Dark, cold and one of UK’s best
IT’S dark, cold and there are forbidden sections that you can’t visit – however, one of the many wonders of Newcastle has been named among the best underground attractions in the UK.
The Victoria Tunnel, which celebrated its 180th anniversary earlier this year, was opened in 1842 as an underground waggonway to take coal from long-demolished Spital Tongues colliery to ships on the Tyne. A section of the 2.4 mile tunnel in Ouseburn has been open to visitors since 2010 and currently sits as Newcastle’s number one thing to do on Trip Advisor, having also been named among the top 10% of visitor attractions in the world in July and been handed a Travellers’ Choice award.
And now, Times Travel has named it one of the best underground attractions in the country, along with an underground trampoline playground in Wales and the Churchill War Rooms in London.
Hannah Bryan, heritage programme manager at the Victoria Tunnel, said: “We’re honoured to have been featured, it’s great to have the efforts of our excellent volunteer guides recognised. They really deliver amazing experiences for our visitors.”
Of the Victoria Tunnel, the Times wrote: “The up-and-coming district of Ouseburn in Newcastle’s East End has dozens of great pubs, breweries and music venues, as well as a 19th century waggonway beneath the surface that was used to transport coal to the River Tyne. During the Second World War the waggonway was converted into an airraid shelter and after being largely abandoned it was restored and reopened in 2008.”