CATEGORY · RAINY DAY APPROVED

Caves, Mines & Underground in Leicester

There is not a lot of actual underground in Leicestershire, but what is here has real character. Out at Coalville, Snibston Colliery is free to visit, with former miners leading surface tours and the Into the Dark coalface simulation standing in for a real descent. Closer to home, Glenfield Tunnel is a genuine 1829 railway tunnel, free with a donation, though the guided walks only run in season and you book through LIHS. For proper tunnels underfoot, it is a drive out to Nottingham for City of Caves, sandstone passages with WW2 shelters and a medieval tannery, walked with an audio guide. If you want free and outdoor, Snibston has parking, a cafe and toilets, and suits a family day rather than a quick stop. Glenfield is indoor and short but needs booking ahead, so check dates before you plan around it. City of Caves costs from £9.50, is card only, and works well for older children who can follow the audio guide and enjoy the history. For a longer trip, Lapworth Museum of Geology in Birmingham is free, indoor, and pushchair friendly, with fossils and rocks rather than tunnels to explore.

✓ 4 places✦ 3 free to visit