Stockport Air Raid Shelters take visitors underground into wartime history

Beneath the streets of Stockport town centre lies one of the most atmospheric attractions in Greater Manchester. The Stockport Air Raid Shelters offer a rare chance to walk through tunnels that sheltered local people during the Second World War.

The shelters opened in 1939 and were the largest purpose-built civilian air raid shelters in the country. Listings for the attraction give their original capacity as 3,850 people, a figure that hints at the scale of the network beneath the town.

Today the tunnels are open to visitors, and the experience has been refreshed over the years. Marketing Stockport has reported on the shelters reopening to the public after refurbishment, with an audio guide and new information panels helping to bring the stories of wartime Stockport to life.

General admission sessions have featured throughout the programme for Stockport's year as a town of culture, with OneStockport listing dates across 2025 for families and curious visitors alike.

For those who want to go further, the monthly explorer tours are a highlight. These evening tours take small groups into unlit and reinforced tunnels that are normally closed to the public. Art Fund listed explorer tour dates in 2025, including 4 February, 1 April, 2 September and 7 October.

It is an experience that appeals to history lovers of all ages, and to anyone who enjoys seeing a familiar town from a completely different angle. Walking the narrow passages, it is easy to imagine the nights when families crowded into the tunnels, waiting for the all-clear to sound above. The shelters keep those memories alive in a way that few museums can, because visitors are standing in the very spaces where those nights were spent.

The shelters have an accessible toilet in the reception area. Visitors with mobility needs should note that disabled parking has not been available directly outside because of nearby building works, so it is worth planning the journey in advance.

Tickets for general admission and the explorer tours can be booked through the official listings, and evening tours in particular are worth reserving early because group sizes are limited.