Do we need to book ahead, or can we just turn up?

The Bunker is designed primarily as a facility for school groups, and booking is required to visit. Contact them in advance to arrange your visit.

Is it suitable for a mix of ages, or is it really just for older children?

The Bunker suits junior and teen age groups. The four themed rooms cover the air raid shelter, wartime history and the police station's role, which should engage children old enough to understand the historical context.

Is there anywhere to eat, or should we bring a packed lunch?

We haven't confirmed whether there is a café at the venue, so it's worth asking when you book. Bringing snacks or a picnic may be sensible depending on how long you plan to spend here.

What should we know about getting around with younger children or buggies?

The Bunker is accessed by a staircase leading down underground from the police station. We haven't confirmed how buggy-friendly this is, so contact them before your visit if you have a toddler in tow.

The Bunker at Hatfield Police Station

Museums & Science Centres · Hatfield, Hertfordshire

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🏠 Indoor8–1212–16EducationalBooking required

What’s there

Limited parking

Limited public car parking, including disabled spaces, is available outside the police station.

Only facilities we’ve confirmed are listed — anything missing here we simply haven’t checked, rather than know to be absent.

The Bunker is a small museum in the basement of Hatfield Police Station, set in one of the few original buildings left from the de Havilland aircraft factory. Four underground rooms cover the site's story: an air raid shelter, an Art Deco room, a war room and a police room with modern policing equipment. Exhibits include photographs, historical objects, film footage, dioramas and models that trace the site from its 1930s origins through the war and the jet age. It is run mainly as an educational facility for school pupils and youth groups, so visits are tailored to the group and can be shaped around local history lessons. Some items, such as ammunition and police equipment, may not suit very young children, and the team asks visitors to flag any concerns beforehand. Because the museum sits inside an operational station, casual drop-ins are not possible and visits are arranged in advance.

Questions parents ask

Do we need to book ahead, or can we just turn up?: The Bunker is designed primarily as a facility for school groups, and booking is required to visit. Contact them in advance to arrange your visit.
Is it suitable for a mix of ages, or is it really just for older children?: The Bunker suits junior and teen age groups. The four themed rooms cover the air raid shelter, wartime history and the police station's role, which should engage children old enough to understand the historical context.
Is there anywhere to eat, or should we bring a packed lunch?: We haven't confirmed whether there is a café at the venue, so it's worth asking when you book. Bringing snacks or a picnic may be sensible depending on how long you plan to spend here.
What should we know about getting around with younger children or buggies?: The Bunker is accessed by a staircase leading down underground from the police station. We haven't confirmed how buggy-friendly this is, so contact them before your visit if you have a toddler in tow.

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Photos: 維基小霸王, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Renée Kools, CC BY 4.0 · Politikaner, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Donald Trung Quoc Don, CC BY-SA 4.0 · david falkner from Birmingham, England, CC BY 2.0