Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker, Nantwich, Cheshire CW5 8BL
Details
Accessibility
Hack Green Museum is located in a former Nuclear Bunker which is on 2 floors (upper level and lower ground floor/lower level).
Disabled visitors are advised by Hack Green to contact the Museum on arrival, to arrange for disabled access to the building, as the Bunker’s main Visitor entrance/exit is above ground level accessed by either a concrete ramp (approximately 3.5 yards (3 metres) long and on quite a steep gradient) or via a 12-step,concrete staircase. The ramp and the staircase both have a metal handrail on one side of them.
Due to its construction, the Bunker has no lift to the lower ground floor and access to the lower level is by staircase only (approximately 30 steps, although these incorporate quarter and half landings on some of the staircases between the floors).
Access for wheelchair users, mobility scooters or with pram is therefore to the upper level floor of the Museum, only. The visitor toilets (including disabled toilet/baby changing area), refreshment area, gift shop and quite a number of the Museum’s exhibition areas are on this floor.
Hack Green has produced detailed visitor floor plans at https://hackgreen.co.uk/our-secret-history/floor-plans/ and additional notice boards in the Museum to inform visitors which of the exhibition areas are located on each of the two floors. .
Disabled parking – Hack Green has a large, well-lit visitor car park. This has no designated disabled parking bay however there is parking space near to the building entrance/exit.
Brief description
Hack Green is a ‘Cold War’ period Heritage Museum, which is located in a former secret, Nuclear Bunker built on the site of the former World War II RAF Hack Green base. Hack Green secret Nuclear Bunker was operational from 1984-1991 as the North West Regional Headquarters of the British Home Office Emergency Planning Network during the period of twentieth century British history known as the ‘Cold War’ in response at the time to the perceived Soviet threat. In the event of a nuclear attack, Hack Green’s role would have been as the Regional Command Centre which was designed and constructed to be self-sufficient with its own living quarters for the Regional Command and its personnel and its own electricity generator, water supply, air conditioning system, decontamination area and communications systems.
After the Cold War ended in 1991, Hack Green was de-commissioned and declassified; then in 1998, it was opened to the public as a privately-run Heritage Museum to give them an insight into Hack Green Nuclear Bunker role as a former secret Regional Command Centre in the event of a nuclear attack and also to document Britain’s history during the Cold War era.
The Museum has a wide-ranging and fascinating collection of historical artefacts and memorabilia from the Cold War era and about Hack Green’s role and operations; what work and life would have been like for personnel in the Nuclear Bunker; plus an exhibition of its previous history during and after World War II as a RAF Station.
In the wheelchair-accessible area of the museum ( the upper floor only) the exhibition areas include: History of radar; radar operations room; military vehicles ;de-commissioned (!) atomic weapons; the Command Centre’s former living quarters, radiation de-contamination room and medical facilities; UK Radiac and Geiger Counter display; History of RAF Hack Green; Royal Observer Corps exhibition.
Exhibition areas on the lower ground floor (accessible by stairs only) include: Nuclear Bomb Shelter; Great Britain’s early ‘Ballistic Missile Early Warning System’ (BMEWS); nuclear attack warning room; the radio room; BBC Studio; Hack Green Command Centre and Communications room; Minister of State’s Control Room.
Children visiting Hack Green may also follow a ‘Secret Soviet Spy Mouse’ quiz trail to discover clues hidden amongst the Museum displays. .
Address
Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker, French Lane, Nantwich, Cheshire CW5 8BL.
Phone
01270 629219
Website
Hack Green has produced a short film about its new Covid 19 – secure measures in the museum which it introduced when the museum reopened in July 2020 – view this at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYYKSeXMzoQ&feature=youtu.be
Directions
SAT NAV: Hack Green Web site advises visitors to use postcode - CW5 8AL
Situated 3.15 miles south from Nantwich, 8.3 miles south from Crewe and 10 miles south east from Chester, located off the A530 (Whitchurch Road). From the A530, follow the brown tourist road signs for Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker, taking the turn-off into French Lane then continue to follow the direction signs for Hack Green (approximately 0.2 miles) to reach the venue.
Opening Times
Always check with the venue directly for up-to-date information including opening times and admission charges as they may be subject to change.
Tickets can be bought in advance of visit at: https://www.secretbunkershop.com/tickets
Adult, Child (ages 6 – 15 inclusive) and Disabled visitor tickets are available.
NOVEMBER 2020 Current Ticket Prices:
Adult: (age 16 and above): £9.00 (discounted from £10.00 usual price as at Oct 2020).
Child (ages 6-15 inclusive): £6.30 (discounted from £7.00 usual price as at Oct 2020). Ticket price includes a free ‘Small Spies Guidebook’. (The Children’s guidebook includes a quiz to do during the visit
Disabled visitor: Under age 16 – free. Over 16 - £7.20 (discounted from £8.00 usual price at Oct 2020). All Disabled visitor tickets include free entry for 1 carer.
All visitors buying their tickets online in advance should bring valid ID and a copy of their ticket order with them to obtain entry to the venue.
All tickets allow unlimited entry for each visitor for one year.
Transport
By Rail: Nearest Railway Station is at Nantwich (3.15 miles). Nantwich Station has step-free access to the whole station with ramp-access to the platforms; however the ramp to platform 1 is quite steep and the Trainline website advises that bicycles are often left chained to the handrail. The station is unmanned and without toilets. The nearest fully accessible, manned station is Crewe Railway Station. which is on the West Coast main line and is an Intercity station with disabled toilet and refreshment facilities.
There are no bus services operating any routes to Hack Green or close to the site. To walk to Hack Green Nuclear Bunker Museum from Nantwich Railway Station takes just over 1 hour approximately - the following link suggests a walking route: https://moovitapp.com/north_west-2105/poi/Hack%20Green%20Nuclear%20Bunker,%20Nantwich/Nantwich/en-gb?tll=53.027209_-2.530731&fll=53.063508_-2.51891&timeType=depart&time=1604140200000&customerId=4908&ref=1&poiType=site.
Amenities
Hack Green Museum has a café selling tea, coffee, soft drinks, sandwiches and light snacks. It also has a gift shop.
Additional refreshment facilities, public houses and hotel/bed and breakfast accommodation are to be found in and around Nantwich and Crewe and further afield in Chester and the surrounding Cheshire area.
Travel Information
For further travel information please see: www.traveline.info
Or call Traveline on 0871 200 22 33
(Calls cost 12p per minute plus your phone company's access charge)
Location
Nearest Venues
Oak Bank Business Centre, Sound, Cheshire
1,578 metres*
Baldwin's Quality Top Soil, Baddington, Cheshire
1.20 miles*
1.31 miles*
*Distances are calculated in a straight line from the current venue, please allow extra time/distance based on available paths or roads.