Wookey Hole Caves is a popular tourist attraction located in the village of Wookey Hole in Somerset, England. The caves are a series of limestone caverns that were formed by the River Axe over thousands of years. The caves were first explored in the 19th century and have been a popular visitor attraction ever since. They have been occupied throughout the years, ranging from Neolithic man, the Celts, and the Romans, to the remains of prehistoric animals which have also been found within the caves including cave bears, cave hyena, woolly rhinoceros, and woolly mammoths.  

For many years there have been tales of a witch who resided in the caves, who is said to have lived there about one thousand years ago, in the eighth century. She is said to have brought bad luck to the surrounding area. Some said she was vanquished by a monk, Father Bernard from Glastonbury Abbey, but others say that she was slain by King Arthur when he visited the Vale of Avalon (Somerset) on a quest for the Holy Grail. Nevertheless, it’s an interesting fact for children.

The most popular attraction of the caves is the Great Hall. The majestic chamber is about 22 meters high, with a variety of wondrous calcite formation adorning the walls and ceiling, deposited by dissolving water over millions of years.

Visitors can take self- guided tours of the caves, which includes a walk through the winding chambers and learning more about the unique and amazing formations in these passageways and chambers. The most talked about formations in Chamber 20 were formed 10 thousand years ago just as the last glacial period was ending and they are a must see. One of the main rare formations is called Merlin’s - or King Arthur’s - Beard. It's a fluted structure formed by water and ice which cascaded down and carved out the stunning pattern in the limestone. It’s said to be rarely seen underground and the closest formation to that of King Arthur’s Beard is in Mallorca, Spain.

In addition to the tour of the caves, a day ticket for the Wookey Hole Caves also includes entry to museums, a 4D cinema experience, enchanted valley, dinosaur grove, adventure golf, three soft play zones, vintage penny arcade, paper making demonstrations and a lovely restaurant. A visit to Wookey Hole is really a magical adventure for explorers of all ages. A well-known souvenir to buy from these magnificent caves is the award-winning Cave Aged Cheese which is stored for up to a year to gain its characteristic and mouth-watering flavour. 

Overall, it’s a brilliant family day out with a wide range of activities to keep everyone entertained.