The latest must-have amenity, a secret tunnel adds an air of intrigue to a property, whether it's there for security, practicality, entertainment or sheer whimsy. Take a look at eight stunning homes with concealed passageways that will make you want to install one of your own.

Dubbed 'the safest home in America', this 36,000-square-foot mansion in the suburbs of Atlanta is as secure as they come. Inspired by the Acropolis of Athens, th eight-bedroom Greek Revival pile boasts everything from a home theatre and bowling alley, to an infrared sauna and infinity pool. Love this? These enormous American mansions will make your head spin.

Yet the mansion's most impressive USP is its security features. Ideal for a former president, Mafia kingpin or wealthy individual on the Witness Protection Program, the ultra-safe compound has a secret 100-foot tunnel that's straight out of a James Bond movie.

The strategically positioned passageway has a diameter of five feet and connects to a subterranean bank vault room, gun range, roomy car vault and underground bunker spanning some 15,000 square feet.

The bunker even has its own command centre, not to mention remote-controlled ballistic walls and doors that can protect against a missile strike or zombie apocalypse. Once listed for $17 million (£13m), the home was sold by Concierge Auctions in December 2018 for a bargain $2.5 million (£2m).

Alton Manor in New Jersey went on the market in 2015 with Pat McKenna Realtors, priced at $2.9 million (£2.3m). The five-bedroom 11,500-square-foot French Colonial mansion rocks a number of wow-factor amenities, including a 42-seater party bar and state-of-the-art soundproof movie theatre.

The spacious property also has a large outdoor pool complete with a two-storey pool house, as well as a mini casino with slot machines and a cinema ticket booth containing a decidedly creepy-looking mechanical usher. Minus the horror movie puppet, we think it'd make the perfect party house.

However, the piece-de-resistance has got to be the 150-foot secret underground tunnel. Encased in thick concrete, the tunnel is tough enough to withstand a bomb blast, full-on tornado or even a missile strike.

The former owner built the tunnel, which is buried 22 feet under the house with its own air circulation and surveillance system, back in 1999 at the height of the Y2K or millennium bug scare, that as we all know, luckily came to naught.

This Grade I-listed townhouse in Brighton was put on the market with Brand Vaughan for $4.7 million (£3.7m) in 2016. The imposing 19th-century property has five bedrooms and was used as a holiday home by members of the Thai royal family during the 1940s and 1950s.

Restored to its former glory, the elegant 4,700-square-foot home retains its ornate original features, but has all mod cons too, ranging from a cinema room and cutting-edge Helvar lighting system to a steam room and bespoke kitchen.

The property's most charming feature however is its secret tunnel, which is located in the gardens in front. The discreet tunnel, which connects the gardens to the Brighton seafront, has a pretty fascinating history.

Recently renovated by engineering firm Gyoury Self, the tunnel is said to have inspired the famous rabbit hole in Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. The iconic storyteller visited the gardens on several occasions before the much-loved literary classic was published. Love this? These homes inspired some of the world's best-loved books.

Staying with the Alice in Wonderland theme, this French-style custom-built property in Minnesota sprawls over 9,000 square feet. The handiwork of Schrader & Companies, the luxurious $2.5 million (£2m) family home has all sorts of enviable features.

They include a gourmet kitchen with a French armoire-panelled refrigerator, granite island and huge flat-screen TV, a lavish living room with an ornate staircase and mezzanine landing, plus a sunken media space with a games room and cinema screen.

Be that as it may, the most fabulous feature is the home's Alice in Wonderland-themed tunnel and playroom. The magical eight-foot tunnel is decorated with a white rabbit mural by Luna Murals and gets progressively smaller as it leads into the child-sized playroom.

Every kid's dream space, the adorable playroom, designed by Anita Sullivan, has an Alice mural, along with a miniature dining set, plus a cute teapot basket that the little ones can use to store their toys.

This spacious 4,524-square-foot home near Spokane's scenic Iller Creek Conservation Area has a wealth of standout amenities. In addition to its five bedrooms and four bathrooms, the property boasts a high-end kitchen, several reception rooms, a man cave, and a whole lot more besides.

As well as the main house, the property includes a separate guest house, which even has its own shop of all things, as well as an extra bedroom, bathroom, additional kitchen and balcony.

Best of all, a heated nautical-themed underground tunnel links the main house to the shop and guest house. Ideal for Spokane's frigid winters, the householder can move between the two spaces without ever having to brave the cold.

The unique two-part property was sold in 2016 by local firm Century 21 Beutler & Associates Real Estate to one very lucky buyer for $700,000 (£549k), a snip at the price given its numerous amenities. Check out these other big homes on sale for tiny bucks.

Situated in the breathtakingly beautiful hill town of Civita di Bagnoregio in central Italy, Domus Civitas is an enchanting 14th-century palazzo built into the hillside. Renovated in 2011 by renowned architect Patrizio Fradiani of Studio F, the three-bedroom property is simply divine.

Amazingly, the historic palazzo is connected to a number of subterranean caves and Etruscan tombs by a series of secret tunnels. One of the caves even features a heated pool and jacuzzi, making for a blissful space to relax and unwind.

The tunnels also connect the main house to a cavern that serves as a wonderfully calming chillout area. Lit by soothing lamps and prayer candles, it's decked out with comfy floor cushions where you can recline and soak up the ambiance.

Available to rent via Airbnb, the palazzo houses a kitchen cave area too, along with a wine cellar stocked with the best vintage label, a capacious fireplace and a formal Italian garden.

This intriguing three-storey wood, steel and reinforced concrete home overlooks Lake Hamama on Japan's Pacific coast. It was completed in 2016 by architecture firm Yukiharu Suzuki & Associates. 

Measuring 2,120 square foot, the open-plan barn-style Sukiya ('Space House') doubles up as a workshop for its owners. The home's subtle architecture features clever wooden slats, plus steel and glass walls that flood the interior with natural light during the day and make the house 'glow' after dark.

The home's most jaw-dropping feature though is its secret concrete tunnel to nowhere, which protrudes from the basement and is a fantastic place for the homeowners to kick back and soak up the views.

On top of providing a space to take in the vistas, the well thought out tunnel has a practical, environmentally friendly purpose, allowing plenty of fresh air circulation, and no doubt saving the owners a fortune on their air conditioning bills. Love this? These passive houses around the world cost nothing to run.

One of two pavilions designed by London architects Carmody Groarke in 2018 for a country house in East Sussex, this concrete guest suite is situated on the banks of an artificial lake.

Impossible to access overground, the pavilion is linked to the main house by a steel-lined subterranean tunnel measuring 131 feet, creating a "very special and secluded experience", according to the architects.

Mostly submerged beneath the earth, the hidden galvanised steel tunnel and pavilion are extremely well-insulated, making for a sustainable structure that requires very little energy to heat. In fact, the building and tunnel maintain a comfortable temperature all 12 months of the year.

The dinky guest suite pavilion, which is lined with fine oak panels, contains a cosy double bed, vintage-style bathtub and a compact kitchen, plus a dramatic floor-to-ceiling window that looks out onto the lake. This snug hideaway looks right up our street!

Love this? Step inside these curious homes with secret rooms hidden inside