Want to wander through someone’s toilet? No? How about sticking your nose into a tanning pit? Well we had a free afternoon in a rainy Nottingham on New year’s Eve’s Eve, so we went to the caves…..

The Nottingham City of Caves Tour is a unique exploration that unveils the hidden history and secrets beneath the bustling city. Venturing into the subterranean world of Nottingham’s caves, revealing a remarkable architectural time capsule beneath the city. The caves, with origins dating back to medieval times now have their own tour, based underneath the old Broadmarsh shopping centre, now below the new road system and tramway, (turn right at the skatepark!)

The caves toured are part of over 800 known and mapped Nottingham caves that have been scraped, hacked and dug over the last thousand years or more from the sandstone on which the area sits. They have been homes, shops, factories and toilets and more….

The tour brilliantly highlights the diverse uses of Nottingham’s caves throughout history. From medieval dwelling places to 20th-century air raid shelters, each cave unfolds a different chapter, providing a comprehensive view of how these spaces adapted to the changing needs of the community. 

The success of the Nottingham Cave Tour lies in the expertise and passion of its guides. Well-versed in the historical narratives, the guides skilfully weave tales of medieval life, industrial transformations and wartime experiences, creating a vivid tapestry that immerses the visitor in Nottingham’s subterranean history.

Visitors are encouraged to explore, touch, and even smell aspects of the caves, creating a multisensory engagement that brings history to life. These interactive elements make the tour accessible and engaging for a diverse audience and provides an atmospheric experience that transports visitors to another era. The subdued lighting, ambient sounds, and echoes within the caves contribute to a sense of mystery and wonder.

Beyond its entertainment value, the tour serves as an obvious educational platform, offering insights into Nottingham’s history, architecture, and social evolution. The educational component is seamlessly integrated into the tour, making it a valuable experience for both locals and tourists.

The pacing of the tour is perfect, taking long enough to allow participants to absorb the historical information without feeling rushed, there are a lot of steps and areas of low ceiling too, but this visitor and his girlfriend managed to enjoy the experience fully – even though we both had massive anxiety at the start! Whether you’re a history buff or as we were, casual visitors, the Nottingham City of Caves Tour creates an unforgettable journey through the subterranean secrets of Nottingham.

Tours are timed and places are limited, so book early. Tickets are available from the excellent National Justice Museum, on High Pavement, Nottingham, which also has a wonderfully eclectic, free, museum display to wander around, showing a history of Law & order, prisons and punishment in Britain.