Nottingham’s Hidden Caves
Nottingham is known as the “City of Caves,” and with good reason. Over 800 sandstone caves honeycomb beneath the city’s streets, ranging from medieval tanneries to Victorian cellars, from ancient drinking dens to WWII air raid shelters. Most visitors explore the famous City of Caves attraction but miss the broader cave network that makes Nottingham unique.
This guide reveals Nottingham’s cave heritage beyond the tourist attraction, explaining how to access hidden caves, understand their history, and experience this extraordinary underground world.
Why Nottingham Has So Many Caves
Nottingham’s caves are carved into the Triassic sandstone that underlies the city. This soft, easily worked rock has been excavated for centuries, first by medieval craftsmen, later by Victorian entrepreneurs, creating a network of underground spaces that’s unique in Britain.
The caves served various purposes: medieval tanneries (soft sandstone absorbs tanning chemicals perfectly), Victorian cellars (natural cooling for storing ale and beer), drinking dens, air raid shelters, and even dwellings. The result is a unique underground heritage that tells the story of Nottingham through its subterranean spaces.
Nottingham’s Caves: A Quick Guide
Nottingham’s caves fall into several categories:
Medieval Tanneries: The earliest caves, carved from the 13th century onwards for tanning animal hides. The sandstone absorbed the tanning chemicals, making perfect conditions for the leather trade.
Victorian Cellars: Sandstone cellars for storing ale and beer. The natural cool kept drinks fresh, and the caves could store vast quantities.
Drinking Dens and Taverns: Underground bars and public houses, exploiting the caves’ natural cool and atmospheric lighting.
Air Raid Shelters: WWII caves converted to protect civilians during bombing raids.
Dwellings and Cottages: People lived in caves until relatively recently—some until the mid-20th century.
The Essential Caves to Visit
1. City of Caves Tourist Attraction
The City of Caves attraction is Nottingham’s most famous cave experience—a tour of the caves beneath the Broadmarsh Shopping Centre. The tour reveals medieval tanneries, a Victorian well, and caves used for various purposes throughout history.
What makes this attraction special is its accessibility and variety. The tour covers multiple caves with different historical uses, giving a comprehensive introduction to Nottingham’s cave heritage. Guides explain the history and geology in engaging ways.
Address: Drury Walk, Broadmarsh Centre, NG1 7LS
Opening: Daily 10am-5pm (tours run throughout the day)
Cost: £12.50 adult, £9.50 child (book in advance, tours sell out)
Duration: Approximately 45 minutes
What to expect: Guided tour of multiple caves. The caves are artificially lit and comfortable temperature year-round.
Book in advance: This is a popular attraction, especially in summer. Book online or arrive early morning.
2. The Nottingham Caves Museum
The Nottingham Caves Museum (run by the local history society) offers a more detailed and scholarly cave experience. Located in caves beneath the old library, the museum focuses on the archaeology and history of Nottingham’s cave network.
What makes this museum special is its depth of information. While the City of Caves tour gives a good introduction, this museum provides detailed context, archaeological finds, and access to caves not on the main tourist circuit.
Address: Angel Row, NG1 3HN
Opening: Tue-Sat 10am-4pm (check website for variations)
Cost: £5 adult, £3 child, under-5s free
Duration: Allow 1 hour
What to expect: Detailed displays on cave archaeology and history, plus access to several caves.
For the curious: If you’re genuinely interested in caves and archaeology, this museum offers more detail than the main tourist attraction.
3. Brewhouse Yard Caves
Brewhouse Yard is a set of caves beneath Brewhouse Yard, a historic pub near Nottingham’s market place. The caves are now accessible as part of the pub, offering the experience of drinking in genuine Victorian cellars.
What makes Brewhouse Yard special is its authenticity. Unlike the artificially lit caves of tourist attractions, these caves retain their original character and atmospheric lighting. The setting—a traditional pub with caves beneath—feels genuinely atmospheric.
Address: Brewhouse Yard, Bridlesmith Gate, NG1 6JD
Opening: Daily 11am-11pm (pub hours)
Cost: Free to visit caves (purchase drinks at bar prices)
What to expect: Atmospheric drinking in Victorian cellars. The caves are accessed through the pub basement.
Drink responsibly: The caves are atmospheric and it’s easy to drink more than intended. Pace yourself.
4. The Park Tunnel
The Park Tunnel is a different kind of cave—a railway tunnel beneath the city that’s now a cycling and walking path. While not a sandstone cave, it’s part of Nottingham’s underground network and offers a unique subterranean experience.
What makes the Park Tunnel special is its scale and accessibility. The tunnel is 1,288 feet long (393 metres) and provides a fascinating underground walking or cycling experience, complete with atmospheric lighting and historical interpretation.
Address: Entrance near The Park, NG7 1GX
Opening: 24/7 access (public path)
Cost: Free
Duration: Allow 20 minutes to walk through
What to expect: Walking or cycling through a Victorian railway tunnel. The tunnel is lit and well-maintained.
Bring a torch: While the tunnel is lit, additional lighting helps appreciate details and atmosphere.
Hidden Caves: Most Visitors Miss
5. The Lenton Hermitage
The Lenton Hermitage is a set of caves that were once part of a hermitage—a private house with underground rooms for storage and possibly living. The caves are accessible but little-known and see few visitors.
What makes the Lenton Hermitage special is its domestic context. Unlike the tanneries and cellars of the city centre, these caves were part of a private dwelling, showing how caves were integrated into domestic life across centuries.
Address: Lenton Boulevard, NG7 1FQ (exact entrance requires research)
Access: The caves are accessible from a public footpath, but entrance locations vary. Research before visiting.
Opening: 24/7 access when open (access can be intermittent)
Cost: Free
What to expect: Domestic caves showing historical living arrangements.
Research essential: These caves are not signposted. You need to research exact access points before visiting.
6. St. Mary’s Church Crypt
St. Mary’s Church (the famous “St. Mary’s in the Lace Market”) has a crypt beneath that’s essentially a small cave network carved into the sandstone. The crypt is accessible during church visiting hours.
What makes St. Mary’s crypt special is its ecclesiastical context. Unlike secular caves, this crypt served religious purposes—storage, possibly occasional worship in atmospheric conditions. The setting beneath one of Nottingham’s finest churches is atmospheric.
Address: High Pavement, NG1 1HN
Opening: Tue-Sat 9:30am-4pm (check for services that may restrict access)
Cost: Free (donations welcome)
Duration: Allow 20 minutes
What to expect: Atmospheric crypt beneath the church. Space is small but atmospheric.
Combine with church visit: St. Mary’s is a magnificent church—combine cave and church visit for a full experience.
7. Sneinton Hermitage Caves
Sneinton, a historic neighbourhood east of the city centre, has several caves associated with old hermitages (private houses with underground rooms). These caves are less well-known and offer a glimpse into domestic cave use.
What makes these caves special is their neighbourhood context. Unlike the caves beneath the commercial city centre, Sneinton’s caves show how caves were part of ordinary domestic life in a working-class neighbourhood.
Location: Sneinton area (exact locations require research)
Access: Several are accessible from public footpaths and alleyways, but research needed before visiting.
Opening: Varies—some are accessible 24/7, others intermittently.
Cost: Free
What to expect: Domestic caves in their neighbourhood context.
Neighbourhood exploration: Combine cave hunting with exploring Sneinton’s historic streets and community feel.
Exploring Nottingham’s Caves: A Walking Route
Nottingham’s compact city centre makes a cave walking route practical. Here’s a route covering key caves in 2-3 hours:
Start: City of Caves tour (book in advance, allow 1 hour)
Walk to: Nottingham Caves Museum (5 minutes, allow 1 hour)
Walk to: Brewhouse Yard (10 minutes, allow 30 minutes for drink and caves)
Walk to: St. Mary’s Church (5 minutes, allow 30 minutes for church and crypt)
End: The Park Tunnel (10 minutes from church, allow 20 minutes)
Total distance: Approximately 1 mile
Total time: 2.5-3 hours (depending on pace)
Total cost: £12.50 (City of Caves) + £5 (museum) = £17.50 (caves at Brewhouse Yard, St. Mary’s, and Park Tunnel are free)
Understanding Cave Geology
Nottingham’s caves are carved into Triassic sandstone, a rock formation dating from approximately 200 million years ago. This sandstone is:
- Soft and easily worked: Medieval and Victorian workers could carve it with hand tools
- Absorbent: The sandstone absorbs moisture and chemicals, making it ideal for tanneries and cellars
- Cool: The caves maintain a relatively constant cool temperature year-round
- Structurally stable: The sandstone supports cave roofs with minimal reinforcement
This unique combination of characteristics explains why Nottingham developed such an extensive cave network.
Cave History Timeline
12th-14th centuries: Medieval tanneries carved for Nottingham’s leather industry
15th-17th centuries: Caves used for storage, drinking dens, occasional domestic use
18th-19th centuries: Victorian cellars for brewing industry, expanded cave networks
Early 20th century: Some caves still in domestic use (people living underground)
1939-1945: WWII air raid shelters created in existing caves
Post-WWII: Many caves abandoned or filled, but some preserved and repurposed
Cave Safety
Temperature: Caves are cool (approx. 12-14°C year-round). Bring a jacket even in summer.
Heads: Watch your head—cave heights vary and some have low ceilings.
Slippery: Caves can be damp and slippery. Wear good footwear.
Lighting: Bring a torch even where artificial lighting exists—it helps appreciate details.
Never explore alone: Caves can be disorienting. Always explore with others.
Respect closures: Some caves are closed for safety. Never access closed caves.
Cave Photography Tips
Lighting: Caves are dimly lit. Use a torch to illuminate details for photographs.
Wide angle: A wide-angle lens helps capture cave interiors and atmospheric qualities.
Slow exposure: Use slower shutter speeds to capture cave atmosphere (but keep camera steady or use tripod).
People for scale: Include people in photographs to show cave scale.
No flash: Flash rarely works well in caves—relies on torch or artificial lighting.
Combining Caves with Other Activities
Nottingham’s city centre offers more than caves:
Old Market Square: Historic market square with traditional market (Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays).
Lace Market: Historic textile quarter with beautiful architecture.
Castle: Nottingham Castle with excellent displays on city history (entry fee).
Canal: Trent and Mersey Canal with boat trips and waterside walks.
Galleries: Nottingham Contemporary, Lace Market Gallery, and others.
Seasonal Cave Visits
Winter: Caves maintain constant temperature year-round—actually warmer than outside in winter. Excellent winter activity.
Summer: Caves provide cool escape from summer heat—year-round comfortable temperature.
Autumn: Atmospheric lighting in autumn—caves feel especially atmospheric in autumn gloom.
Spring: Good weather for exploring caves above ground and in cave exteriors.
Cave Etiquette
Respect the heritage: These caves are ancient and fragile. Don’t touch walls more than necessary.
Don’t remove anything: Rocks, artifacts, and other items must stay in place.
Keep noise down: Caves are atmospheric spaces—excessive noise ruins the experience.
Take only photographs: Leave everything as you found it.
Planning Your Cave Visit
By accessibility: Some caves are more accessible than others:
- Most accessible: City of Caves, Brewhouse Yard, Park Tunnel
- Moderately accessible: Nottingham Caves Museum, St. Mary’s crypt
- Least accessible: Lenton and Sneinton hermitage caves (require research and determination)
By interest: Focus on what interests you most:
- General interest: City of Caves tour provides good introduction
- Archaeology and history: Nottingham Caves Museum
- Atmospheric drinking: Brewhouse Yard
- Domestic caves: Research Lenton and Sneinton caves
A Final Thought
Nottingham’s caves represent one of Britain’s most unique subterranean heritages. Over 800 caves honeycomb beneath the city streets, creating an underground world that’s unmatched anywhere else in Britain.
The caves tell the story of Nottingham across centuries—medieval tanneries, Victorian cellars, WWII shelters, domestic dwellings. They’re not museum exhibits but living spaces that continue to serve purposes (drinking, storage, occasionally dwelling) today.
The key to enjoying Nottingham’s caves is to explore beyond the obvious. Yes, visit the City of Caves attraction—it’s excellent. But also drink in Brewhouse Yard’s atmospheric cellars, explore St. Mary’s crypt, discover the hidden hermitage caves of Lenton and Sneinton.
Nottingham’s caves are a unique heritage that deserves exploration. So pack a torch, bring a jacket, and discover Nottingham’s underground world. You’ll experience history from beneath, rather than above, and discover why Nottingham really is the City of Caves.
This guide reveals Nottingham’s extraordinary cave heritage beyond the famous City of Caves attraction, from medieval tanneries to Victorian cellars, from atmospheric drinking dens to domestic hermitages. Nottingham’s 800+ caves create a unique underground network unmatched elsewhere in Britain. Explore these subterranean spaces and discover the city’s history from beneath.