Cox's Cave & The Crystal Quest

You descend into darkness via a Victorian staircase, and suddenly the cave opens up around you - stalactites catching your torch beam, mineral veins running through limestone walls that've been here since before anyone thought to build Cheddar village. Cox's Cave is one of two show caves in the Cheddar Gorge, and it's genuinely worth the trip down.

The whole experience takes about an hour, depending on how slowly you want to move through the passages. It's been commercialised - there's a visitor centre above ground and they've added The Crystal Quest, which is a bit of interactive theatre involving hidden objects and a vaguely mystical storyline. Some visitors find it adds atmosphere; others think it's bollocks. The cave itself is the main draw though. You'll see formations that took millennia to grow, and the geology side of things is properly fascinating if you're into that sort of thing.

Families with children aged seven upwards seem to have the most fun - young enough to find it genuinely spooky, old enough not to need carrying. The steps are manageable but it's not a walk-in-the-park job. It's cool down there year-round, so a light layer makes sense even in summer.

If you're camping nearby - Owley Woods Glamping and Cheddar Bridge are basically on your doorstep - Cox's Cave pairs well with a broader Cheddar Gorge day. The gorge itself is brilliant for walking and scrambling, and Gough's Cave is the other show cave if you want to compare. Budget-wise, check their current rates before you go, as pricing does shift seasonally.