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iVisit.... Chislehurst Caves
Nov
13
10:00 AM10:00

iVisit.... Chislehurst Caves

The caves at Chislehurst (30 minutes from London Bridge Train Station) are a labyrinth of man made tunnels forming a maze covering over six hectares thirty metres below the woodlands above. They were dug for chalk used in lime burning and brick-making for the building of London, also for flints to fire the tinderboxes and flintlock guns of years ago. 

First open to the public in the start of the 20th century as a showplace, the guides told the Victorian history of Druids, Romans and Saxons, smuggling and murder.

The last 100 years has added munitions storage for the Woolwich Arsenal in the 1914-18 war, mushroom growing in the 1920's & 30's and becoming an underground town as one of the largest deep air-raid shelters in the country, protecting over 15,000 people at the height of the blitz. In the 1960's & 70's as a venue for dances and concerts, presenting the foundations of Jazz, Skiffle & Folk music to the most famous names in pop and rock, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones and David Bowie as well as being used as a set for filming Dr. Who!

The Caves & Cafe are open from Wednesday to Sunday and every day during school holidays. Entrance to the Caves is by Guided Tour only which are on the hour, every hour starting at 10am and finishing at 4pm.

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