Did you know that there’s a tunnel hidden underneath the busy streets of Newcastle upon Tyne?
I’m not a fan of the term ‘hidden gem’ but in the case of the Victoria Tunnel it really is quite apt. How many people must walk daily through the city without realising that there’s a remarkable underground passageway hidden right beneath their feet?
The history of the Victoria Tunnel
Named after Queen Victoria, the Victoria Tunnel was built between 1839 and 1842 to transport coal from the Leazes Main Colliery at Spital Tongues near the Town Moor, down to the river Tyne.
Using nothing more than gravity, eight huge wagons full of coal would roll through the tunnel to the ships waiting on the banks of the Tyne before being pulled back uphill by a fixed steam engine and a long rope.
When the coal ran out and the pit was closed in 1860, the tunnel was abandoned and largely forgotten for decades until the outbreak of World War II when it was fitted with bunk beds, lighting, and toilets, and repurposed as a bomb shelter so that the residents of the Ouseburn Valley could take refuge from the air raids over Newcastle.
At the end of the war in 1945 the tunnel was closed once more and remained that way until 2006 when Newcastle City Council secured funding to restore the tunnel and open it as a tourist attraction. In 2010 the day to day running of the tunnel was taken over by the Ouseburn Trust who continue to operate tours thanks to a group of dedicated volunteers who, between them, welcome over 10,000 visitors each year.
Originally over 2.25 miles (3.6 kms) long, now less than half a mile (700 metres) is accessible to the public.
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What to expect on the Victoria Tunnel tour
Tours of the Victoria Tunnel are run by the Ouseburn Trust and led by volunteers. We took the two-hour tunnel tour led by Anne and Mick. Anne took the first half of the tour and told us about how the tunnel was used during World War II, while Mick took the second half of the tour and explained the origins of the tunnel and brought its mining history to life.
The tour started at the offices of the Ouseburn Trust at 51 Lime Street opposite the Seven Stories museum, and, after meeting our guides, we were off.
The tour starts above ground with a short walk through Ouseburn to the entrance of the tunnel on Ouse Street with Anne pointing out landmarks that we would soon be walking underneath.
Arriving at the tunnel we all donned hard hats, picked up a torch, and started our underground adventure.
Victoria Tunnel during World War II
As well as the entrance on Ouse Street there were another six wartime entrances created to the Victoria Tunnel.
As we started our journey underground we had to pass through several chicanes – these were blast walls built to strengthen the tunnel against bomb blasts at its points closest to ground level.
As we walked further into the depths Anne explained the history of the tunnel from this period including how special paint was painted onto the walls that would change colour if poisonous gas was present. While this wouldn’t help anyone unlucky enough to be caught underground, it would alert rescuers to the presence of toxins.
There are replicas of the bunk beds that were used during air raids, plus benches where we sat while Anne talked about wartime life for the citizens of the Ouseburn Valley. While the tunnel saved a lot of lives not all the stories had happy endings.
At one point we all switched off our torches and were plunged into darkness, while sound effects during the tour including air raid sirens, and planes flying overhead and dropping bombs all added to the experience.
It’s hard to comprehend how the tunnel could shelter up to 9,000 people during an air raid. Conditions underground weren’t ideal but a common comment was that it was better to be damp than dead. I think that says it all really.
The tunnel was divided into sectors so that if medical assistance was required from the nurses who were on call around the clock they were able to find the person who needed help.
An obvious question when underground is ‘how did they go to the toilet’? There were rudimentary chemical toilets throughout the tunnel separated by nothing more than a privacy curtain. These toilets were emptied by the tunnel wardens who would have to lug them up to ground level each day – not the best job to have so it’s little wonder that they had a reputation for being grumpy!
As we got level with St Dominic’s Church above us Anne pointed out the crucifix which had been carved into the wall along with a roll of honour next to it, although the names are very faint.
The origins of Victoria Tunnel
We were now on the second half of the tour and, as we made our way back to the starting point, Mick took over as guide and explained how the tunnel came into being.
During the industrial revolution coal mines were springing up all over Newcastle and two enterprising men, Porter and Latimer, bought the Leazes Main Pit in Spital Tongues.
Unluckily for them the coal wasn’t great quality and the locals didn’t want it so they decided to ship it off to London by boat. The dilemma was how to get the coal from the pit down to the Tyne, a few miles away. Originally they used horses and carts to carry the coal straight down Northumberland Street, now the city’s main shopping street but then a residential street and home to Newcastle’s elite including lawyers and bankers.
Due to the taxes placed on the transport of the coal the carts had to run day and night which didn’t please the wealthy residents who complained to the corporation, who instructed Porter and Latimer to find an alternative way to transport the coal.
They contacted the engineer, William Ellison Gilhespie, who proposed a tunnel from Spital Tongues to the Ouseburn. It took two years and ten months to build the tunnel with 200 navvies employed to do the work.
The terrain was boulder clay so a technique called clay kicking was used to get through the ground.
Nothing went to waste and the clay that was dug out was turned into bricks which were used to line the walls of the tunnel along with sandstone from Grainger Town.
Once tracks were laid, trucks called chaldrons were built to fit perfectly within the tunnel and it was finally ready to start moving coal.
To celebrate the completion of the tunnel a grand party was organised for local dignitaries who, to their surprise, were ushered into a chaldron and sent down the tunnel in the dark while an orchestra played in a separate chaldron.
200 men started working on the tunnel and 200 men finished working on it. To complete such a large engineering project with no loss of life was a staggering achievement so the workers were also rewarded with a party – a three-day bender at the Unicorn Inn in the Bigg Market.
The Unicorn may no longer be there but the reputation of the Bigg Market as party central lives on!
Turning off our torches once more Mick told us the story of William Coulson and the runaway chaldron complete with sound effects rattling around us. A great end to a fantastic tour.
What else is there to do near the Victoria Tunnel?
A visit to Victoria Tunnel can easily be combined with Ouseburn’s other attractions including the Ouseburn Farm and Seven Stories museum.
If you’re a street art fan there’s plenty to discover in Ouseburn and there are some lovely arty shops to visit plus plenty of places to eat and drink. With your Victoria Tunnel entry ticket you can get discounts on food at various local bars and restaurants including the Cluny and the Ship Inn.
You might also want to take a guided heritage walk or an Ouseburn brewery tour led by other Ouseburn Trust volunteers. You can find information and booking instructions on the Ouseburn Trust website.
Frequently Asked Questions about visiting the Victoria Tunnel
What are the opening times for the Victoria Tunnel?
Tours run throughout the week but check the official website for dates and times of tours.
I would recommend booking a week or two in advance, particularly if you want to visit at the weekend – the booking calendar does, handily, show availability for each time slot.
The Ouseburn Trust also run special events in the Victoria Tunnel including Tipple in the Tunnel and Sounds of the Underground. Check out the official website for full details.
How much do the tunnel tours cost?
The two-hour tour cost £16 per person (£7 for children aged 7 to 16) while the shorter tour is £14 (£7 for children aged 7 to 16). Prices are correct as of December 2025.
How difficult is the Victoria Tunnel tour?
The tunnel tour is an easy walk but the tunnels are dimly lit so, if you suffer from claustrophobia, it may not be suitable. Apart from the benches where parts of the World War II history is explained there’s nowhere to sit on the tour but if you’re fairly fit you should be able to manage the tour.
Is it suitable for wheelchair users?
The tour isn’t suitable for wheelchair users due to the bomb blast walls at the start of the tunnel.
Are dogs welcome on the Victoria Tunnel tour?
Dogs aren’t allowed on the tour with the exception of registered assistance dogs.
What should you wear on the tour?
Sensible shoes are a must as the ground is uneven and can also be wet and muddy in places so don’t wear anything you don’t mind getting a bit dirty. The tunnel maintains a constant temperature of 12°c so you might want to wear warm clothing too.
There’s no eating or drinking allowed. The tunnel doesn’t have any rats and they want to keep it that way so no food or drink is permitted.
Getting to the Victoria Tunnel
If you’re driving to Ouseburn there’s limited street parking although there are a few car parks within walking distance of the tunnel.
If you’re lucky you might even get to park next to this fantastic piece of street art underneath the Byker bridge.
There are regular buses from Newcastle City Centre to Ouseburn or you could take the Metro to either Manors or Byker.
My favourite way to get there though is by walking along the Quayside – it takes around half an hour at a leisurely pace from the Tyne Bridge.
Full details of how to get there can be found on the Ouseburn Trust website.
Final thoughts
The Victoria Tunnel is more than just a quirky attraction, it’s a living piece of the history of Newcastle and the guides really do bring that history to life. It’s no wonder that this is the number one rated attraction in Newcastle on Trip Advisor with multiple awards to its name.
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this and that you’ll find it helpful with planning your own trip to the Victoria Tunnel. I’ve been to Newcastle countless times and can honestly say that this is one of the best things I’ve done in the city and shouldn’t be missed if you’re visiting.
Please feel free to drop a comment below if you have any questions or have explored the Victoria Tunnel yourself.
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First off, absolutely not, I did not realise there was an underground in Newcastle! I would love to explore this route. Nice to see the costs and what’s involved to make it happen. Interesting that it doesn’t get so warm when inside, I would have thought it’s warmer than 12 degrees. It is also impressive that no rats are found below, and keeping food out certainly will help with that
It was such a great tour and the guides really brought the history to life. I would definitely recommend it if you’re ever in Newcastle.
What a fascinating look at the tunnels! I heard about the wartime usage from my uncle, who spent many nights inside. I hadn’t known that they had been restored as an exhibit (shows how long it’s been since I visited Newcastle). Now I know, I will make a point of visiting next time I’m back in the UK.
I enjoyed reading about the original construction. What a clever process. Thanks for a really interesting read.
Thanks Lyn. How amazing to have first hand stories about the tunnel from your uncle. I can’t imagine how it must have been down there for everyone during the air raids. Definitely take the tour on your next visit to the UK.
I can’t count the number of times I’ve been to Newcastle and had absolutely no idea this existed. What a gem. I love an underground tour, and especially one with some unique historical value. The tour sounds really good, and worth the money, although I might not love the part where they turn out all the lights. Good to see what others had to endure to survive though. I might have to check this out on my next visit to the northeast. That mural is fantastic, by the way, what a stunner
It’s definitely worth doing when you’re next in Newcastle. I can’t believe this was my first visit to Ouseburn too – next time I’m going in the summer months so I can enjoy the bars and beer gardens.
Clay kicking sounds so wild!! But such a cool bit of history! I would’ve never know about it. I’d probably most enjoy hanging with the animals at Ouseburn Farm after that tour!
Haha yes it sounds crazy – not a job I’d fancy!! The farm was so cool – hard to believe it’s right in the middle of the city.
This is quite the experience. Not only was the tunnel used as a descrete way to transport coal through the city but also reused during the war as a shelter. It must have been exhausting to carve the tunnel inch by inch as depicted on the sign for the clay kicker. This must have taken so much strength and manual labour, it is not imaginable for today’s tunnel building. Very fascinating and I have pinned the tunnel on my map.
Carolin | Solo Travel Story
It’s an incredible feat of engineering when you consider how the poor clay kickers had to spend their days underground! Glad you’ve pinned it – it’s definitely worth a visit when you’re in Newcastle.
We have friends in Newcastle so go every so often, I’ll definitely add the tunnel to my list. I had no idea it was there either and a tunnel tour alongside some street art hunting and the farm sounds amazing!
It was my first time in Ouseburn after dozens of trips to Newcastle and one of the highlights of my visit. I’ll definitely be back.