Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The Old Town Hall Bank Museum And Exhibit Hall
The Old Town Hall Bank Museum and Exhibit Hall
Der Mensch bezwingt den Kosmos (The Potsdam Mosaic)
De Tijdtrap
Qadian rooftop, Minaratul Masih, and Masjid Mubarak.
Aqsa Mosque
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Cacio e pepe lasagna combines two classics.
C'è pasta... E pasta!
Spaghetto taratatà is named for the sound of rattling sabers.
Giano Restaurant
The gnocchi here get blanketed in a sugo with braised oxtail.
Cesare al Pellegrino
Romans insist you should feel the cracked peppercorns and cheese grains on your tongue.
Flavio al Velavevodetto
Tripe is fried to a crisp.
L’Osteria della Trippa
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Solo travel can be challenging and sometimes lonely, but it also often leads to the greatest adventures.
Dear Atlas: How Do I Unplug on a Solo Trip?
about 8 hours ago
Museum of Friends
The Art in This Museum Was Donated for Free
about 9 hours ago
Grasshopper Chapel and grounds.
How the Rocky Mountain Locust Plague Spawned Federal Disaster Relief
1 day ago
The Guy Bradley Visitor Center at Flamingo in Everglades National Park.
America’s First Game Warden Died Fighting for the Birds
1 day ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom England Bristol Clifton Rocks Railway

Clifton Rocks Railway

The abandoned funicular tunnel was a secret base for the BBC during World War II.

Bristol, England

Added By
Gavin
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Clifton Rocks Railway   Linda Bailey/cc by-sa 2.0
Clifton Rocks Railway   Linda Bailey/cc by-sa 2.0
The disused rails and blocked off tunnel at Clifton Rocks Railway.   Matt Gibson/cc by 2.0
Clifton Rocks Railway tour: a collection of glass bottles and other detritus from the air raid shelters.   mattbuck/cc by 2.0
View from the Clifton Suspension bridge   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
Clifton Rocks Railway.   Gavin / Atlas Obscura User
Sion Hill, Clifton   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Princes’ Lane   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Clifton Rocks Railway.   Gavin / Atlas Obscura User
Clifton Rocks Railway   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

There's a secret hiding in the rocks lining the road that runs along the River Avon. There, tucked behind a gate, is an abandoned Victorian-era funicular tunnel that served as a clandestine sanctuary during World War II.

The underground funicular opened in March of 1893. It was the work of an entrepreneur named George Newnes, who hatched a plan to build a luxurious spa atop the gorge. He decided to construct the railroad to link the spa with the port down below.

The town let Newnes complete his plan, but there were a few conditions. The funicular had to be underground, so as not to spoil the picturesque scenery. It also needed secret entrances and exits to keep commoners separated from the hotel guests.

Unfortunately for the railroad, its working days were short-lived. By the 1920s, automobiles rendered it largely unnecessary. The last rail journey took place in 1934, and the secluded funicular seemed doomed to fade into obsoleteness.

But World War II changed all that. Locals took refuge from bombs in the upper parts of the tunnel. The BBC set up camp in the lower chamber, using it as a place to house its Symphony Orchestra. The BBC also constructed an emergency studio within the bowels of the tunnel network, though the air raids stopped before it was ever put to proper use.

The BBC kept the studio even after World War II ended, considering it a backup option during the Cold War. However, the organization moved out in 1960, and the tunnel was abandoned once again.

In 2008, a volunteer group set to work restoring the tunnel. Rocks, broken bottles, shoes, and other remnants from its bomb shelter days litter the space. The rusted train tracks still stretch throughout the tunnel, though they’ll likely never be used again.

Related Tags

Funicular Railroads Tunnels Hidden Abandoned Transportation Subterranean Sites

Know Before You Go

If you’re in the city center, head up Park Street and Whiteladies Road. Take a left at the top of Black Boy Hill and look for the signs for the suspension bridge. Turn left onto Sion Hill.

Guided tours are offered on certain open days (see the website for details as they’re announced). These tours run every 10 minutes throughout the day. You don’t need to book in advance and admission is free, though donations are welcomed. On the tour, you’ll learn about the history of the site. However, be aware that you won’t be able to enter the tunnel due to restoration work and safety concerns.

The Bristol In-Sight, (Hop On Hop Off ) Bus (Yellow Route) drives passed but does not stop. You can catch a glimpse from the right hand side.

Community Contributors

Added By

Gavin

Edited By

SEANETTA, FaerieDana, Kerry Wolfe, Xavixavir

  • SEANETTA
  • FaerieDana
  • Kerry Wolfe
  • Xavixavir

Published

August 6, 2018

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20170718-the-underground-railway-that-became-a-secret-wartime-base
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clifton_Rocks_Railway
Clifton Rocks Railway
The Zig Zag
Bristol, England
United Kingdom
51.453666, -2.626752
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Clifton Suspension Bridge Vaults

Bristol, England

miles away

The Observatory & Camera Obscura

Bristol, England

miles away

Goldney Grotto

Bristol, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Bristol

Bristol

England

Places 32
Stories 5

Nearby Places

Clifton Suspension Bridge Vaults

Bristol, England

miles away

The Observatory & Camera Obscura

Bristol, England

miles away

Goldney Grotto

Bristol, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Bristol

Bristol

England

Places 32
Stories 5

Related Places

  • Inside the tunnel.

    Payson, Arizona

    Abandoned Mineral Belt Railroad Tunnel

    A partial tunnel blasted into a steep ridge is all that remains of a failed railway across Arizona.

  • The funicular.

    Athens, Greece

    Lycabettus Funicular

    The railway carts travelers to central Athens's highest peak, which offers stunning vistas of the city.

  • The western end of the tunnel looking east.

    Rockmart, Georgia

    Braswell Mountain Rail Tunnel

    An abandoned railroad tunnel forgotten by time awaits inquisitive hikers.

  • The snow sheds.

    Truckee, California

    Donner Pass Summit Tunnels

    The now-abandoned tunnels were built for the transcontinental railroad on the route where the first wagon train entered California.

  • Abandoned Eriksdal Train Tunnel.

    Södermalm, Sweden

    Abandoned Eriksdal Train Tunnel

    It was meant to help transport wounded soldiers to a secret underground hospital.

  • Thurgoland Tunnel.

    Thurgoland, England

    Thurgoland Tunnel

    A repurposed railway tunnel with otherworldly acoustic characteristics.

  • Tunnel 33, now collapsed.

    Winter Park, Colorado

    Rifle Sight Notch

    This old train trestle and collapsed tunnel once allowed the railroad to negotiate the steep slopes of the Colorado Rockies.

  • Cabin in the Ascensore Castello d’Albertis-Montegall.etto

    Genoa, Italy

    Ascensore Castello d'Albertis-Montegalletto

    This peculiar Italian elevator runs both horizontally and vertically.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.