Address: Cross St, Castleton, Hope Valley S33 8WH, United Kingdom
Phone: +441433620638
Rating: 4.5
based on 321 reviews.
Accessibility
Pros:
"The cavern is an easy walk from the train station in edale, but also has parking."
"Parking was free and easy, but we did arrive about 10am, before it started getting really busy."
"There is free parking on the road and lots of lovely walks in the area."
Cons:
"If your tall, overweight or infirm don't attempt it wouldn't be an enjoyable experience."
"It's not a suitable attraction for people with heart and lung conditions."
"Note of caution. There is no disabled access and the steps back up (250 approximately) are quite steep."
"I would warn there are a lot of stairs that have low ceilings and wet floors, so young children may not be able to climb this alone."
"Getting back out could be massive undertaking if you are not physically fit as nearly 700 uneven slippy steps plus narrow passageways to get back to the top."
"Not for those who are claustrophobic or of poor fitness due to the stairs and depth."
"Wouldn't take my mum or small kids as the stairs would see them off."
Value for Money
Pros:
"Great cavern for someone who hasn't been before."
"Entry fee seems steep until you have had the guided tour."
"Bought early bird ticket, well worth the earlier start to avoid the crowds."
"Student price is very reasonable."
Cons:
"Quite pricey for a 45 minute tour, especially that there area so many other caverns too in the are and they’re all £18 to enter."
"In a nutshell not worth the £15 per person entry ticket."
"It’s a nice tour, but not sure if it’s worth paying £18 for."
"The caverns themselves are great to see but it was not worth the amount we paid which was 68.00 for a family of 5."
"The cons are we where not allowed to film and the price of just under £20 per person was a little steep."
"Very overpriced, £50 for family of 4."
"Interesting and the guide was very good. Unfortunately we have been to far more impressive caves in the UK and abroad - £15 per person is far too much for the tour."
Staff and Guides
Pros:
"George, the tour guide is really nice and informs you to hold the rails on the steps for your own safety."
"The knowledge of our tour guide was brilliant and all staff were welcoming."
"Had a very entertaining tip down the mine. The guide was informative, friendly and funny."
"Our tour guide was excellent guide. He knew the story, also he works extracting the precious stone when the visiting peak decreases."
"Me and my children loved Blue John Cavern today, Ryan, our guide, was fantastic, especially with my little one who was full of questions."
"The caves were really cool when we visited, and the tour guide leading us through the cave was very friendly and informative."
"The tour guide was great very informative and had a lot to say about the mines and blue John stone."
Cons:
"The manner they spoke made me feel like an unwanted inconvenience so just left without coffee or tour."
"Don't go to visit the cavern with Ryan as a guide at 4 o'clock tour because you will be on the run to the bottom and back with 0 information!"
"It's expensive for what it is, as well as pretty slow and drag out tour with very limited information and history."
"The guide was not good. The young man was speaking so softly you could hardly hear it."
"Our guide was a lovely chap but could only hear/understand half of what he said due to heavy accent and him mumbling a bit."
"Tour guide was pleasant and knew his stuff, down side is the cavern is a little short more of it could be explored and shown off if it were to be developed by current owners. Glad i did it, but for £15pp, won't feel the need to do it again."
"I tried to visit Blue John Cavern today, my attention having been drawn by a promotional leaflet left in the holiday Cottage I was staying... All that I received was a bad attitude."
Facilities
Pros:
"There are toilets on site as well as a gift shop with non-destructively sourced Blue John."
"The cafe is limited to hot drinks and small snacks (crisps and chocolates) the people in the shop were lovely and very friendly with some Blue John jewellery and other gems for the kids."
"There are toilets for customers."
"Tours every 20 min. Gift shop on site and ice cream available."
"The caves are nicely lit up, so you can take in the full size of the place and the colours in the rocks. There is a toilet shop and cafe on site."
"There is a cafe and toilets for cave customers only."
"Staff friendly and tea and gift shop a must after taking the tour."
Cons:
"Only thing wearing masks you can steam up if you wear glasses, and sometimes couldn't hear the guide."
"Didn’t do the tour here, however we had coffees and hot chocolates. The cafe area is very small."
"Got there after an hour and half drive with a child who was looking forward to visiting only to be told that the next available tour was about 4hrs later. Then also told no toilet & no food available."
"Visited this location to find the gents and ladies toilets locked with no other provision available."
"The cafe at the end could do with more food and drink options feels more like a school tuck shop and expensive."
"There were no toilets 🚻 to be seen."
"Loved the cave and tour all staff very good. I know we are under difficult times at the moment but you are pretty isolated at the cavern entrance and to pay £28 for entry and to be told the toilets are closed is just not good enough."
Experience
Pros:
"A beautiful little place to visit. Perfect for a single day out."
"The cavern has several narrow descents each followed by large expansive openings with excellent features and many fossils in the rocks if you look closely."
"The caverns are surprisingly deep, and you'll enjoy the 247 step descent!"
"An amazing guided tour by George around Blue John Cavern. Such history and stories being told I could have listened to all day."
"An underground adventure accompanied by our own cave wolf."
"Highly educating! Great guide Chris! Very knowledgeable!"
"The information the guides give as you tour the caven is fantastic. Not for the faint hearted, unfit, or any walking issues due to the the number of steps to climb down and back up again."
Cons:
"I won't be visiting again nor recommending any of my family or friends visit."
"This is a really interesting place to visit in a beautiful area."
"It's expensive for what it is, as well as pretty slow and drag out tour with very limited information and history."
"Sorry but I can't recommend this plus you need to have a decent level of fitness as the steps are very steep and slippery."
"Somewhat disappointing. The caves are interesting but the tour was somewhat perfunctory. Note there are no toilet facilities at the site."
"We didn't go down the cave as we think the entrance fees doesn't make sense."
"A wonderfully historic location, with a chilling atmosphere. Scary, dark and, massive."