Best Books About Secret Bunkers & Underground Exploration
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From underground cities and military bunkers to hidden tunnels and subterranean homes, these structures have long captivated the imaginations of people around the world. The interesting and informative books below will help you on your mission to uncover underground secrets, offering a unique look into the history, design, and use of these captivating underground structures. Whether you are a history buff, an architecture enthusiast, an urban explorer, or just curious about the world beneath our feet, these books are sure to provide an engaging and enlightening read.
'The Last Thing' By David Moore
Photographer David Moore's 2008 book is the ultimate bunker geek-out. With unprecedented access to the British government's Crisis Management facility below Whitehall in central London, the book contains page after page of photos of a bunker which is still top secret. In fact, the photographer has never been able to officially name the bunker in his book. The series of eerie photos show what life would be like if hermetically sealed inside of this strategically important blast-proof hideout.
'Secret Underground Cities' By Nick McCamley
The book that got many hooked on underground exploration and secret bunkers. 'Secret Underground Cities' tells in meticulous detail the history of the series of vast underground bunkers built by the British government during the Second World War and the new uses some these subterranean cities found as Cold War paranoia set in.
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'Underground London' By Stephen Smith
The book that got many hooked on underground exploration and secret bunkers. 'Secret Underground Cities' tells in meticulous detail the history of the series of vast underground bunkers built by the British government during the Second World War and the new uses some these subterranean cities found as Cold War paranoia set in.
'Hidden, Forbidden & Off-Limits' By Steve Higgins
'Hidden, Forbidden & Off-Limits' is the new book from Steve Higgins. Released in 2023, it charts the urban explorers many adventures into the unknown worlds and hidden landscapes beneath our feet, from subterranean World War II ammunition stores, to massive Cold War nuclear bunkers. It also details the fascinating history he uncovered while exploring in the darkness and the fascinating people he met along the way.
'Burlington' By Nick Catford
The ultimate coffee table book for any secret bunker nerd. This large hardcover book is packed full of approximately 400 colour photographs of the Central Government Emergency War Headquarters in Corsham, plus maps and plans. The rarely seen subterranean views are accompanied by comprehensive captions and an authoritative history of what was once the most secret place in Britain. The bunker at Corsham in north-west Wiltshire would be the size of a small town and accommodate over 4,000 officials.
'Digging Bath Stone' By David Pollard
David Pollard was a well-known figure in the underground community, a historian, an author, and the proud owner of Hartham Park Quarry. 'Digging Bath Stone: A Quarry & Transport History' is his encyclopaedic book detailing the history of the British stone quarry industry and it really is an encyclopaedia, weighing in at over 500 pages and about two-and-a-half kilos it is a vast resource on underground spaces.
'Secret Underground Bristol & Beyond' By Sally Watson
A lovely book that is a must for interested Bristolians, it's full of interesting and obscure information about many of the city's various man-made and natural underground secrets, plus plenty of illustrations and photos, and a foreword by Bristol-born actor, archaeologist and 'Time Team' host, Tony Robinson. From the River Frome which snakes beneath the city centre, to the city's various grottos including Goldney Grotto and Warmley Grotto. You can also learn about the extensive cave network underneath Redcliff and its notorious history.
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'Subterranean Britain: Cold War Bunkers' By Nick Catford
A hardcover book containing 500 colour photographs featuring examples of every type of Cold War bunker built in the United Kingdom between 1950 and 1998, plus a detailed history of each. The photographic survey includes all the known nuclear bunkers, ROTOR radar stations and government control bunkers built during the Cold War. Although now out of print, it's worth trying to track down a copy.
'Your Nuclear Shelter: How To Build & Equip It' By Colin G Croft
This rare book that dates back to 1980 is great inspiration if you've ever dreamt about building your own nuclear shelter. Of course, technology has moved on since this book was published, but the information it gives about planning, designing, constructing and fitting out a bunker is still very relevant today.
'Bunker' By Bradley Garrett
Released in 2021 by urban explorer and cultural geographer, Bradley Garrett, 'Bunker' explores the global and rapidly growing movement of 'prepping' for social and environmental collapse, or doomsday. From the dread merchants hustling safe spaces in the American mid-West to eco-fortresses in Thailand, from geoscrapers to armoured mobile bunkers.
'Hidden Britain' By Alvin Nicholas
This book is a treasure chest of antiquities, gripping true stories, romantic legends and little-known curiosities, exploring gloomy priest holes, secret passageways, concealed doors and lost vaults in castles, manors, inns and churches.
'The Subterranean Railway' By Christian Wolmar
Christian Wolmar celebrates the vision and determination of the 19th century pioneers who made London's Underground, the world's first, and still the largest, underground passenger railway. From the early days of steam to electrification, via the Underground's contribution to 20th century industrial design and its role during two world wars, the story comes right up to the present with a new chapter on the sleek and futuristic Crossrail line.
'Selected Caves Of Britain & Ireland' By Des Marshall & Donald Rust
An amazing reference book with maps and routes of caves in Britain and Ireland which gives a full description of each trip together with supporting information on how to complete a sporting way through each cave or pothole system.
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