Paddock

Paddock is an underground military complex in Dollis Hill with two levels and around forty rooms throughout its structure. The rooms sit protected by thick reinforced concrete walls approximately 40 feet below ground level.

Construction started in 1939 as a potential refuge for Winston Churchill's government if German bombing made central London unusable. The site developed as a direct response to the growing aerial threat facing Britain.

The facility demonstrates British wartime engineering and organization through its corridors and specialized rooms designed for communication and broadcasting. Walking through reveals how people managed complex operations in confined underground spaces during an extraordinary period.

Access to this site is only available through organized guided tours that run at select times during the year. It is wise to inquire ahead and reserve a spot, as places fill up quickly.

The entrance hides itself as an electrical substation, a disguise that kept the military purpose secret. Inside, mineral-rich water slowly forms stalactites hanging from the ceiling.