Treak Cliff Cavern, Show cave in Peak District, England
Treak Cliff Cavern is a limestone cave system in the Peak District with water-worn chambers filled with stalactites, stalagmites, and flowstone formations extending through multiple connected passages. The system was shaped over millennia by underground streams and reveals several distinct levels and chambers.
Lead miners discovered the Old Series section in 1745 and began extracting minerals like galena and fluorite from the passages. The cavern was transformed into a tourist attraction in 1935 and has remained open to the public since then.
The cavern maintains the tradition of Blue John stone mining, with a museum displaying artifacts spanning from prehistoric times to modern geological discoveries. Visitors can experience the connection between mining heritage and natural science here.
Visitors can explore the cavern using self-guided audio tours on their phones and browse the gift shop afterward. An on-site cafe provides refreshments during your visit.
The cavern is one of only two locations worldwide where Blue John stone, characterized by purple and yellow banding, continues to be mined today. This rare mineral variety has been extracted here since the 1700s.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
