Kingsway Telephone Exchange GPO, Underground London (Urbex)

The Kingsway telephone exchange was built as a deep-level shelter underneath Chancery Lane tube station in the early 1940s, compromising two east-west aligned tunnels, one each side of the Central Line.[1] Although intended for use as an air raid shelter, like many of the deep level shelters it was not used for its intended purpose and was instead used as a government communications centre. Material from the Public Records Office was stored there from 1945 to 1949
The site was given to the General Post Office (GPO) in 1949. At the time, the Post Office was also responsible for telephones as well as postal system. The two-tunnel shelter was extended by the addition of four shorter tunnels, at right-angles to the original pair. This extension was completed by 1954, and in 1956 it became the UK termination point for TAT-1, the first transatlantic telephone cable.
Throughout the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s, Kingsway Trunk Switching Centre (as it became known) was a trunk switching centre and repeater station with Post Office engineering staff totalling over 200 at its peak. Also located on site was the Radio Interference Investigation Group, whose function was to prevent television viewers and radio listeners in north and central London from suffering interference to their service from external sources such as thermostats, fluorescent tubes and injection moulding equipment. The country's first Radiopaging terminal was also installed on this site in the 1970s.
The site had a staff restaurant, tea bar, games room and licensed bar. Its bar claimed to be the deepest in the United Kingdom, located at approximately 200 feet below street level. The site contained an artesian well and rations to maintain several hundred people for many months, ensuring a safe environment in case of nuclear attack.
By the early 1980s the site was subject to a phased closure after large quantities of blue asbestos were found on the site. By 1995 only the main distribution frame was still in service. This reportedly has been removed.
In October 2008, British Telecom announced that the tunnels were for sale.
Thanks For Watching

[@mikey7278]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJvcZGWlfLZredE

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

I just love how you randomly turn stuff on. Its irresistible with all those switches. Amazing place.

[@KIRBZVIDS]

Have you seen what there doing to this place its soon to be open to the public

[@timaskew4837]

Brave taking the lifts!

[@cameronwilson8561]

Clearly one of you guys are a sparkie. Definitely know what you are playing with. Totally mental place to visit

[@magicknight8412]

Amazes me that these huge places, with the lights on had nobody around anywhere. Equipment that will never be used again still had power.

[@richardmark561]

I presume BT are still paying the bill

[@chrisstacey1984]

such an amazing place needs to be a museum really :-)

[@KIRBZVIDS]

Yh its a shame its not a museum this would deffo make a good place to visit, the lifts still get serviced in hear witch i find odd but thay dont maintain the goods lift that dosent work, also the fire alarms dont work propuly very odd way that place is left

[@HampshireVideo]

Oh wow, that's so cool getting in there, been fascinated by this place for years, would love to explore it.

[@KIRBZVIDS]

was a hard one to crack 28 days recked any ones chances of seeing this place thay had a party in there over Xmas and called me and some my mate goons knowing thay broke in aprobly causled damages doew there, I used to rate 28 days before thay did that

[@jameswest8280]

That place is a gift that keeps on giving.

[@dirknoeldner7647]

Great place! Thanks for sharing the video and adding the photos at the end.

[@stevenharris4989]

I would absolutely suit myself down there on my own, great video guys keep up the good work

[@fred4410]

Awesome work bud, well done for helping fixing up the place,

[@KIRBZVIDS]

Just wanted the lights on to get better shots haha

[@steventaylor153]

Excellent stuff scallywag ! Luv the tunes,

[@stevegeal6088]

Worked down there 10/15 years ago removing old diesel tanks and pipework for bt they used the diesel tanks for auxiliary power incase of power cuts . We had a guided tour of the place by a bloke that worked for bt he had worked there for years looking after contractors working down there

[@KIRBZVIDS]

That's mentel even I noticed that was missing I knew that woldent start anymore was even thinking where dose the exhaust exit for them engines

[@grahamchadwick5242]

You've done well to get in there lads excellent video

[@jamiecurran3544]

Surprised someone's not broke in and done a grow in there!😂, awesome explore I love all this old technology and bunker stuff!😁✌️

[@KIRBZVIDS]

Would have been a massive grow 🤣🤣 it's a very interesting place expeshly with the deep level tunnel system that it once connected to

[@jamiecurran3544]

@@KIRBZVIDS yeah it's huge the place just goes on forever it would be easy to get lost down there!🤔👍

[@gilliansmith6595]

Cool tour dudes, I'm a sucker for all this stuff, especially london history. Have been to Neasden Bunker, V damp!👍

[@zeberdee1972]

Leave no trace , no you repaired the place lol . Cool video 🙂

[@darrenb6157]

Gr8 vid bud 👍🏻

[@piccoliesploratorietantoal4071]

ciao bel video e molto interessante

[@philipmcdonagh1094]

5:58 that bunch of cables are definitely 1960's, I remember rolling out miles of that stuff back in the day (late 80's), then looming them to the exact length and attaching them to the distribution frames at 6:08, an absolute brain numbing job. It wasn't a this exact location but there's thousands of them all over the country. Pre digital every phone had is own pair of wires.

[@cwp1alpha]

For the most part, this facility is still very operations capable. A darn shame private telecom corporation or research company doesn't buy it up and utilize it as a secure facility.

[@whuds1159]

Nice explore if i went down there i'd have to take a lunch box with me haha

[@androiduser4162]

big up !!!

[@bilbofraggins1130]

lI was expecting Goron Freeman to pop out from around the east tunnel entrance, followed by headcrabs. :)

[@edwardf5430]

cool music at the end

[@jameswest8280]

Judging from the size of those motors, that must be some heavy duty elevators.

[@johnarkle7916]

Nice mercury arc rectifier towards the end of the video

[@jameswest8280]

3:49 looks like it's still energized.

[@Anonim99435]

You ever read up on the Glasgow GPO/BT tunnels?

[@skylined5534]

What an absolutely bonkers place! No idea how you chaps got in but I'm happy you did, that was fascinating! That said, that place is filled with stuff that gives me the creeps so I'm not sure I could be near most of it 😂 I can't believe so much stuff down there still works. I wonder why it's being kept in this semi zombie state?!

[@KIRBZVIDS]

I know the met police used it for a training area and also I think bt still own it and are trying to sell there

[@charlieplayz628]

How do I message you about a place that's derliect?

[@StraightOuttaUrbex]

omg that 286 pc powered up shame the hard drive was corrupt

[@salida_de_emergencia]

I think the fire panel is ringing

[@KIRBZVIDS]

Yh it was fault on alot of zones lol

[@RealfishingNL]

Its so weird u guys dont even have 5k subs becasue the video's are GREAT 👍. My guess is that u dont fake ghosts or fake secuirety get aways. But please dont start doing that. Keep going making videos like these

[@philipmcdonagh1094]

8 persons or 630 KG, that might of been fine in the years 50-80's. 8 average people today will be a lot more than 630 KG. The first trans Atlantic telephone cable was well before the 1950's. Well the way things are going the place wont go to waist, I can see it been repurposed in the not to distant future assuming its not flooded due to rising sea levels. Would make a great pre made film set say Aliens 7 or judging by your lift surfing Die Hard 6. All that old stuff sure brought back good memories thanks.

[@KIRBZVIDS]

Great information buddy

[@davecook3840]

When the mechanical exchange was running down there you would of needed ear defenders it so noisey. I’ve not been to this one but the BR Strowger Exchange at Waterloo was defending and probably only one tenth the size that this one was.

[@robertstopford1016]

Amazing vids guys. Some spaces might be well ventilated BUT get yourself some portable gas detection gear to have around your person at all times. At times, during your filming, you''re going into spaces that perhaps have not been maintained or monitored for a very long time. You need a detector that will constantly monitor for carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxides, sulphur dioxide, volatile organic compounds including benzene, and for oxygen deficiency. Having been down a coal mine, as an electrician, I know that detectors that constantly monitor the air are essential. Go online ASAP! Just looking out for you lads!

[@theurbanlegenduk1760]

💯👍🆙

[@-fuziondj-]

What’s the dnb mix that you got going off around 1 hr 10 can you link me with the name or link that’s some nice jungle vibe !!!❤❤ good video to !!! Nice to see places you don’t from a everyday view

[@-fuziondj-]

Realised the end of the video was the mix !!! Still if you can hook us up with the name or link !!!!! ❤

[@msys3367]

@3:53 - that looks like a radio base station or repeater of some kind, connected via a fiber optical link . Why the need for a signal down there? Great video!

[@Reaktanzkreis]

To operate handheld radios in the tunnel system. The Use normally a slotted koax cable which distribute the radio signals all over the place. With an extra modul it got the facility to transfer a phone call to the mobile radios.

[@MartinMaynard]

I use to work down there in the late 60s. Wondering which access you uesd?

[@ulazygit]

Could only be High Holborn … Tooks Court is demolished … Furnival Street only kept for equipment access.

[@jamie7340]

it's Furnival St, the video opens with the broken goods lift

[@upcomingcloudrapperluca7645]

I'd love to see the entrance door at 32 High Holborn. It appears from Google maps it doesn't exist anymore.

[@victoriabruch8758]

from victor germany frankfurt main 1977,when i am get rich, this is my villa...

[@philipmcdonagh1094]

1:02:38 a mercury ark rectifier, now that's special.

[@KIRBZVIDS]

Me and @beno got it going after abit of TLC

[@DJSubAir]

​@@KIRBZVIDSdo you happen to have a video of that?

[@KIRBZVIDS]

@@DJSubAir yeah my Camden bunker video

[@jackjames567]

Proper

[@grabham59]

1:00:30 - you managed to find the old staff bar then?

[@battlestarone]

Only one rhing comes to mind watching this,,,asbestos ,,,let me know if your still here in 20 or 30 yrs.

[@WhatALoadOfTosca]

Asbestos isn't dangerous unless improperly disturbed.

[@DoNE021]

11:30 That hand have some marks. Guess, Crash moped?.

[@KIRBZVIDS]

Nah fell off a bus bussufing 🤣

[@yoshiparker-lw7qs]

Turns literally everything on accept the dope ass arc reactor

[@KIRBZVIDS]

It dint work had bad transformer for the spark annoned