About

Visit the spectacular Cheddar Gorge and Caves; an enchanting and adventurous day out for the whole family!

Cheddar Gorge is not only one of Britain's most spectacular natural landmarks, but also an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

The Gorge boasts awe-inspiring cliffs and extraordinary subterranean stalactite show caves, plus it holds many fascinating secrets about our prehistoric ancestors.

What are you waiting for? Nature, wildlife, history, adventure - experience the wonder of it all on a perfect all-season day out in Somerset.

 

A Stone Age Summer

This summer, experience the Stone Age for yourself in Cheddar Gorge & Caves’ pre-historic landscape!

Grab a prehistoric costume, and get ready to meet a hunter-gather at the Museum of Prehistory. They'll be on hand in the Museum's garden to tell you all about how early man lived over 40,000 years ago, and demonstrate some essential Stone Age survival skills such as fire lighting and flint knapping.

You'll also have the chance to have a dig through our sand trays to discover ancient artefacts. Can you tell the difference between Stone Age treasure and modern plastic waste?

This is all included in the normal price of your Day Ticket, to enhance your day of adventure!

 

A day of adventure

The Cheddar Gorge and Caves Day Ticket gives you access to six great attractions:

1. Gough’s Cave is the largest show cave, boasting beautiful rock formations and stunning features wherever you look. The new and improved lighting system makes the magnificence of the cave even more apparent. The audio tour (available in eight languages) will explain how the caves were excavated and how the formations were formed, and you can see the cave-matured cheddar cheese from the Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company, getting tastier by the minute.

2. Cox’s Cave is the second show cave, which features the Dreamhunters audio-visual experience. A different chapter of the story of early man will be revealed as you pass through each of the cave’s chambers.

3. Jacob’s Ladder is a 274 step climb from the bottom of the gorge to the top, leading to the start of the Cliff-Top Walk. Will you manage to power on up to the top without stopping, or take it at a more leisurely pace, resting on the benches at regular intervals, reading information boards about the native flora and fauna, and taking in the views? If you can manage an additional 48 steps, you can climb to the top of the Lookout Tower, to take in the stunning scene of the Somerset Levels.

4. The Cliff-Top Walk is a 3 mile circular route, heading up the south side of the Gorge and back on the north side. You will see the feral goats and, if you are lucky, the rare, primitive Soay sheep. If you do not have the time to do the full circuit, you can go for a shorter stroll up to the Pulpit Rock look out point, and head back down the ladder when you have seen enough of the views.

5. In the Museum of Prehistory, you will discover how our ancestors survived the Ice Age, through the fascinating and thought-provoking exhibits. In peak times, the knowledgeable guides will teach you how to light fires and do flint knapping.

6. Beyond the View takes you on a cinematic journey through Cheddar Gorge, offering you a different perspective, historical insights and stunning imagery of one of the most iconic landscapes in Britain

Groups

Special group rates, coach parking and drop off points and group tours are available.

Cheddar Gorge & Caves offers a 20% discount on the Day Ticket price for groups of 12 or more. Online booking is available here for groups of up to 32 people. For larger groups and coach bookings, please email info@cheddargorge.co.uk or call 01934 742 343 (Mon–Fri, 9–5) to book. For those who are making only a short stop in Cheddar Gorge, there is a Cake and a Cave ticket available, offering entrance into Gough’s Cave (with audio guide) and a cup of tea/coffee and cake. This is £14.95 for pre-booked coach groups, or £16.95 for walk-up groups.

They also offer discounted exclusive group sessions for Rocksport adventure activities – currently rock climbing (caving is coming soon). Find out more about prices and book groups of up to 10 people online for rock climbing here.

Accessibility

Cheddar Gorge and Caves provides facilities including accessible toilets, free accessible parking, free admission for dedicated assistants / carers, the Beyond the View cinematic experience has an induction loop for visitors with hearing aids, The audio tour of Gough's cave is printed in braille. Assistance Dogs are permitted and the museum is wheelchair accessible with lift.

Dog-Friendly

Dogs are welcome in all attractions and water bowls are provided in the shop and cave entrances.

Family and Children

Cheddar Gorge & Cave is family-friendly with baby changing and buggy parking available. Breast-feeding friendly throughout and highchairs available.