Sheffield Megatron: Explore the city’s historical secret tunnels in a guided tour as tickets go on sale

New tour dates to explore Sheffield’s historic underground network of tunnels have been revealed.

Bookings from keen adventurers are being taken for an exploratory tour of the city’s Victorian Megatron and Sheaf culverts.

Sheaf and Porter River Trust Megatron Tour,pictured is Anthony Wood, a River Trust Volunteer and Guideâ€¦â€¦..Pic Steve Ellis

placeholder image — Sheaf and Porter River Trust Megatron Tour,pictured is Anthony Wood, a River Trust Volunteer and Guideâ€¦â€¦..Pic Steve Ellis

Each weekend throughout July, experienced caving guides from Howl Bushcraft and Trust volunteers will take groups into the tunnels at 9.30am, 11.30am, 2pm and 4pm.

Like in previous years, anyone interested in taking part would be urged to ‘book as soon as possible to avoid disappointment’ – the tickets for tours delivered by The Sheaf and Porter Rivers Trust sell out quickly.

The Megatron is the brilliant name given to the huge Victorian tunnel running beneath Sheffield city centre, between Ponds Forge and the River Don. It is part of a series of Victorian culverts created to carry water from the rivers Sheaf and Porter Brook. Only by exploring it can you get a true sense of the scale of this remarkable engineering achievement, while learning about the history of the city and its development. The Sheaf and Porter Rivers Trust organises occasional guided tours.

Tours are expected to last around one hour and 45 minutes, and subject to conditions on the day, will aim to go as far as the Megatron culvert.

The Megatron culvert is a large labyrinth of tunnels hidden beneath Sheffield Railway Station, dating back to the mid-1800s. It was originally built to contain the overflow of water from the rivers Sheaf (from which Sheffield got its name), Porter and the Don.

Sheaf and Porter River Trust Megatron Tourâ€¦â€¦..Pic Steve Ellis

This year, explorers will also be able to see from below the new lightwell connecting to Platform 5a at Sheffield Station, as well as the emerging 'daylighted' riverside park in Castlegate at the end of the Megatron.

It promises to be a wonderful opportunity to learn about the fascinating history of the underground tunnels, understand the diverse ecology living down there and find out more about Sheffield’s mysterious hidden rivers.

Ticket-holders must be “reasonably mobile”, and able to walk on uneven and slippers surfaces, and to crawl or stoop in certain sections. Additionally, warnings have been issued about appropriate footwear and clothing – Pro-tip: bring spare clothes, especially socks

Participants must be aged 14 and over, with those aged under 16 accompanied by a responsible parent or guardian.

For more information, and to book your place on a tour, please visit: https://www.trybooking.com/uk/book/search?keyword=Megatron&location=&date=