UK's abandoned ghost station frozen in time that Brits queue to see
British tourists are travelling in droves to this long-forgotten outpost in the icy wilderness of Antarctica. Abandoned for 60 years, the tourists are describing it as the most haunting time capsule in the southern hemisphere.
Tucked away off the western coast of the Antarctic Peninsula is Base Y. Constructed in the 1950s, the British base stands as evidence of the country’s post-Second World War push for polar research.
Operated by what is today the British Antarctic Survey, the base supported meteorological, geological, and glaciological studies and contributed to some of the UK’s earliest scientific efforts in the region. But in 1960 — just five years after opening — the base was abandoned. It comes after news that an abandoned UK Butlin's site is now a seaside town's 'hell hole' hotel.
Luckily, Antarctica’s extreme cold and dry conditions helped preserve the station. Inside, visitors will find neatly stacked mugs, logbooks laid open on desks, and heavy coats left hanging. One visitor noted that the interior “feels like someone just stepped out for a walk”.
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Today, Base Y is listed as a Historic Site and Monument under the Antarctic Treaty, recognised for its cultural value. Small groups of visitors are allowed entry but only under careful supervision.
According to Wildfoot Travel, the sudden interest in Base Y signals British travellers shifting interests to prioritise heritage and once-in-a-lifetime destinations. “Base Y offers a powerful sense of connection — not just to history, but to British resilience and scientific legacy,” said a Wildfoot spokesperson.
1 of 7 (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)Base Y operates as a museum operated by the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust (UKAHT) on Horseshoe Island. There are different sections in the museum such as a sled workshop, radio room, dormitory, kitchen, study room, infirmary and generator room.
2 of 7 (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)Base Y is only accessible by ship as part of a 10 to 21-day Antarctic expedition. Most cruises depart from Ushuaia, Argentina, following a flight from Buenos Aires or Santiago. The travel season runs from November to March, when sea ice recedes and weather allows safer passage.
3 of 7 (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)In the main building, which was established in 1950, visitors will see scientific equipment, hand tools, calendars, plaques, magazines, books, food boxes, food and bread recipes hung on the kitchen walls.
4 of 7 (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)“Preserved sites like Base Y allow us to reflect on the human side of science — the hardship, the curiosity, the sacrifice,” says Wildfoot Travel. “For many Brits, it’s incredibly moving to walk through a piece of our heritage preserved in ice.”
Daily Mirror
