Take Shelter

Take Shelter Rare underground museum of the fully restored WW2 Air raid shelter, situated underneath Downs Junior

Rare, underground and fully restored WW2 Air Raid Shelter, situated underneath Downs Junior School in Brighton. Tours available privately and for schools wishing to learn more as part of the curriculum.

On Saturday 27th June 2026 we will be collaborating with Brighton & Hove City Council to host this years Armed Forces da...
14/06/2026

On Saturday 27th June 2026 we will be collaborating with Brighton & Hove City Council to host this years Armed Forces day 10-4pm.

Current serving and Ex-Service military personnel are invited to come and join us for free fish and chips courtesy of Sussex Freemasons (all the Orders) limited to 50 portions so come at 1pm to guarantee your plate.

It promises to be a fantastic day of events including military vehicles on display, The Routemaster Bus courtesy of Brighton & Hove Buses, Drumhead service from 3pm with HM Lord-Lieutenant of East Sussex (deputy) and Mayor of Brighton & Hove, and weather permitting a Battle of Britain memorial flight (time tbc).

Tours of the shelter can be booked via the Take Shelter website https://takeshelter.org.uk/ or simply come and enjoy an afternoon of cadet displays, dancing and refreshments from Mrs B’s tearoom or chat to one of our resident veterans who will tell you what life was like as a wartime child.

It promises to be a spectacular day.

💙 Volunteers’ Week 💙It’s Volunteers’ Week 🎉 and we just want to say a massive thank you 🙌 to all the amazing volunteers ...
04/06/2026

💙 Volunteers’ Week 💙

It’s Volunteers’ Week 🎉 and we just want to say a massive thank you 🙌 to all the amazing volunteers at Take Shelter.

Your time, kindness and commitment mean the world to us 💫. Whether you’re lending a hand 🤝, sharing your skills 🛠️ or just showing up when it counts, you make such a difference.
We honestly couldn’t do this without you 💙

Thank you for being part of Take Shelter and for everything you do 🌟

💙

01/06/2026

🎒📚 Bring WW2 History to Life for Your Pupils 📚🎒
An unforgettable hands‑on school visit in Brighton 🇬🇧
Step back to the 1940s with an immersive experience your class will never forget:
🕯️ Underground Air Raid Shelter Tour
Small‑group guided tours with authentic 1940s reconstructions, rare local photos, interactive audio/video, a bombing simulation 💥 and a fun dressing‑up photo opportunity ✈️📸
📚 Interactive WW2 Workshop
Led (subject to availability) by inspiring volunteer 🧓🎖️ WW2 veterans, exploring evacuation, rationing, women’s roles and life in wartime Brighton.
💬 Live Group Q&A
Pupils ask real questions, hear real stories, and finish with a moving tale of a 🇨🇦 Canadian war bride from Brighton ❤️
✅ Curriculum‑supporting
✅ Highly engaging
✅ Led by expert volunteers
🔗 Find out more & book your visit:
👉 https://takeshelter.org.uk/visit-us/
📩 Message us today to check availability!

We had a great day yesterday in the sunshine and we are doing it all again today! Shelter tours are up and running - tic...
10/05/2026

We had a great day yesterday in the sunshine and we are doing it all again today!

Shelter tours are up and running - tickets available from Brighton Fringe and we will have walk-ins available too - come and see us on the ticket desk.

Stalls and activities open from midday - Smash some china, have your hair styled with Majorie Mayfair, learn some dance moves with DJ Libby Lou and much more!

Explore our WW2 museum and chat to our veterans about their wartime experiences.

Mrs Button’s Tea Room will be keeping everyone topped up with hot tea, barista coffees, delicious cakes and tasty baguettes and toasties.

See you there!

04/05/2026

Have you got your tickets yet? Don’t miss out - it promises to be two weekends of fun

04/05/2026

We have Two jam-packed weekends you don't want to miss May 9th and 10th, 16th and 17th!

Tickets available here: takeshelter.org.uk

02/05/2026

🎖️WE ARE BACK!🎖️

Take Shelter! The ONLY school air raid shelter open in the South East.

📆Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th May
📆Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th May

⏰ 12pm to 4pm

📍 Downs Junior School (Ditchling Road Entrance), Brighton, BN1 6ED.

Come and join us for two jam packed weekends!
Featuring:
🔦 Tours of our fully restored underground museum packed with photographs, wartime scenes and poignant film and sound clips, including a realistic simulation of a short air raid complete with vibrations as the bombs drop nearby (TICKETS REQUIRED: Pre-booked or limited on the day).

🍰 A yummy selection of hot and cold food and drinks, including Mrs B’s famous cream teas from Mrs Button’s Tea Room.

☕️ Barista-style coffees.

🎪 Vintage fair games including hook-a-duck, tin can alley and smash and grab.

🎟️ Raffle including prizes from Wakehurst Place, Brighton Racecourse, Brighton Palace Pier and lots more!

💃🏼 Lots of music, dancing and tutorials from yours truly. Plus special performances from the school choir, Dance Art and Cat Club Swing.

🛍️ Take Shelter Gift Shop, a variety of vintage stalls plus an arts and crafts area.

🎞️ Visit our above ground WW2 museum and chat to our veterans.

💇🏼‍♀️ Have your hair styled just like the ladies in the 1940’s with our fabulous hair stylist - Hair by Marjorie Mayfair.

📣 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL! 📣
Join us on Saturday 9th May for a special day celebrating our 10 year anniversary! We will have military vehicles, a bouncy slide, Sussex Police, Unexploded Bomb Squad reenactment, The Royal Sussex Regiment, Brighton Toy Museum and more. Entrance will be via Grantham Road on this day.

Shelter tour tickets available here - https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/take-shelter/

Do come, you won’t regret it! See you there!❤️

We are very sad to announce that our dear friend and team member Ann Ellis passed away in December. Ann was a much loved...
19/01/2026

We are very sad to announce that our dear friend and team member Ann Ellis passed away in December. Ann was a much loved and valued member of the Take Shelter team and will be missed by not only by us but also the wider community.
Her family have kindly said that donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the Take Shelter project.
Should you wish to donate then this can either be made here or via the Take Shelter website.

Rest in peace dearest Ann ♥️

https://www.paypal.com/donate?token=Dosopec8leHoiuBDDb5REiq_PF3sqyZGqZXqTcnuRqdaLrW2pEQBBDr9L9JVSr28SqE-_EjUL9yzDqif

As an alternative to Xmas shopping, why not enjoy a visit to our air raid shelter in Brighton at our last open day of th...
09/12/2025

As an alternative to Xmas shopping, why not enjoy a visit to our air raid shelter in Brighton at our last open day of the year. We'll be running tours of the air raid shelter from 10am. Our museum will also be open (as well as our tea room for hot and cold drinks and snacks). We look forward to seeing you there.

Address

Rugby Road
Brighton
BN16ED

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