The sprawling network of caves, stretching over 22 miles, lies hidden beneath the capital city. And it’s not natural, but was carved out by humans over centuries
Milo Boyd Digital Travel Editor and Commercial Content Lead and Vita Molyneux Travel reporter
02:49, 14 Sep 2025
The remarkable Chislehurst Caves, a vast network beneath London now hidden under suburbs(Image: No credit)
Beneath a car park in one of the world’s busiest cities lies an extensive network of caves, spanning over 22 miles.
These caves are not natural formations but were astonishingly carved out by humans over centuries, with origins dating back to the Romans and Saxons in 500AD, and possibly even further if local legends are to be believed.
Just a 20-minute train ride from London Bridge, you’d never suspect what lies beneath your feet amidst suburban London.
Chislehurst Caves, in the past, served as a chalk mine and mushroom farm before its 100ft deep vaults were identified as perfect shelters during World War Two, according to The Mirror. When the Luftwaffe began their bombing campaign to force Britain into submission, thousands sought refuge in their nearest Underground station or made their way to Chislehurst.
By the time the bombs started falling, a colossal effort had been made to clean the caves, install a hospital, electricity, hundreds of beds, multiple canteens and even a cinema, effectively constructing an underground city, reports the Express.
During the Blitz, the caves would open to the public at 7pm each evening, providing sanctuary as night fell. Adults were charged sixpence a week and children thruppence to stay in what was affectionately known as the Chislehurst Hotel.
Occasional visitors had to find any available space, while regulars claimed their own spots, personalising them as much as they could.
Throughout the conflict, tens of thousands of Londoners sought refuge in the caves. At least one infant was delivered here and, following the midwife’s recommendation, was christened Cavena Wakeman.
The task of handling waste from thousands sheltering nightly overwhelmed the existing lavatories, compelling visitors to carry their own vessels for emergencies during the hours of darkness.
“Thousands of buckets in the pitch black. Can you imagine the chaos?” one tour guide remarked.
A scene set up in Chislehurst Caves(Image: CC BY-SA 2.0)
One of the earliest documented references to the caves appears in a 13th-century charter, which records their usage for extracting lime-burning chalk and flint. A prehistoric skeleton unearthed in the ceiling suggests origins stretching back to 10,000 BC, when inhabitants sought sanctuary during the Ice Age.
At the dawn of the 20th century, visitor numbers soared in the region as news circulated that the caves potentially possessed an ancient past – a notion championed at the time by William Nichols, vice president of the British Archaeological Association.
“When I visited, our guide keenly counted everyone in and out of the tunnels, having handed each of us an oil lantern in case we managed to wander off the path,” said journalist Milo Boyd, who took a guided tour.
“Over the years dogs have been taken down to find those lost in the caverns.”
During the post-war era, when the caves served as a rock and then rave venue (with performances from Pink Floyd, the Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix), it wasn’t unusual for party-goers nursing a hangover to wake up deep within the cave’s depths, having stumbled in after one too many.
The antics of these revellers, who would emerge onto residential streets at 3am after a night underground, led to Chislehurst Caves being shut down as a music hall in the early 80s. However, this didn’t entirely put an end to the merriment.
Childrens birthday parties were held at the Chislehurst Caves decades ago(Image: Mirrorpix)
One morning, guides noticed missing wall lamps in the tunnels. Upon further investigation, they discovered that a group of teenage dirt bikers had broken in overnight and used the lights to create a track through the darkness.
“It struck me, as I walked deeper and deeper into the network, the warmth of an early September day replaced by a damp chill, that you would have to be an adrenaline fuelled teenager to venture into the caves alone at night” Milo commented.
“At one point our guide struck a huge gong, causing a horrifying cacophony to bounce round and round the tunnels, making clear how far the maze sprawled. We moved on to an underground lake where, spooky rumour has it, a strange, perhaps ghoulishly shaped misty vapour has a habit of appearing to lone adventurers.”
These caves weren’t merely a playground for adventurous teens, but also served as a sanctuary for families during the Blitz. The entire cave network was plunged into darkness at 10pm each night.
The extraordinary scene in this vast network of caves lying unknown under London(Image: Ammodramus/Public Domain)
However, if you’re pondering how children managed their fear, bear in mind that sleep was as precious as any other commodity in London during the Blitz.
Securing a spot in the Chislehurst Caves would have offered a safe haven during the night. You’d be protected from the 30,000 tonnes of explosives that fell on Britain over an eight-month span, finally allowing you to sleep peacefully after endless nights of fear and uncertainty, wondering if a bomb was about to pierce your roof.
Tickets for the Chislehurst Caves can be bought at the entrance, but due to limited group sizes, it’s advised to book ahead online. Tickets are priced at £8 each, with concessions for children and seniors at £6, and under 3s at just 1p.