Scotland's Secret Bunker

About the museum

Scotland's Secret Bunker at Troywood is a former Cold War command centre built about 100 feet below ground. A tunnel of nearly 450 feet leads down to it from a farmhouse that hid the entrance. The bunker was planned as a subsidiary regional seat of government, a place from which civil servants, the armed forces, the Royal Observer Corps and others could have run the region after a nuclear attack. It stayed in service until 1993.

The bunker has two levels encased in reinforced concrete. It contained a nuclear operations room and an RAF control centre, and the radar room still holds equipment that was among the last to record Soviet incursions into British airspace. Six dormitories could sleep up to 300 people on a shared-bed system, a BBC-staffed studio was fitted so that emergency announcements could be broadcast, and there was a chapel with resident clergy.

After the Cold War the site was renovated and opened to the public as a museum. Visitors now walk through the command rooms, the plotting rooms, the dormitories, the broadcasting studio and the chapel, see a rebuilt RAF operations room with original files and visit a room run with the Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. There are also two cinemas and a café in the original canteen.

Highlights

• Command centre with nuclear operations room and RAF control centre
• Radar room with equipment that tracked Soviet aircraft
• Dormitories, broadcasting studio and chapel
• Room run with the Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
• Audio tours in English, French, Spanish, German and Chinese
• Underground café in the original canteen

Permanent exhibition

• The underground command centre – Visitors walk through the preserved command centre, operations and plotting rooms, dormitories, broadcasting studio and chapel of the Cold War bunker.

Founded

1953

Admission & discounts

Online tickets are valid for one admission until the end of the season and are not refundable. Booking in advance gives a 10% discount. Ticket prices as shown in the online ticket shop; tickets can also be bought at the door.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Visitors must be able to manage stairs: there are 16 stairs with two turns to the top floor and 24 stairs with one turn to the lower level. There is no lift. Wheelchairs are available on each level for visitors who can manage the stairs. Dogs are not allowed.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area: not available

The site describes itself as family friendly. Pushchairs are allowed and staff can help with the stairs. There are high chairs and bottle and food warming, and baby changing in the ladies' toilets only. There is no play area, no children's cutlery and no child-sized café portions.

Getting there & parking

The entrance is hidden in a farmhouse at Crown Buildings, Troywood, near St Andrews.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Wi-Fi

The Officers Mess Café serves hot and cold refreshments in the original canteen underground, and free internet access is offered there. The shop sells books, gifts, souvenirs, DVDs and Cold War memorabilia, and also has an online shop.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Venue hire is offered for events, weddings, filming and conferences. Groups can also arrange sleepovers in the dormitories.

Plan your visit