Torquay's Hidden Gem is Reopening
We are delighted to announce that Kents Cavern will be re-opening on 17th May 2021, subject to government guidance. All tickets must be pre-booked online.
Escape the Everyday at Torquay’s Hidden Gem
A hidden gem is something that we all long to discover, whether you’re planning to visit somewhere new on holiday or looking to explore more of your hometown. Many people are surprised to discover that lurking underneath the tropical English Riviera is one of Europe’s most important prehistoric site which has been inhabited for almost half a million years.
Recognised by UNESCO, Kents Cavern is a Scheduled Ancient Monument with a rich geological history dating back 385 million years. Now an award-winning attraction, a visit to Kents Cavern brings history alive, taking you back to when the cave was home to ancient humans, sheltering from extreme weather, making fires, shaping tools and hunting Ice Age animals.
When is Kents Cavern re-opening?
We are delighted to announce that Kents Cavern will be re-opening on 17th May 2021, subject to government guidance. All tickets must be pre-booked online, and day tickets will be available to buy from 12th April 2021.
To ensure social distancing is adhered to, we have limited tour groups to a maximum of 16 people. This means that the tours are limited and likely to sell out quickly, so booking your visit well in advance is recommended. You can Buy Tickets here and we have a new change and cancellation policy to make pre-booking more flexible (fully explained in Terms and Conditions).
Can I buy an Annual Membership to Kents Cavern?
The Kents Cavern Annual Memberships will be back on sale from 6th April 2021. For memberships bought in April and May 2021, they will be automatically extended to the end of May 2022.
Our Annual Memberships are excellent value for money. For only £17.50 you can enjoy free unlimited entry to Kents Cavern for a year, plus many other benefits including free car parking, discounts in the café and exclusive discounts to events.
Please note, that pre-booking your tour times online is still required to help us manage visitor numbers and ensure a covid-secure environment. You can find out more about Annual Memberships here.
What are Kents Cavern doing to be covid-secure?
Behind the scenes, we have been working to ensure that the entire site, including the caves, visitor centre, Firestone Kitchen, Stone Age Zone and the Woodland Trail is covid-secure. We have carried out risk assessments, prepared the premises and put measures in place to ensure that everything is ready to welcome you back for a safe and enjoyable visit. We're working hard to protect the health of our visitors and staff, so that everyone can enjoy a unique day out in comfort and with confidence.
We have been accredited by VisitEngland with the ‘We’re Good To Go’ industry standard. This means that Visit England have approved of the necessary changes we have made, including social distancing measures, increased hygiene protocols and staff training.
You can find out exactly what to expect on your visit here.
What can I do at Kents Cavern?
Once home to cave bears and early species of humans, including Neanderthals, Kents Cavern is now a heritage attraction. On a visit to Kents Cavern, you will walk in the footsteps of your Stone Age ancestors and discover more about how prehistoric humans lived as you explore the hidden depths of the caves.
In the interactive Stone Age Zone, you can try your hand at uncovering artefacts from our excavation boxes or master the skills that you would need to survive in the Stone Age. Examine the collection of real and replica Stone Age artefacts on display and learn about how the UK climate has been changing for over 125,000 years.
Head to the Woodland Trail and see if you can spot something hiding through the leaves! New for 2021, we have life-size Ice Age animal sculptures including a cave bear and a woolly mammoth. Can you find them all? Pick up a free activity booklet in the visitor centre to keep children of all ages entertained.
After your visit, refresh in the Firestone Kitchen, our colourful café serving quality, locally sourced food. Relax in the coffee lounge area, or at the comfortable tables whilst overlooking the beautiful Ilsham Valley.
Escape the Everyday and visit us for a truly unique day out with entertainment and education for all ages. We look forward to welcoming you back.
