Palaeolithic and later prehistoric sites at Creswell Gorge including Pinhole Cave, Mother Grundy's Parlour and Robin Hood's Cave

Creswell Crags is a limestone gorge of Ice Age caves near Creswell, close to Bolsover, on the border between Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire in central England. Official records list it under the long name "Palaeolithic and later prehistoric sites at Creswell Gorge", covering Pinhole Cave, Mother Grundy's Parlour and Robin Hood's Cave. It ranks among the most important archaeological sites in Britain.

What will you see at Creswell Crags?

Low crags face each other across a small artificial lake. The cliffs hold more than a dozen caves, and the best known are Pinhole Cave, Mother Grundy's Parlour and Robin Hood's Cave. Excavations produced evidence of people and animals from the last Ice Age, including stone and bone tools. Next door, Church Hole holds the site's headline attraction: figures engraved into the rock and found in 2003. They form the only known assemblage of Ice Age cave art in Britain, around 13,000 years old.

Can you go inside the caves?

Yes, on guided tours only. Options include a tour of Robin Hood's Cave, covering Ice Age life and the protective witch marks scratched in later centuries, and a rock art tour of Church Hole. Tours need booking in advance. Church Hole closes to visitors roughly from October to March because bats roost there, so rock art tours do not run in winter. You can walk around the lake and along the cliffs without a tour ticket.

What is at the visitor centre?

The Creswell Crags Museum & Heritage Centre sits beside the gorge. It has an exhibition on the Ice Age and the cave finds, a gift shop and a café. The building is accessible for visitors with reduced mobility. Buy tickets and check tour times here.

What protection does the site have?

The whole area is a scheduled monument, and almost all of it also holds SSSI status (Site of Special Scientific Interest). Creswell Crags has been on the UK's World Heritage Tentative List since 2012. It has not been inscribed on the World Heritage List.

When should you visit?

The centre usually opens daily from February to October, and mainly on weekends and bank holidays from November to January. It closes on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Hours change from year to year, so check the site's own page before you travel. To see the engravings in Church Hole, plan your visit between spring and early autumn.

Frequently asked questions

Is Creswell Crags in Derbyshire or Nottinghamshire?

Both. The gorge follows the county boundary, and the site appears in the heritage records of both counties.

Do you need to book cave tours?

Yes, guided tours need advance booking. Places go faster during school holidays.

Can you see the rock art in winter?

No. Church Hole is closed from October to March to protect roosting bats. You can still visit the exhibition and walk the gorge.

Is the site accessible for wheelchair users?

The visitor centre is accessible. The caves have their own limits, so ask staff about tour access before you come.