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Now on the market: a 1950s nuclear bunker in Cumbria for just £15,000

A Royal Observer Corps nuclear bunker from the Cold War is currently for sale

Annie McNamee
Written by
Annie McNamee
Contributor, Time Out London and UK
Exterior of a concrete bunker
Photograph: Rightmove
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Do you spend a lot of your time worrying about the end of the world? Although we don’t want to encourage existential dread amongst our readers, we have got the perfect property for any doomsayers out there looking for a place to hunker down and relax.

A nuclear bunker in the middle of nowhere (AKA Cumbria) is currently on sale for the absolute steal of only £15,000 – a small price to pay for survival. Built in the 1950s during the Cold War, it was an official bunker owned by the Royal Observer Corps and was ‘designed to provide protective accommodation for three observers to survive a nuclear attack, they were expected to report on the nuclear bursts and on the fall out of a nuclear attack.’ Truly terrifying stuff.

We can’t describe the bunker as particularly comfy or spacious, and being underground it doesn’t get brilliant natural light. Its main use today would be as a phone tower, as it was constructed with good access to telecommunications infrastructure, but you can do whatever you like with it. Turn it into an evil lair, or a wholesome craft room. The subterranean base is your oyster, as they say.

Here’s what could be yours:

Interior of an underground bunker
Photograph: Rightmove
Interior of concrete bunker
Photograph: Rightmove

Some may call it ‘claustrophobic’ or ‘incredibly grim’, but we think it’s all a matter of perspective. One man’s coffin-like abode is another man’s cosy reading nook. Sure, it’s so remote that the nearest city is an hour-long drive away, but that just means it’s peaceful. Plus, if you’re into your 20th century history it’s genuinely cool. 

Exterior of the bunker
Photograph: Rightmove

You can have a look at the listing for the bunker on Rightmove, which includes a video tour, here. If you do end up moving in, please start a renovation TikTok series – we’d love to see what you do with the place. 

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You might not fancy a bunker, but how about a visit to one of these treehouses you can actually stay in? If you want something cosier, try one of our favourite log cabins, or for something exciting book a stay in one of these cool castles.

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