Everyone wanting to visit and explore the Caves joins a lamp-lit guided tour which is around 45-50 minutes long.
Booking Group Tours
Groups visiting the Caves have their own private tour and pre-booking is essential for groups in advance of your visit.
Group tours can be arranged for up to 40 people (a minimum charge applies based on 15 people).
To make a group booking please contact the Caves by telephone 020 8467 3264 or email enquiries@chislehurstcaves.co.uk, the Caves manager will assist you with planning your visit and answer any questions.
Prices
For our current prices please visit our website.
Group Tour Times
Group daytime tours start from 10.15am until the last tour at 3.15pm, your tour time will be confirmed when making your booking.
Evening tours of the Caves are also possible (minimum charge applies), to arrange an evening visit please contact the Caves manager.
The Tour
During the guided tour you will find out the interesting and varied history of the Caves, which includes;
- The caves being 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.
- Opening to the public in 1900 as a showplace, where the guides told the Victorians romantic history of Romans, Druids and Saxons.
- Being a munitions store for the Woolwich Arsenal in the 1914-18 war
- Mushroom growing in the 1920’s and 1930’s
- Becoming an underground town as the largest deep air-raid shelter outside London, protecting over 15,000 people every night during the Blitz.
- Being a music venue for dances and concerts, hosting famous names in pop and rock during the 50’s,60’s and 70’s and presenting the foundations of Jazz, Skiffle and Folk music.
Facilities and Parking
Toilets, Café, Gift shop, picnic tables, free car and coach parking.
The café is open during the day for refreshments after your tour and you can prearrange refreshments from tea and cake in a reserved area of the café, to buffet options or a three-course meal in the function room.
Accessibility and Suitability
The Caves are accessible for wheelchair users, but have a natural and uneven floor surface so may be quite hard work and a bit of a rough ride. Please take in to account someone will need to carry a lantern.
Guide dogs are permitted in the Caves.
The Caves may not be suitable for those of a nervous disposition, claustrophobic, or with a fear of darkness or mannequins.
If you want to check the suitability of the Caves for your group, please contact the Caves.
Opening Times
The Caves are open Wednesdays - Sunday, Bank Holidays (except Christmas and New Year) and daily during local school holidays.
TICKET OFFICE & GIFT SHOP – 9.00am-5pm.
CAFÉ – 9.00am-4pm.
How to Find Us
ROAD - For Sat-Nav please use the postcode BR7 5QX.
RAIL - The Caves are near Chislehurst Station, 30 minutes from London Bridge.
BUS - Buses run to Chislehurst Station (269 between Bromley and Bexleyheath; 162 between Beckenham and Eltham).
