Kents Cavern

Kents Cavern is one of the most important Palaeolithic caves in Northern Europe and the oldest recognisable human dwelling in Britain. It holds beautiful and spectacular geological formations and significant prehistoric finds, some over 700,000 years old. It has some of the oldest evidence of man's occupation of Britain. Five hand axes, made from flint, found in the caves are currently dated at 450,000 years old. Found in the breccia along the Long Arcade and Clinnicks Gallery, deep in the cave, hand axes were made and used by European Homo erectus, also known as Heidelberg man nearly half a million years ago. Kents Cavern is steeped in fun and interesting human history that will delight both parents and children.

Experienced and knowledgeable tour guides lead all tours. You should allow about 2 hours for the complete visitor experience at Kents Cavern. The guided tour of the caves, excluding all the visitor interpretation, lasts about 45 minutes. Kents Cavern is a family friendly attraction. Children under the age of four are admitted FREE of charge. Pushchairs can be taken into the caves but on busy days the number of pushchairs admitted into the caves will be limited for safety reasons.

There is plenty of FREE parking when you arrive. During busy times the car park will fill up but you will be directed to unrestricted FREE parking in the road just outside. Coach drivers should call in advance to reserve space. Hand-pushed chairs, no more than 70cm wide. The person pushing the chair must be physically strong. Disabled facilities are available on site, however we are unable to allow wheelchairs in the caves for safety reasons. Natural slopes exceed 1:12 gradients, paths are less than 1.2m wide and there are 9 steps. However we can offer wheelchair users the opportunity to enter the caves with the tour group and experience the Sound & Light introduction free of charge.

More people choose to visit Kents Cavern on a wet day but visitors who spend a couple of hours with us on a fine day are likely to get more enjoyment from the natural surroundings of this site of special scientific interest.

We are open all year except Christmas Day and Boxing Day.