Newsletter sign up

UK / South East / Kent

Chislehurst Caves

Caveside Close, Old Hill, Chislehurst, Kent, BR7 5QX

The Caves have a varied, interesting history and are a labyrinth of dark mysterious passageways. Everyone wanting to explore the caves joins a lamp-lit guided tour.

Carved out over hundreds of years, the caves were dug for chalk used in lime burning and brick making for the building of London, as well as for flints to fire the tinderboxes and flintlock guns of years ago.

First open to the public in 1900 as a showplace, the guides told the Victorians visitors history of Romans, Druids and Saxons, Smuggling and Murder.

From 1914, the Caves added being a munitions storage for the Woolwich Arsenal, mushroom growing and becoming an air-raid shelter during the Blitz, to its history.

In the 1950’s, 1960’s and 1970’s the caves were used as a venue for dances and concerts, presenting the foundations of Jazz, Skiffle and Folk music to the most famous names in pop and rock.

Now the caves are open as a tourist attraction and education centre with a gift shop and Café catering for visitors, group outings, private functions and children’s parties.

Visit Website

Opening Times

Caves

10.00, last tour is 16.00

Ticket Office

9.00 - 17.00

Gift Shop

9.00 - 17.00

Cafe

9.00 - 16.00

The caves are open Wednesdays to Sunday, on Bank Holidays (except Christmas and New Year) and every day during local school holidays.

Prices

Adult (16 - 60)

£8.00

Senior (Over 60)

£6.00

Child (3 - 15)

£6.00

Under 3

FREE

Tickets can be purchased on our website up to 7 days in advance online and will secure the date and time slot of your choice for your visit to the caves.

 

Alternatively, tickets can be purchased from the caves ticket office on arrival for the next available tour (subject to availability).

Facilities

Baby Changing

Café

Car Parking

Picnic Site

Toilets

Other things to do nearby

15th Jun 10:00am - 5:00pm

Father’s Day at The Rare Breeds Centre

Ahoy Mateys! Our real-life pirate is visiting the farm this Father’s Day and he can’t wait to meet you and your family!

View event
24th May - 1st Jun

Woolly Week at The Rare Breeds Centre

Pop the dates in your diary and head down to the farm for a sheep-load of fun during our much-loved Woolly Week!

View event

The Rare Breeds Centre

The Rare Breeds Centre is a working 100-acre farm and tourist attraction based in Woodchurch, Kent.

View attraction
20th - 21st Sep

Salute to the ’40s at The Historic Dockyard Chatham

Pack up your troubles and join The Historic Dockyard Chatham in one final Salute.

View event
25th Jul

Twelfth Night at Fort Amherst

A play by William Shakespeare. If this were played upon a stage now, I could condemn it as an improbable fiction.

View event
18th - 19th Jul

Divorced, Beheaded, Died at Fort Amherst

The year is 1544 and King Henry, the Eighth of that name, is engaged upon a Royal Progress about his Realm.

View event
26th - 30th May

FREE* Family Tours at Canterbury Cathedral

This May half term, bring your little historians to Canterbury Cathedral to hear stories of Becket and the Black Prince, Monks and Miracles, Tombs and Towers.

View event
26th - 29th May

FREE* Stone Week Activities at Canterbury Cathedral

This May half term, help Gregory Gargoyle on his Stone Quest and try your hand at carving!

View event

Latest News

Top 5 places in the UK to birdwatch

The UK is home to some fantastically colourful, elusive and rare species. To celebrate their numerous species, we have put together a list of top 5 places in the UK to birdwatch.