Stylish self-catering holidays and short breaks in Somerset
Sally's Guide to Wookey Hole Caves
If you're looking for a fantastic family day out with your little adventurers, then you might want to check out the world-famous Wookey Hole Caves. We've always found the attraction to be great for the kids as they've grown up and we've put together this guide based on our experiences going to Wookey Hole as a family. It's around a 30 minute drive from our holiday lodges near Longleat and relatively easy to get to.
Where is Wookey Hole located?
Located near Wells in Somerset, England, this popular tourist attraction quite literally has something for everyone. With easy access from Bristol, Bath or from the M5 it's pretty easy to reach. Use Wookey Hole's postcode in your Sat Nav to guide you there: BA5 1BB
When is the Best Time to Visit Wookey Hole?
If you’re looking to visit Wookey Hole and experience its caves then the best time to go is during the week; typically Mondays to Thursdays. In our experience it can get really busy on weekends and even mid-week during the school summer holidays.
I'd say get there around 10-30am and beat the rush! Certainly on a summer weekend and by mid afternoon the place can be heaving with lots of queues, not ideal if you've got young children getting "hangry"!
Wookey Hole Opening Times
Check out the opening times for the showcaves below!
- Peak Periods - Weekends, February Half Term, School Holidays from April to October, parts of December is open to visitors from 9.30am to 5.30pm - last admission is 4pm.
- Off Peak Periods - outside of School Holidays and Mid Week April to October - open to visitors from 10am to 4.30pm - last admission is 3pm.
- Wookey Hole is ONLY open on weekends during November, December*, January and 1st half of February.
* open every day during the December School Holidays. Wookey Hole follows the Somerset School Holiday Timetable.
Wookey Hole Ticket Prices
Prices for tickets to Wookey Hole are as follows (correct as at September 2023):
Adult (16+)
£22.45
Child 3 to 15 Years
£17.95
Child under 3:
FREE
Senior (60+)
£21.45
Concession - available for registered disabled persons and their registered carer:
Adult (16+)
£11.23
Child 3 to 15 Years
£8.98
Child under 3:
FREE
Senior (60+)
£10.73
Please note Under 18's must be accompanied by an adult or guardian to gain admittance to the site
Our Experience as a Family
As it’s fairly local to us we’ve visited here quite a few times in the past, so I’ve listed some of our experiences below to help you discover more about this captivating place.
On arrival we’ve always found ample parking with plenty of spaces available, so no issues at all getting parked up and the kids out of the car. It’s a bit of a walk to Wookey Hole’s entrance but nothing too taxing.
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For most visitors to Wookey Hole, it’s the show caves that are going to be the star of the show so let me fill you in on them first:
Wookey Hole Caves
A series of caverns, the “showcase” ones - around 8 of them are open to the public whilst I believe the rest are only accessible by potholing or cave diving. The ones with public access are spectacular and if you love the wonders of nature then they’re worth seeing.
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The walk up to the cave entrance is steep and a little uneven so if mobility is an issue for any family member it might be best not to make the attempt. There are ramps to allow wheelchair users up to the entrance and admire it, but they won’t be allowed access into the caves themselves. On our last visit we did see one chap making his way through the caves on crutches (!) so it is do-able but proabably requires extra effort. Dogs are also not permitted inside the cave (unless Guide or Service dogs).
Once inside you’ll find the caves well-lit to show off the stunning rock formations, with tour guides placed along the one-way self-guided path, available to answer any questions you might have. The guides we’ve spoken with have known so much about the caves, certainly more than what’s displayed by way of information boards, so they’re worth asking a question or two. If you visit outside of school holidays then you can join an actual guided tour which we hear are amazing.
It typically takes around 35 minutes to walk from one side of the caves to the other, not too long but if you suffer with claustrophobia then it might be a little too much! There are a couple of narrow tunnels at times to make your way through; nothing too bad but if it’s busy and the wait is long there’s not much you can do but be patient.
Oh, one last thing, you might have heard about the “Witch” of Wookey Hole that's a 1000 year old legend of a local witch who was annoying the locals. Turned to stone during a battle with the abbot of Glastonbury inside the caves, you can still see her “remains” within a cavern – a stalactite in rough human shaped form! During the summer holidays there’s usually an actor playing the witch to entertain the crowds whilst they're waiting to enter.
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For the more adventurous (and strictly for adults) the Wild Wookey adventure is one not to be missed. You’ll be taken through caves with experienced instructors helping you climb and even abseil across. Not one Steve and I have any thoughts on doing but I thought I’d note it just the same.
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Once you’ve been in the caves you’ll still have more attractions outside to check out to make the most of your visit to Wookey Hole!
Enchanted Valley and Dinosaur Grove
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Once you’re clear of the caves you’ll pass by the giant King Kong model and then enter the Enchanted Valley – a small ravine where the views are spectacular and magical fairies can be spotted amongst the greenery. Our boys tend to run on through this area and head up to Dinosaur Grove to meet the dinosaurs. A good few of them are animatronic and capable of roaring which our kids love, but we’ve seen very young children look a little scared, to their eyes the dinosaurs look pretty real!
4D Cinema
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The 4D Cinema was loved by our kids as they sat in moving chairs with sound and wind effects during the movie. We could see some adults confused as to what the whole point of it was as clearly there’s no direct connection to Wookey Hole (Scooby Doo anyone?) but our boys didn’t mind. It’s fairly obvious at this point that Wookey Hole becomes more of an attraction for kids.
The Circus
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The Circus show is ALWAYS impressive, we’ve seen it a few times now and it always offers something different, our boys absolutely adore it, to be honest so do Steve and I. Some of the stunts and acrobatics carried out by the teen performers are extremely daring! Do note, performances are generally held only on weekends and daily during the summer school holidays. A performance only lasts around 30 minutes or so, but it’s included in the cost of your ticket so it’s still great value.
Vintage Penny Arcade and Mirror Maze
Don't miss the Vintage Penny Arcade, a nostalgic attraction that's been around for over 50 years, situated in the Mill. The machines take old pennies which you have to pay for but it's a fair swap. The Mirror Maze is a blast for both kids and adults, we usually go through it a few times on each trip as it always makes for a unique challenge.
Crazy Pirate Golf
The crazy golf is great family fun, offering 9 holes of pirate-themed crazy golf. What pirates have to do with Wookey Hole is hard to fathom but go with the flow, it’s free to play and is a popular attraction for families. Be prepared to queue though as it gets busy!
If you want, you can buy a Crazy Golf ticket which allows you direct access without having to go into the caves or visit the other attractions.
Wookey Hole Museum
Situated in the now sadly defunct Paper Mill, the museum opens up even more of the mysteries of Wookey Hole, covering finds from the Stone Age through to Anglo Saxon times and beyond. If you’re a history nerd the museum is definitely worth a visit.
Soft Play Area
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From our boys perspective we’ve left the best till last, yes, it’s the Soft Play Area. With tonnes of room for them to run around, climb, dive and jump about it’s a great place for them to let off steam. It also gives Steve and I a moment to put our feet up and grab a coffee!
Practical Tips for Your Wookey Hole Visit
- On busy days there can be a large queue to get into the caves and if you’re outside there’s little cover from bad weather (or the sun) so come prepared with raincoats, suncream and snacks for the kids.
- Once inside you’ll find it a cool but constant 11 degrees centigrade so it’s worth taking a light coat or sweater to keep the chill off. The River Axe flows through the caverns making things feel a little damp plus we always wear sensible shoes as the path can be a little wet at times too. The river's level within the cave is controlled so even when it's raining ourtside you can still go inside.
- If you’re potty training any young children, then I’d recommend keeping them in nappies in the cave or ensuring they’ve gone to the toilets up in the car park before you head in! You won’t gain access to a toilet until you’re out the other side of the caves, so be warned, there’s nowhere to go inside.
- It’s not that cheap for a family of four to enter Wookey Hole but in fairness you do get a lot for your money. One way is to use Tesco vouchers (if you shop there) to offset some or all of the cost; we noticed a number of families doing this on entry. However, it would be really nice if Wookey Hole could offer a better value family ticket option - Stonehenge offers one which is great value for families.
- Wookey Hole was the site of the first recorded cave dives in the UK and they have a small museum showing the equipment that was used to explore more of the caves. Sadly, a number of cave divers have lost their lives in the caves over the years so we feel the museum is a respectful way to honour their efforts and memory, it is worth taking a look.
- Occasionally someone decides to get married in the Caves so you may find the attraction is closed to the public for a few hours or even the day during their Wedding Ceremony. It’s worth planning ahead online to avoid any disappointment just in case.
- We’ve used Captain Jacks restaurant - over in the Paper Mill - to grab drinks but we’ve never eaten there ourselves as it always seems a little expensive for us. We recommend you bring a picnic as it’s much cheaper. There’s a covered area for picnickers when it’s raining and there’s bags of space elsewhere outside when it’s warm and dry.
- Wookey Hole closes at 5.30pm in the summer and at 4.30pm in the winter so do get there in plenty of time if you want to make the most of your trip.
- Timing is key when it comes to visiting Wookey Hole. We say plan to spend no more than half a day, unless there are long queues forcing you to wait. If you're a beach-loving family, Weston Super Mare is a great place to continue onto your adventure in the afternoon.
- Before leaving, treat yourself to some amazing Marshfield ice cream from the ice cream parlour by the car park.
Finally, is Wookey Hole Worth the Visit?
Absolutely! The caves alone make it an absolute must-visit. With friendly staff, incredible rock formations and a mix of family-friendly attractions, Wookey Hole Caves offer an unforgettable experience that’s somewhat different to Cheddar Caves just down the road!