Creswell Crags
With a National Art Pass you get
Creswell Crags is a limestone gorge with a honeycomb of caves that were occupied during the last Ice Age. The museum houses some of the rare items found there.
Part of the prestigious Ice Age Europe Network, Creswell Crags is a stunning magnesian limestone gorge on the border of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. The cliffs contain numerous caves that served as a refuge for nomadic humans during the last Ice Age, from 50,000 to 10,000 years ago.
Archaeological site
The rich layers of sediment built up over millennia at Creswell offers a unique record of habitation. Beyond the well-known Ice Age finds, there's evidence of human activity throughout various periods. Excavations have revealed traces of Neolithic, Bronze Age, Roman, and even post-medieval occupation, highlighting the enduring significance of this location for people across vast stretches of time.
Cave tours
For a truly immersive experience, guided cave tours are available. The Life in the Ice Age tour takes you down in to Robin Hood Cave to discover who inhabited the caves. The Witch Marks tour visits upper chamber of Robin Hood Cave, where huge numbers of historic protective symbols were discovered in 2018. Alternatively, you can delve into Church Hole where Britain's only known Ice Age rock art, engravings over 12,000 years old, were discovered in 2003.
Interactive learning
The Creswell Crags Visitor Centre is an interactive space showcasing artefacts unearthed from the caves. Among the exhibits are prehistoric tools, animal bones, and even a replica of a cave interior. The Visitor Centre offers a variety of educational resources and programs, making it a perfect place to delve deeper into the fascinating story of Creswell Crags.
Listen to the Meet Me at the Museum podcast where comedian, actor and writer Isy Suttie takes her friend Caroline to Creswell Crags.
Visitor information
Address
Crags Road, Welbeck, Worksop, Nottinghamshire, S80 3LH
01909 720378
Opening times
February to November: Open daily
10am - 4.30pm
November to January: Weekends Only
10am - 4.30pm
Exclusions and safety measures
Church Hole Cave, home to the Ice Age Rock Art, is closed between October and March annually, due to roosting bats. Rock Art Tours cannot run in this time.
Please note that we are often busy with school trips: these might limit access to some parts of the site.
Visitor information
Museums nearby
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The National Art Pass lets you enjoy free entry to hundreds of museums, galleries and historic places across the UK, while raising money to support them.