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Kents Cavern Prehistoric Caves

Type:Cave

Ilsham Road, Wellswood, Torquay, Devon, TQ1 2JF

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 4042 reviews4042 reviews
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Kents Cavern Prehistoric Caves, Torquay, Devon
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Opening Dates and Times

Opening (1 Jan 2025 - 31 Dec 2025)

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Guide Prices

In addition to the usual entry prices.
Please note: there is a £3 charge for use of the on-site car park.

About

Kents Cavern is one of Europe’s top Stone Age caves, with an extensive labyrinth of spectacular and easily accessible caverns open daily all year. Our entertaining guides will take you on an underground adventure in this award winning attraction, once home to Britain’s earliest humans and Ice Age beasts. Explore fascinating passageways and stunning chambers where you can get up close with spectacular cave formations, around 2 million years old.

There’s loads to do outside the caves, with fun family activities throughout the school holidays. Head to the Woodland Trail and discover our life-size Ice Age statues, including a huge woolly mammoth!

Once you’ve worked up an appetite, pop inside to Firestone Kitchen, the home of food and drink at the caves, and enjoy quality food, homemade cakes and refreshing drinks throughout the day. (Top tip: you don’t need to visit the caves to enjoy Firestone Kitchen!)

We have a jam-packed event programme throughout the year, including our nationally rated Santa in the Caves experience, Carols Underground, Cave Cinema and more! Check out our website for more information, prices and how to book: https://www.kents-cavern.co.uk/

History

Kents Cavern is widely known as Britain's Oldest Home due to a discovery of a jaw fragment dated between 41,000-44,000 years old - the oldest find of a modern human in North-West Europe. 

Not only that, Kents Cavern is unique on a global stage too. There are only two caves in the world where three or more different species of humans are found, and only one is open to the general public - us!​​​​​

All of the Ice Age animal statues have a real connection to Kents Cavern: bones and teeth from each have been found in the depths of the caves. These include a woolly mammoth, a cave bear, a scimitar cat, a wolf, an Irish elk, and a wild horse. Today, you can still see a Cave Bear leg and other bones which remain in the cave wall.

Accessibility 

A Visual Guide is now available for Kents Cavern,  The Guide is a site specific online tool to help people plan and consider their visit to a new place. The Visual Guide shows anything from functional information like entry prices, parking and facilities, but also highlights elements like sound levels, lighting types, spaces and bespoke features that may cause alarm or confusion.

Awards

  • Devon TourismVisit Devon Awards - Silver Visit Devon Awards - Silver 2022
  • Devon TourismVisit Devon Awards - Gold Visit Devon Awards - Gold 2022
  • Regional and MiscellaneousWTTC Safe Travels WTTC Safe Travels 2021

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating:

4.5 of 5 stars
    • Excellent
      2873
    • Very Good
      915
    • Average
      196
    • Poor
      33
    • Terrible
      26

    Recent Reviews:

    • Loraine G
      Trip Type:
      Couples
      Well worth a Visit
      5 of 5 stars
      17/01/2025
      We booked this in advance as the weather forecast was for rain. In the event the day was dry, but we were very happy that we visited. Our guide was very knowledgable and fun and made the visit very... Read full review
    • Zippingale
      Starcross, United Kingdom
      Devon and its Natural History
      5 of 5 stars
      19/01/2025
      A thoroughly enjoyable visit - the icing on the cake was the excellent information provided during the tour, skilfully bridging the interest of children and grown-ups. We hadn't been aware of the... Read full review
    • Angela C
      Interesting place to visit.
      5 of 5 stars
      19/01/2025
      We went here on Saturday 19th Jan. We walked the trail which only takes about 20 minutes if you don’t have children! Has some interesting facts dotted about on the trail. They have set times for the... Read full review

    Related Events

    14/02/2025 - 14/02/2025

    For the Love of Cheese - Kents Cavern, Torquay, DevonFor the Love of Cheese - Kents CavernJoin us for an unforgettable Valentine’s Day celebration at Kents Cavern in partnership with Cheese Queens. Indulge in a romantic, sensory-filled evening combining history and local flavours. This unique event is perfect for couples and friends seeking an extraordinary experience. This isn't your…
    more info

    18/03/2025 - 20/05/2025

    Yoga in the Caves, Kents Cavern, Torquay, DevonYoga in the CavesAllow yourself to completely relax with no distractions and just the gentle drip of water as background noise. As you drift off into your meditation, immerse yourself as your eyes follow the flow of the cave walls. A mediation like no other, this unique session will leave you feeling truly…
    more info

    Facilities

    Children & Infants

    • Facilities for children

    Facilities

    Establishment Features

    • Cater for groups

    Venue Facilities

    • Groups Accepted

    Facilities

    Parking & Transport

    • Parking On Site - Chargable

    Facilities

    Other

    • Gift Shop

    Accessibility

    • Facilities for Disabled Visitors
    • Facilities for Hearing Impaired Visitors
    • Guide Dogs Permitted
    • Parking Areas for Disabled Visitors
    • Ramp/Level Access
    • Toilets for Disabled Visitors

    Attraction Facilities

    • Shop
    • Tea Rooms

    Catering

    • On-Site café/restaurant - Meals and refreshments available, with terrace overlooking the Ilsham Valley.
    • Picnic Site

    Children & Infants

    • Accept Children Over 3
    • Facilities for children

    Establishment Features

    • Available for wedding receptions
    • Cater for groups
    • Event venue
    • Licenced for civil marriages
    • Open All Year
    • Printed Material in Foreign Languages
    • Staff fluent in foreign languages ** (List of languages are separately given)
    • Tea / Coffee Shop
    • Toilets
    • Wedding Venue

    Key Features

    • Indoor Attraction
    • Max group size - 200
    • Min group size - 20
    • Of historic, literary or architectural interest

    Languages spoken

    • French spoken

    Parking & Transport

    • Coach Parking
    • Parking (charge)
    • Parking On Site - Chargable

    Payment Methods

    • Blue Badge Guides admitted free
    • Contactless payment accepted
    • Delta accepted
    • Maestro accepted
    • MasterCard accepted
    • Solo accepted
    • Special group rates
    • Sterling Travellers Cheques accepted
    • Switch accepted
    • TIC Staff Admitted Free
    • Visa accepted

    Printed Material in Foreign Languages

    • French printed material
    • German printed material
    • Italian printed material

    Specialist Features

    • Family Fun
    • Marketed towards children
    • Marketed towards families

    Tours and Demonstrations

    • Demonstrations Given
    • Educational Visits Accepted
    • Guided Tours Available for Groups
    • Guided Tours Compulsory for Groups
    • Guided Tours Compulsory for Individuals

    Travel & Trade

    • Group discounts available
    • Wi-fi available

    Venue Facilities

    • Groups Accepted

    View Less

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    Kents Cavern Prehistoric Caves

    Also at

    Weddings at Kents Cavern Prehistoric Caves, Torquay, DevonWeddings at Kents Cavern Prehistoric Caves, TorquayGetting married underground in Kents Cavern is a wonderful experience and will provide your guests with an unusual and lasting memory of your special day.

    Eat outside with a view, Firestone Kitchen at Kents Cavern, Torquay, DevonFirestone Kitchen at Kents Cavern, TorquayOverlooking the beautiful Ilsham Valley, the Kents Cavern café offers a varied menu; traditional Devon Cream Teas, bacon rolls, pasties, paninis and sandwiches as well specialist coffees and teas, and refreshing cold drinks. 

    Map & Directions

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