunteer guides. There is also a small museum behind the Group Controllers chair (which you can no longer sit in) but it seemed very old fashioned. There is a newer museum and cafe at ground level.

I don’t know if you need a timed ticket.

You don’t say where you are staying so it’s difficult to comment on travel times. If you go to Uxbridge on the Piccadilly line it might be worth getting a taxi to the bunker to speed things up.

Hi Pharmer Phil,
We share your interests in WW II history and have done both the Blitz walking tour and the Battle of Britain Bunker in Uxbridge.
That particular walking tour was, in my opinion, the weakest of the half dozen or so I've taken with London Walks. My recollection is that it didn't tell me much new and that the guide was either having a bad day or just not the best of the bunch. Maybe you will have a different experience. The Battle of Britain Bunker, however, was incredible. We had visited the Cabinet War Rooms and
Churchill Museum (several times), the RAF Museum (excellent) and the Imperial War Museum (excellent). We were looking for another WW II site when I read about Uxbridge on this forum. It did not disappoint, although it is a subway journey and then a walk to the museum. You must make reservations because space in the auditorium (the actual room where plotters worked) is limited. The gentleman who spoke on the Battle of Britain and how the system worked was remarkable and the small museum gives you a good idea of what local life was like. Of course, you must decide what works for you on this trip and hope for another chance to see what you miss in the near future!

Julie,

Looking at the sites you’ve visited, I thought you might be interested in the museum at Bentley Priory. This was the command center for fighter command, whereas Uxbridge was the centre for 11 Group which covered the SE of England

https://bentleypriorymuseum.org.uk/

There is many fewer original items here and the WW2 bunkers were filled in, although there is a partial reconstruction of the filter room If not driving, the easiest way to get there is by train and bus.

I totally agree with previous posters. It’s a great visit. It’s not as well known as it should be, probably because of its location quite far out in suburban London. A straight shot on the Tube but you do need to allow plenty of time to get there, especially as it’s about a 15 or 20 minute walk from Uxbridge Tube — not a bad one but directionally a bit tricky, up the High Street, around a corner and under a subway, then winding through a park. There are some signs but a phone navigational app was very helpful. Plenty of nice places for lunch near Tube station, plus a cafe at the Bunker. Some nice museum displays on ground floor before you descend for your tour, for which you will need to reserve in advance on their website. Highly recommended!

I mentioned Time Team in another thread, but this is an episode some posting in this thread may enjoy. It's focussed around an archaeological dig at Shooters Hill in south London, but also contains some footage of surprisingly intact remains of WWII buildings in someone's back yard.

Time Team Classic: Blitzkrieg on Shooters Hill on YouTube, 48 minutes.
https://youtu.be/WWXQ-G6BUyY?si=lptRheoTe5iC4-wX

The tour at the bunker is very good. I highly recommend going out there, but it is a significant time commitment.

I'm a completist when I go to historical museums; I want to read all the posted information available in English. I don't remember how much time I spent with the museum displays at Uxbridge, but it was really significant. I had allowed some time before my scheduled tour but had to return afterward to get through everything. With your background in WWII history, you may not find the museum as compelling as I did, but I wanted to warn you that you may want to spend a good bit of time there.

Thanks for the replies so far, and I'll add the Bentley Priory to my list of "some days." I am staying at 64 Bayswater. I should add that I have a ticket for the Map Room at the Southwick House while I am in Portsmouth, and have previously visited the Imperial War Museum in London—although it was a long time ago (still haven't made it to Duxford). Surprised I hadn't heard of this bunker before, but based on these responses, I will find a way to go there on this trip and revisit St. Paul's next trip.

I passed on a group visit to the Uxbridge bunker, as I would not have been able to manage the stairs - no lift.

If you do go to Uxbridge remember to save a little time to admire the station.
It’s one of many station gems on the Piccadilly line.

https://londonist.com/london/transport/the-glory-that-is-uxbridge-station

Another vote in favor of the Bunker in Uxbridge. The plotting table room alone was worth the trip, knowing it was the real thing and not a museum creation. Our family, including young grandchildren, enjoyed it greatly.