The Best Things to do in Cheddar Gorge (Walks, Attractions, Tickets, & More!)

Looking for things to do in Cheddar Gorge? Say no more. Here’s how to spend the day in this cheesy oasis — from the caves and cliff-top walks to proper Cheddar, Somerset cider and one very good cream tea.

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Toasties, cheesy bread, cheese sticks, cheesesteaks, cheesecake – you name anything with cheese, I’m there.

So imagine my surprise when I found out there’s an entire village known for its cheese (not made out of cheese, unfortunately): Cheddar Gorge.

I’ll admit, that’s underplaying it a bit. Outside of its award-winning Cheddar, the village sits at the foot of England’s largest gorge, with some of the best views you’ll ever see in this corner of the country.

Not to mention hidden caves, cliff-filled winding roads and delicious tearooms (if you leave without trying their scones, you’ve sinned).

I’ve spent two weekends here, and between the cliff-top walk, Gough’s Cave, cheese tasting, cider and an unreasonable number of snacks, it remains one of my favourite countryside breaks in Somerset.

In this guide, I’ll be sharing how to book Cheddar Gorge tickets, the best Cheddar Gorge activities & attractions, Cheddar Gorge walks, how to get there and where to stay in Cheddar Gorge.

I’ve also got a handy Cheddar Gorge map for you at the end.

Shall we?

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Quick Overview: Cheddar Gorge at a Glance

Where is Cheddar Gorge?	Cheddar, Somerset, in the Mendip Hills
What is it famous for?	England’s largest gorge, limestone caves, Cheddar Man and, of course, Cheddar cheese
How long do you need?	I’d say one full day for the highlights; a weekend if you want a proper hike and slower village time
Best ticket	Cheddar Gorge & Caves Day Ticket
Best walk	National Trust Cheddar Gorge Trail — 4 miles / around 3 hours
Best short viewpoint	Jacob’s Ladder + Lookout Tower
Best foodie stop	Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company tasting bar
Best tea stop	Lion Rock Tea Room
Best place for local cider	Legbender Cider Shop in the village or The Cider Barn just outside Cheddar
Best way to get around	On foot once you’re in Cheddar; a car is easiest for reaching the village!

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What Is Cheddar Gorge?

Before you go to Cheddar Gorge it might be worth knowing what you get into! It’s a limestone gorge in Somerset’s Mendip Hills, almost 400 feet deep and around three miles long, making it the largest gorge in England.

The landscape began forming around one million years ago, when meltwater during the Ice Age created a river that carved through the limestone. Over time, the River Yeo moved underground and helped create the cave system beneath the gorge.

So yes, the cheese is a rather fabulous reason to come. But the rock, caves, prehistoric finds and views are what make Cheddar Gorge a genuinely special place to visit.

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How to Get to Cheddar Gorge + Cheddar Gorge Parking

Cheddar Gorge is around 3–3 1/2 hours from London by car (which, if you’re not from London…means nothing, but hey, I am a London travel writer after all).

By car: This is still the easiest option. Once you arrive, you can park and do most of the village, shops, caves and attractions on foot. The official Cheddar Gorge & Caves car parks are at Lakeside, opposite Cox’s Cave and farther up the gorge near Gough’s Cave. Parking is currently £7 for the day or £5 from 3pm–9pm.

(I’d arrive before 11am on busy weekends and school holidays if you can.)

By public transport: It’s doable, but definitely less elegant. The closest rail station is Weston-super-Mare. From there, the 126 bus runs via Axbridge to Cheddar and continues to Wells (if you’re travelling on a Sunday or making a complicated connection, check the live timetable before setting off because rural services can be limited).

If you’re coming all the way from London and don’t fancy a car, I’d seriously consider a guided day tour instead. It’s a long day, but it’ll save you stitching together trains and rural buses.

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How Long Do You Need at Cheddar Gorge?

For a first visit, I’d give Cheddar Gorge one full day.

That’s enough time to try some cheese, wander the village, visit the main caves, climb Jacob’s Ladder and stop for tea without feeling like you’re sprinting between everything.

If you want to do the full four-mile Cheddar Gorge Trail, which takes around three hours, I’d either stay overnight at The Bath Arms or consider combining it with a trip to the nearby Bath, Wells or Glastonbury as well.

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Do You Need Tickets for Cheddar Gorge?

One of the things that confused me most before my Somerset visit was: “Do I need tickets to visit Cheddar Gorge?”

Yes and no.

You can see the gorge, drive the B3135 through it, explore Cheddar village and walk the National Trust-managed side without buying a Cheddar Gorge & Caves ticket.

But if you want the main visitor attractions, buy a Cheddar Gorge & Caves Day Ticket. Advance prices currently start from £23.30 for adults and £17.50 for children when booked by midnight the day before.

Your Day Ticket includes:

• Gough’s Cave + audio tour
• Museum of Prehistory
• Cox’s Cave featuring Yeo’s Journey: The Power of Water
• Jacob’s Ladder + Lookout Tower
• Beyond the View cinematic experience

Opening hours change throughout the year but on open dates the paid attractions generally run from 10am, closing at either 4pm or 5pm depending on the season, so I’d always check the current calendar before your trip.

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Cheddar Gorge Walks

The best thing to do for any trip to Cheddar Gorge ultimately is to walk (that reminds me — bring comfortable shoes!).

Not only is the scenery beautiful, but it’s a great way to work up your appetite for all the cheddar you’ll be eating later, at least that’s what I did, and do some goat spotting.

Luckily you don’t have to be a pro mountaineer or anything of the sort, although the walks do differ in difficulty.

For the classic route, I’d choose the National Trust Cheddar Gorge Trail: a challenging four-mile circular walk taking around three hours, with steep climbs and glorious views across the Mendip Hills.

If you want something gentler, the National Trust also has the one-mile Black Rock limekiln walk through a dry limestone valley.

Other walks around the wider area include the Strawberry Line, Cheddar Reservoir, Ebbor Gorge and Crook Peak. But for a first Cheddar Gorge visit, I’d keep your main walk here rather than trying to tick off half of Somerset in one day.

Quick Tips for Your Cheddar Gorge Walk

• Wear proper walking shoes or hiking boots — the cliff paths can be rocky, steep, muddy and slippery.
• Bring water and a small backpack.
• Download your route before you start.
• Keep dogs on leads around cliff edges and livestock.
• Stay on the signed paths. Rockfalls can (and do) happen in the gorge.

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The Best Things to Do in Cheddar Gorge

1. Start With a Cheese Tasting at the Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company

You didn’t think I forgot about the cheese, did you?

The Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company is the only producer currently making Cheddar cheese in the village of Cheddar, using traditional methods and local unpasteurised milk.

We loved doing a cheese tasting here and trying more cheesy flavours than I knew existed.

The shop still has a tasting bar, so ask the staff what’s available that day and let them talk you through it.

If you want the full local experience, look for their Natural Cave Matured Cheddar too. Some of the cheese is also aged inside Gough’s Cave, where the steady temperature and humidity give it a different flavour and texture.

P.S. – The Cheese Company’s dairy and visitor centre are currently closed for refurbishment, with reopening planned in 2027. The cheese shop and tasting bar are still open seven days a week.

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2. Potter Through Cheddar Village & Pick Up Some Somerset Cider

Beyond the Cheddar Gorge walks and cheesy pleasure there’s a whole village to explore here, so make the most of it.

You’ll find more than 30 independent shops around Cheddar, with cheese, cider, fudge, fossils, leather goods, little gifts and the sort of gloriously specific souvenirs you only ever buy on a day trip.

I’d pop into the Shop at the Gorge if you want one easy browse for books, gemstones, local bits and Cheddar matured in the caves.

And you can’t come to Somerset without thinking about cider. Legbender Cider Shop on The Cliffs is the easy village stop if you want to pick up a bottle to take home before carrying on with your day.

Be sure to have a little peek at the waterfalls around the Lower Gorge too, and if you’re walking farther into the village, look out for the fifteenth-century Market Cross.

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3. Have a Scone at the Quirky Lion Rock Tea Rooms

If you’re looking to carbo-load before heading on your Cheddar Gorge walks, definitely have a stop at the Lion Rock Tea Rooms.

Stuffed to the brim with nostalgic knick-knacks, cosy rooms, a secret garden and English charm, this tea room has been going strong since 1908.

I love the baby blue exterior and the food was great too! We went for the fruit scones with local clotted cream and jam, with a pot of tea of course. Delicious.

It’s one of those places where I wouldn’t overthink the order. Tea, scone, clotted cream. Done.

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4. Climb Jacob’s Ladder & the Lookout Tower

Now you’ve been sufficiently fuelled by cheese and scones, it’s time for the stairs.

Jacob’s Ladder has 274 steps, followed by another 48 if you carry on to the top of the Lookout Tower.

It’ll be worth it…I promise.

From the top you’ll get gorgeous views across the Mendip Hills and Somerset Levels and if you’re short on time and don’t want to commit to a full three-hour hike, it’s definitely the viewpoint I’d prioritise.

P.S. – Jacob’s Ladder and the Lookout Tower are included in your Cheddar Gorge & Caves Day Ticket. They’re not wheelchair accessible and do require a reasonable level of fitness.

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5. Take a Proper Walk Above the Gorge

Once you pass Jacob’s Ladder, it’s time to keep on walking!

This is where Cheddar becomes much more than a village day out. Up on the hills you’ll be above huge limestone cliffs, with winding roads below and the Mendip landscape stretching out all around you.

For a full walking day, use the National Trust route. But if you’re fitting the caves, shops and food all in one day, I’d only do part of the cliff walk and save the long version for another trip.

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6. Go Inside Cox’s Cave

Cox’s Cave is the older of Cheddar’s two show caves, accidentally discovered in 1837.

Today it’s home to Yeo’s Journey: The Power of Water, a roughly 20-minute immersive experience using light, sound and animation across the cave walls to tell the story of how water shaped the gorge and cave system.

Lovely for a pop in and worth pairing with Gough’s cave!

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7. Visit the Museum of Prehistory & Learn About Cheddar Man

Museum of Prehistory

I may or may not have forgotten to mention Cheddar Gorge is also a haven for history lovers.

If you’re looking for a more cultural thing to do in Cheddar Gorge, pop into the Museum of Prehistory.

The museum pulls together archaeological finds from the gorge and explains how people survived here through the Ice Age, with flint tools, prehistoric objects and, most famously, the story of Cheddar Man.

Cheddar Man was discovered in Gough’s Cave in 1903 and lived around 10,000 years ago. He’s the oldest almost-complete modern human skeleton found in Britain and although the original remains are cared for by the Natural History Museum in London, you can still learn about the discovery here and see a replica skeleton in Gough’s Cave.

Fun Fact: DNA research has also since helped scientists reconstruct aspects of his appearance, including dark skin and blue eyes…

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8. Wander Through Gough’s Cave

Gough’s Cave is easily one of the best things to do in Cheddar Gorge, and for good reason.

It’s the largest of Cheddar’s show caves, with huge chambers, stalagmites and stalactites, and its formation began more than half a million years ago as water dissolved the limestone rock.

It’s also where Cheddar Man was discovered, and where evidence has been found of people living in and using the cave thousands of years before him.

To learn more about the history and geology, I highly suggest using the audio guide that comes with your ticket (give yourself around 45 minutes for the full cave).

P.S. – And keep an eye out for the cheese maturing underground!

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9. Try Beyond the View

Beyond the View

If the weather isn’t playing nice — or you’ve got someone in your group who can’t manage the cliff paths — Beyond the View is worth knowing about.

It’s a 15-minute cinematic experience on a 270-degree screen that virtually takes you over the gorge, through the village and across the landscape while explaining some of the local history and wildlife.

It’s fully wheelchair accessible and included in the Day Ticket. I wouldn’t choose it instead of seeing the real views if you’re able to walk them, but it’s a useful extra and genuinely good rainy-day option.

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10. Add a Rocksport Adventure

If looking at 400-foot cliffs immediately makes you want to climb something, Cheddar absolutely has you covered.

Their official Rocksport activities include guided rock climbing and adventure caving, with lots of sessions for any and every age and ability.

There’s also the wonderfully dramatic Black Cat Freefall inside Gough’s Cave, where you climb a 30-foot ladder before taking a controlled free fall on a safety line.

Be sure to book in advance if you do want to get up to any of them, each session takes around 90 minutes!

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11. Dig Into a Piping Hot Pasty (or More Cheese)

You’ll forget you’re in Somerset altogether when you tuck into a Cornish pasty at the Holly House Tea Rooms.

And yes, I may have had a pasty before our Cheddar Gorge walk (you know, for fuel)…and another one after (you know, for…more fuel…).

The tea room is still going, with cream teas, cakes, ice cream and plenty for walkers — including the wonderfully on-brand Cheddar cheese ice cream if you’re determined to make the whole day dairy-themed.

Between this, Lion Rock and the cheese shops, you are absolutely not going hungry in Cheddar.

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12. Finish With Dinner at The White Hart

After a day of caves, cliffs and approximately your body weight in cheese, I’d finish back in the village at The White Hart on The Bays.

It’s a classic Cheddar pub with home-cooked food, real ales, cider and a garden — in other words, exactly the sort of low-fuss dinner you’d want after spending most of the day in walking shoes.

Be sure to check their kitchen hours on the day and book ahead if you’re visiting on a busy weekend or for Sunday lunch.

P.S. – If you’re driving out of Cheddar and want one last Somerset stop, The Cider Barn is around five minutes outside the gorge, with a gloriously large selection of local cider and sourdough pizzas.

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Where to Stay in Cheddar Gorge

Cheddar Gorge is filled with cosy hubs to call home for your visit. If you’re staying overnight, I’d keep yourself in or very close to Cheddar so you can start early and avoid doing another drive before your walk.

Best central pub stay: The Bath Arms — with six adult-only rooms in the village, with breakfast and parking.

• Best for groups: YHA Cheddar
• Best for a lodge weekend: Cheddar Woods Resort & Spa.
• Best for a romantic countryside stay: The Retreat at Strawberryfield Park, a few minutes outside Cheddar.

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Cheddar Gorge Map

Have the best time in Cheddar and be sure to send me a DM at @candaceabroad to let me know what you got up to!

Happy travels,

Candace x

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FAQ: Visiting Cheddar Gorge

Is Cheddar Gorge Worth Visiting?

Absolutely. Cheddar Gorge combines one of England’s most dramatic limestone landscapes with proper walks, show caves, prehistoric history, a small Somerset village and the very compelling fact that you can spend part of the day eating Cheddar in Cheddar. I’d give it a full day rather than treating it as a quick photo stop.

Is Cheddar Gorge Free to Visit?

You can visit Cheddar village, drive through the gorge and walk the National Trust side without buying a Cheddar Gorge & Caves ticket. You’ll need to pay for parking if you use the official car parks, and the caves, Museum of Prehistory, Jacob’s Ladder, Lookout Tower and Beyond the View are part of the paid Day Ticket.

Is Cheddar Gorge National Trust?

Partly. The National Trust owns and looks after the north side of Cheddar Gorge. It does not own the caves, paid attractions or Cheddar Gorge & Caves car parks, so National Trust membership doesn’t give you free entry to those attractions.

What Is Cheddar Gorge Famous For?

Cheddar Gorge is famous for being England’s largest gorge, its limestone cliffs and caves, the discovery of the roughly 10,000-year-old Cheddar Man in Gough’s Cave and its connection to the cheese that takes its name from Cheddar village.

When Was Cheddar Gorge Formed?

The gorge began forming around one million years ago during the Ice Age, when meltwater created a river that carved into the limestone. The River Yeo later moved underground, helping form the cave system beneath the gorge.

How Long Do You Need at Cheddar Gorge?

I’d allow one full day for a first visit. If you’re doing the four-mile National Trust trail as well as the caves and village, stay overnight or give yourself a weekend so you’re not rushing.

Is Cheddar Gorge Dog Friendly?

Yes. Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome across the Cheddar Gorge & Caves attractions, including the caves. Keep them close around cliff edges, rocky paths, wildlife and livestock!

Is Cheddar Gorge Wheelchair Friendly?

Only partly. The Museum of Prehistory and Beyond the View are accessible. Gough’s Cave has limited wheelchair access for part of the route, while Cox’s Cave, Jacob’s Ladder, the Lookout Tower and much of the cliff-top walking are not wheelchair accessible. Check the official accessibility information before travelling.

Is Cheddar Gorge in the Cotswolds?

No. Cheddar Gorge is in Somerset, in the Mendip Hills, southwest of Bristol. It’s easy to combine with Bath, Wells or Glastonbury, but it isn’t part of the Cotswolds.

Was Cheddar Gorge in 28 Years Later?

Yes! The climactic final scenes of Danny Boyle’s 28 Years Later were filmed around Cheddar Gorge in July 2024. The production temporarily closed part of the gorge road and built a fake rockfall near Arch Rock for the shoot.

When Does Cheddar Gorge Open?

The National Trust cliffs are generally accessible from dawn to dusk. The paid Cheddar Gorge & Caves attractions operate on their own seasonal calendar, normally opening at 10am on open dates and closing at either 4pm or 5pm depending on the season. Check the official opening calendar before you travel.

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