The York Cold War Bunker in North Yorkshire is offering free entry to visitors from 7 March to 15 March 2026. This promotion is part of the National Lottery Open Week, which is an annual event held to thank people for playing lottery games by opening up heritage sites across the country.
To visit without paying, people must show a valid National Lottery ticket, scratchcard, or digital game purchase. Because the bunker is an underground building with limited space, all visitors must book a guided tour in advance to secure a place during the week.
The bunker was originally used as a headquarters to track nuclear explosions and radioactive fallout across Yorkshire until it closed in 1991. It was designed with specialized air-filtration and water systems that could support 60 staff members for up to 30 days in the event of a nuclear attack.
The open week also highlights the history of the Royal Observer Corps, the group of civilian volunteers who worked at the site. A project called Forewarned is Forearmed is currently running at the bunker to celebrate the group’s 100th anniversary using money provided by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Since the National Lottery began in 1994, players have raised more than £50 billion for heritage, arts, and community projects. These funds help keep local history alive at sites like the bunker, which was restored and opened to the public twenty years ago.
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