Chislehurst Caves

Over het museum

The Chislehurst Caves are a maze of man-made passages dug over many centuries to extract chalk and flint. The chalk went to lime burning and brickmaking for London, while the flints were used for tinderboxes and flintlock guns. Stories of Romans, Druids and Saxons have long been told about them, but they were dug as workings.

The caves first welcomed paying visitors in 1900 as a show attraction, with guides telling Victorian audiences tales of smugglers and murder. In the First World War they served as a store for munitions sent to the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich, and in the 1920s and 1930s mushrooms were grown in them.

Their best-known chapter came in the Second World War, when the caves became an underground community and the largest deep air-raid shelter outside central London, taking in more than 15,000 people each night during the Blitz. After the war the caves hosted dances and concerts, and from the 1950s to the 1970s they became a venue that helped launch jazz, skiffle and folk acts, followed by well-known pop and rock performers.

Today the caves are run as a visitor attraction and education centre. Visits are by guided tour only, led by lamplight through the unlit passages.

Hoogtepunten

• Lamp-lit guided tour through the unlit chalk tunnels
• Air-raid shelter used by thousands of people in the Blitz
• Underground concert venue of the 1950s to 1970s
• School tours covering rocks, Romans, Saxons and the Second World War
• Café and gift shop on site

Opgericht

1900

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

Adult rate applies from age 16 to 63. The caves state that they do not offer any further discounts. Tickets can be bought online or at the ticket office on arrival for the next tour with free places; arrive 10 to 15 minutes before the tour.

Toegankelijkheid

• Deels rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift: geen informatie
• Aangepast toilet
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats: geen informatie
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

Wheelchairs and pushchairs may be taken into the caves, but the natural floor is uneven, rather like cobbles, so progress is hard work. One person in the group must also carry a lantern. Guide dogs are permitted. A disabled toilet with baby changing is in the visitor entrance building.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Speurtocht, doeboekje of kinderaudiotour
• Verschoonruimte
• Kinderfeestjes

Children are welcome, though under-3s may find the caves intimidating, and unaccompanied children are not admitted: every child needs an adult aged 18 or over. A fun-facts sheet and quizzes for children are available. Children's parties are held in the function room. The disabled toilet has baby changing.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

The entrance is in Caveside Close, near the Bickley Arms pub. By road, take the A222 and turn into Station Approach by the railway bridge at Chislehurst Station, then turn right and right again into Caveside Close. Satnav postcode BR7 5QX.

Service & horeca

• Café
• Museumwinkel

The café serves breakfast, lunch, tea, hot and cold drinks, ice cream, cakes and children's options, and is open 09:00 to 16:00. Outside food is not permitted in the seating areas. Picnic tables are available outside.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

• Ruimtes te huur
• Privéfeesten
• Zakelijke evenementen
• Bruiloften / trouwceremonies

Tot 60 personen.

A cave-style function room is hired for children's parties, private functions, wedding receptions, corporate events and community groups; the capacity is estimated at about 60. The caves do not hold a wedding licence. A licensed bar and buffet catering are available.

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