Crystal Palace Museum

Take an expert guided tour around the site of the Crystal Palace in the beautiful Grade II listed park. We run Guided Tours on the first Sunday of every month during the summer. It is a wonderful atmosphere learning all about the great Crystal Palace whilst walking by the remaining terrace walls and amongst the iconic sphinxes, which themselves have the feeling of the ruins of a grand medieval castle.

Come and find out how the Crystal Palace came to the small hamlet of Penge. Hear the stories of how the world famous event - the fountain displays, fireworks, and the great musical extravaganzas - thrilled and delighted millions of people on the very ground where they actually happened. Finally, learn how the site was destroyed in an epic night’s fire.

Time : 12 noon - prompt - every first Sunday of the month from April – October. Length : 1 hour and 45 minutes - starting and ending at the museum. Price : £5.00 adult; £4.00 concessions. Tickets are available on the day, at the museum, from 11am onwards – please allow adequate time to buy your ticket for a 12 noon start. In exceptional circumstances the tour may be cancelled in which case a message will be posted on the website homepage and on the museum answer phone. Please Note : The walk focusses on the upper part of the park, where the exhibition building and gardens were laid out, and does not include the dinosaurs.

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A general view of the stadium before the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Manchester City at Selhurst Park on March 11, 2023 in Lond...

History of the stadium

Selhurst Park has been the home stadium of Crystal Palace since 1924 and is world-renowned for its atmosphere. Eagles supporters can make their ground in Croydon an intimidating venue for any side.

Illustrious Scottish architect Archibald Leitch designed Selhurst Park among the array of stadia in his portfolio in the early 20th century. Crystal Palace instructed the designer to create their new ground after a long-sought bid to move away from their temporary Croydon Common Athletic Ground home.

Crystal Palace had moved into the Croydon Common Athletic Ground after its initial tenants, Croydon Common FC, folded in 1917. The Eagles saw it as their chance to leave the Herne Hill Velodrome. But the club soon began to seek a new venue and initiated the purchase process for a new home in 1919.

Crystal Palace bought the land for Selhurst Park in 1922

Snow covered Selhurst Park, home ground of Crystal Palace Football Club, 15th March 1965.

The outbreak of World War I forced Crystal Palace to seek a new stadium as the Admiralty seized the Crystal Palace and its grounds. It had been the club’s home since they were founded as a professional outfit in 1905. The Eagles would pick the Herne Hill Velodrome to stay close to their roots in Croydon.

Yet after a brief spell at the home of West Norwood FC and a move to the Croydon Common Athletic Ground, the chance arose for Crystal Palace to buy a site in Selhurst. The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway Company would eventually sell the former brickfield to the Eagles for £2,750 in 1922.

Two years of construction work would then see Crystal Palace move into Selhurst Park in 1924 and in doing so, find their home stadium. But the ground today is vastly different to the venue that the Lord Mayor of London opened that August. It initially featured just one grandstand, which was unfinished.

Industrial action delayed the completion of the work to build the first iteration of Selhurst Park. But it was soon hosting international matches as England faced Wales there in 1926. While further changes to the infrastructure at Crystal Palace’s site saw the ground hold events for the 1948 Olympic games.

Changes continued thereafter with Crystal Palace installing the first floodlights at Selhurst Park come 1953. Further revisions followed in 1969 with the addition of another grandstand following the club’s first rise into the top-flight. While changes followed to the Holmesdale Road and Main Stand, as well.

Financial issues forced Crystal Palace to sell the freehold to Selhurst Park

But financial issues arose in 1981 which saw Crystal Palace sell land and part of the Whitehorse Lane terrace to Sainsbury’s. Ron Noades also later bought Selhurst Park off Crystal Palace in 1986 to raise further revenue. He continued to own the freehold of the stadium until 2006 when it sold for £12m .

Simon Jordan used a property company to front his bid to buy Selhurst Park during his tenure as the club’s chairman. Yet Rock Investments, the property company run by Paul Kemsley, continued to own the freehold in 2007. It also told Jordan to pay £15m to buy the freehold having not done so already.

Jordan ultimately entered into a 25-year lease agreement in 2008. But Kemsley’s own financial issues saw Selhurst Park fall under Pricewaterhouse Coopers’ control. A year-long fight ensued before CPFC 2010 saved the Eagles from extinction by reaching an agreement over the £4m sale of Selhurst Park.

Crystal Palace have plans in the pipeline to redevelop Selhurst Park

The deal reached in 2010 saw Crystal Palace unite with their stadium as a company for the first time since 1998. While plans have been afoot since 2018 to redevelop Selhurst Park in a £100m expansion project. It would increase the ground’s capacity from its current 25,486 to a potential limit of 33,674.

Crystal Palace announced in 2022 that Croydon councillors had approved their planning application to expand Selhurst Park. The blueprints boast a new Main Stand to transform the infrastructure first erected in 1924. But discussions remained ongoing about buying back the land sold to Sainsbury’s.

How to get to Selhurst Park

An aerial view of Selhurst Park prior to the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest at Selhurst Park on May 28, 2023 in ...

Fans can get to Selhurst Park through a variety of means given the location of Crystal Palace’s home stadium. It is set in the heart of Selhurst, an area in the London Borough of Croydon. So, it is only 15 minutes away from the Selhurst, Thornton Heath and Norwood Junction train stations when walking.

Alternatively, Crystal Palace provide free bicycle storage by entrance nine at Selhurst Park that opens three hours before a kick-off. While a number of bus routes operate in all directions from the ground.

The Eagles also warn fans pondering getting to Selhurst Park by private vehicles that parking on most of the roads surrounding Crystal Palace’s stadium are permit-holders only. But fans can reach the site through private vehicles using the postcode SE25 6PU, which mostly exits the M25 at junction seven.

Stadium tour information

Crystal Palace run guided tours of Selhurst Park, offering access to areas of their historic stadium that were previously unavailable to the public. Visitors attending tours of the ground can now see behind the scenes and access the home and away dressing rooms, the press room and some of the lounges.

Fans also get to see Crystal Palace’s trophy cabinet and learn about the history of Crystal Palace as a club . While the Eagles further run a separate accessible tour around Selhurst Park upon request.

Selhurst Park: Whitehorse Lane, London, England, SE25 6PU

Crystal Palace Dinosaurs

The Dinosaurs are one of the park’s most famous attractions, unveiled in 1854 and continuing to delight children and adults over 150 years later. They are amongst approximately 30 statues, including amphibians, reptiles and mammals, located on islands within the lakes at the Penge side of the park. They are free to visit.

How to find the Dinosaurs

The Dinosaurs are within the lakes in the south section of the park (see the map below). There’s also information about the Dinosaurs in the Information Centre , open on weekends.

Get involved

There are several ways that you can get actively involved, from giving your time, to donating or buying Dino-themed merchandise. Visit the Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs’ website for further information.

Although by modern standards the models don’t quite represent the dinosaurs that walked our planet accurately, they reveal what pioneering scientists in the Victorian era knew about these prehistoric creatures. Alongside the largest and most well-known lizard-like sculptures, there are many more creatures to be discovered as you wander through the specially designed landscape. Because of their location and Grade I listing, the Dinosaurs are viewed from a short distance across the lakes. The Dinosaur Court, as it was known, is located within an area that includes artificial cliffs and geological displays.

The Dinosaurs are located on the Dinosaur Park islands within the Lower Lakes in the south section of the park below the athletics stadium. Nearest Park entrance: Penge Gate. Closest public transport: Penge West, Crystal Palace.

Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs, a registered charity, aims to promote long-term conservation of these statues and the larger geological site, to ensure the Dinosaurs can be enjoyed by future generations. From the Dino Bridge, to schools engagement and Dinosaur Monitor, their volunteers work hard to create imaginative, inclusive, and fun projects for all to enjoy.

Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs made this virtual video tour of the Dinosaur sculptures in May 2020, providing an informational virtual walk for those unable to visit the park. Each sculpture is named within the virtual walk, along with the geological display. An audio tour for the Dinosaurs is available via AudioTrails .

Read more about the Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs’ important work restoring and conserving the sculptures on their website .

Dinosaur in Crystal Palace Park

The Dinosaurs were built full-size in clay, from which a mould was taken allowing cement sections to be cast. The larger sculptures are hollow with a brickwork interior.

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The Royal Parks launches 360-degree virtual tour of the 1851 Crystal Palace

169 years to the day since the Great Exhibition opened in Hyde Park’s iconic Crystal Palace, a 360-degree virtual tour is enabling the public to explore the structure once more.

The charity which manages London’s eight Royal Parks has partnered with educational virtual reality company Seymour & Lerhn to develop and launch the first ever virtual tour of the famous structure.

A miraculous feat of 19 th century engineering, the Crystal Palace opened on location in Hyde Park on 1 st May 1851. Measuring around 563 metres by 138 metres and with a height of 39 metres, the vast glass and cast-iron structure is world renowned for hosting the Great Exhibition.

The entire structure has now been digitally regenerated using a combination of plans and images belonging to The Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 along with archived documents and maps owned by The Royal Parks.

Applying CGI and 360-degree photography, which overlays the historic building onto the present-day site, has enabled the public to explore the site on their smartphone, PC or tablet.

#OnThisDay in 1851 the Great Exhibition opened its doors in Hyde Park. Today you can discover the Crystal Palace for yourself with our realistic VR model. https://t.co/80jD77QxFJ @seymourlerhn @Royalcom1851 #OTD #OnThisDayInHistory #MuseumFromHome pic.twitter.com/6oibnXNgBD — The Royal Parks (@theroyalparks) May 1, 2020

While the technology is an exact science, the decision to regenerate the Crystal Palace was partly down to good fortune. The Royal Parks was the winning entry to a competition set by Seymour & Lerhn which invited organisations to put forward proposals for a virtual reality education resource.

“We’ve harnessed today’s technology to bring The Royal Parks’ heritage to life, uncovering the park’s past for everyone to enjoy, especially those who aren’t able to visit in person,” notes Ledy Leyssen, head of learning at The Royal Parks.

Charlie Power from Seymour & Lerhn adds that “with the lockdown continuing, the virtual tour offers a unique way for people to ‘get out of the house’ and explore the history hidden within Hyde Park – all without actually having to leave their homes.”

The Royal Parks is now seeking extra funding to further develop the project by populating the Crystal Palace with the artefacts of The Great Exhibition.

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£3.6m grant funding to support UK organisations exploring VR/AR creativity

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VR museums platform backed by £5.6m government funding

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Trent Park Mansion secures funding to create digital museum ahead of opening mansion house

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Viking museum targets new audiences and vital half term income as annual festival moves online

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Two Very Different Tours

Marengo Cave Map of Both Walking Tours

Red is the Crystal Palace. Green is the Dripstone Trail.

Crystal Palace

Literally packed with formations., this easy 40-minute tour winds through formation-filled rooms and past huge flowstone deposits..

crystal palace tours

Dripstone Trail

Big. really big., this 60-minute tour is known for delicate soda straws, totem pole stalagmites, and penny ceiling..

crystal palace tours

Tour Pricing

Age 3 and under free.

With Combo Tickets

A trip advisor review  .

They have wonderful formations to see, more than most other caves I have seen. The staff was very friendly and the grounds were beautiful.

Cassie B , A Cave Guest

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the cave open year round.

Current hours and holidays closures display at the bottom of this page.

Do I need to purchase walking tour tickets in advance?

Reservations are not required for show cave visitors.

Can small children do the walking tours? Is there an age limit?

and typically enjoy the walking tours. Many preschool age children do both tours. If children can not walk, they can be carried however no backpacks are allowed. This is basically a parental decision.

Children three and under go free.

How long will I wait for a tour to depart?

Both walking tours are scheduled as needed. A tour will be scheduled when tickets are purchased. During the winter waits may be longer, but almost never exceed an hour.

Cave Exploring trips must be scheduled two weeks in advance.

How can I get discounted group rates?

A reservation and deposit are necessary in order to be eligible for group rates.

How much do cave tours cost?

See the prices listed above .

What form of payment do you accept?

What's the difference between your two walking tours.

Please see our descriptions and photos above .

How far are you from ... ?

We have detailed directions from each of these cities.

  • Louisville, 45 minutes
  • Evansville, 2 hours
  • Indianapolis, 2.5 hours

May I bring my pet to the cave?

All pets are welcome on park grounds (outside the cave), but must remain on a leash.

May I take a stroller or a wheelchair into the cave?

The cave is not accessible to strollers or wheelchairs because of steps and narrow passageways.

May I take a baby backpack carrier into the cave?

Due to low ceilings in some areas, backpacks risk your childs head hitting the ceiling.

Do you offer camping?

Marengo Cave is open year round. We offer both Tent/RV sites as well as four camping cabins.

Camping cabins are available for groups with two weeks notice and scheduled activities.

Families and individuals can reserve cabins anytime for Memorial Day to Labor Day. From After Labor Day to before Memorial Day only two weeks notice or less.

Are the tours strenuous or tiring?

Both the Crystal Palace and Dripstone Trail Tour are easy walking tours with well lit passageways and minimal steps.

What type of shoes should I wear?

But they are not required.

Will I need a jacket? How cold is it inside the cave?

The cave maintains a year round temperature of 52 degrees.

Is WIFI available in the park?

We have free WIFI available at our gift shop for your convenience!

Is a brochure available online?

It absolutely is.

Marengo Cave Brochure

Are there any discounts for military families or seniors?

Please call for details or go to specials .

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Experience the Caverns of Sonora

The Crystal Palace!

The most beautiful room on the tour.

crystal palace tours

Discovery Challenge Tour

Caver boys enjoying exploring and getting dirty.

crystal palace tours

Caverns of Sonora

Beautiful formations and flowstone surrounds you.

crystal palace tours

Photography Tour

Spend as much time in each room as you want.  This tour is perfect for taking photos.

crystal palace tours

Water droplets all around you.  If you get "Kissed" by a drop of water it is said to bring good luck.  You can see and hear the caves activity.

crystal palace tours

The Helictite Room

Even though it is not accessible to the public, this room is to beautiful not to show!

crystal palace tours

A pool of water with a band of Calcite crystal growing all around it. 

Caverns of Sonora

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Tour Information

Visitors of the Caverns of Sonora have the rare opportunity to experience a living and highly decorated cave up close and personal. All tours are expertly guided through crystal corridors 155 feet below the surface. Know before you go:

Cave Temperature- 72F/22C and 98% humidity. (Feels like 85F/29C) We are a WARM cave. No need for sweaters or jackets!

Stair Steps-Approximately 360 We recommend wearing a comfortable walking shoe.

Bring your camera!

Since we are a formation rich cave, please know that speleothems are very close to and even overhang into the walking trails. We require your help in protecting the cave by taking NOTHING inside other than your camera. All camera bags, purses, backpacks and fanny packs are not permitted inside the cave. Food, drinks, gum, and tobacco products are prohibited.

Due to the sensitive nature of this cave, animals are not allowed into the cave system but we do provide free, onsite kennels.

Crystal Palace Tour An intimate and expertly guided walking tour, of 12 people or less, through almost two miles of highly decorated cave passages. The tour takes approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes and leaves from the gift shop.  There are 360 stair steps and you go to a depth of 155 ft. below the surface.

Group Tours

Specialty, School, and large groups are invited to view the cave with advanced reservations. We offer group pricing and tax exempt rates where applicable. Groups can customize their visit by selecting to participate in either the Crystal Palace Tour, or, a condensed tour that lasts approximately 1 hour.

We suggest adding the UNDERGROUND CLASSROOM and GEMSTONE PANNING to your group activities. Perfect for children ages K- 6th.

The Underground Classroom is where kid friendly geology, cave biology, and Paleontology collide. Play in the dirt digging for fossils and view a slideshow, inside a cave! Then, wet your hands panning for real gemstones and fossils in our shaded, outdoor sluice!

Looking for lunch for your group?

Let our local Sonic provide it at a discounted rate. Call Today: 325-387-5292

THE FOLLOWING TOURS REQUIRE ADVANCED BOOKING. TO RESERVE YOUR SPECIALTY TOUR, CALL 325-387-3105

Feeling a little adventurous? The DISCOVERY CHALLENGE is an unforgettable caving adventure led by an experienced caver through a maze of off trail passageways. Rappel fifty feet into the Devil’s Pit and experience firsthand the thrill of navigating the cave like real cavers. We provide all equipment necessary. The Discovery Challenge takes approximately 4 hours. Minimum tour size is 2 and maximum tour size is 6. This tour is ideal fun for families, couples, and is a great team building experience for small groups.

Photography lovers can zoom in on that tiny, mineral rich, water droplet, capture rare, clear crystal helictites, and focus their cameras where ever their eye leads them. Our PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR is a dream photography session allowing photographers guided access to trails in an unhurried photo walk through one of the most beautiful caves in the world. Photographers may carefully bring a tripod.

Ideal for the novice and the pro!

CALL 325-387-3105 TO RESERVE YOUR GROUP OR SPECIALTY TOUR

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Check out what other travelers say about Caverns of Sonora on TripAdvisor.

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crystal palace tours

Crystal Palace Walking Tour

Raccoon mountain Crystal Palace collage

CRYSTAL PALACE WALKING TOUR INFO

The Crystal Palace Tour is a 45-55 minute guided walking tour through the first 1/4 mile of our cave system. The Crystal Palace has been modified to include striking lights, pathways, steps, and handrails. Education is the focus of our tours. Our guide will explain how the caves form, provide a history of the cave and point out a wide variety of formations. You will see stalactites, stalagmites, soda straws, and much more, including rare shield and helictite formations! You will have a chance to view cave wildlife, including bats and salamanders, as well as ancient fossils. Photography is welcomed; however, you must keep up with the group.

Currently, we are unable to allow children 3 years of age or younger on tours. All children must be able to walk the tour themselves, they cannot be carried. As a reminder our cave is not wheelchair or child stroller accessible.

You can book online below or call the office to ask any questions! 

BOOK ONLINE

Green = Available | White = Closed 

Open 7 Days A Week Sun. – Sat. 9 A.M. – 5 P.M. First tour goes in at 9:30 A.M. Last tour goes in at 4:00 P.M.

Friday – Saturday: Tours run every 30 minutes

Monday – Thursday: Tours run every hour at a minimum. Please call for more availability 

Adults Ages 12+: $28.99 

Kids Ages 4-12: $18.99 

Q: Can we bring a group into the caves? A: Yes, we love working with groups.  Any group with four people or more need a reservation and can find more information on our GROUP PAGE or call us at (423) 821-9403

Q: What is the temperature in the cave? A: The cave remains a constant 58° F all year, allowing tours to operate in all weather conditions. Most guests prefer a light sweater or jacket while on their tour.

Q: Is the cave wheelchair or stroller accessible? A: Due to the layout of the cave, narrowness of some passageways, and number of steps, the cave is not wheelchair or stroller accessible.

Q: Will I get dirty on my cave tour? A: Guests on the Crystal Palace Walking tour may get dripped on, but will not otherwise get dirty. Guests on the Wild Cave Expedition tours will most definitely get dirty.

Q: If I or a member of my group decide not to continue the tour, can we get a refund? A: All cave tour purchases, both Crystal Palace and Wild Cave, are non-refundable. Please strongly consider the ability level and comfort level of your group members before purchasing a cave tour. If you have questions or concerns regarding the difficulty of tours, we are happy to give advice on which tour is best suited for your group. However, ultimately the decision is yours and refunds will not be given after a tour is purchased.

Q: Are bathroom facilities available in the cave? A: There are no bathrooms in the cave. Please use the restroom before beginning your tour.

Q: Are animals allowed to be brought in the cave? A: Due to the sensitive and fragile nature of the cave and its ecosystem, no pets are permitted inside.

Service animals are welcome at the Raccoon Mountain Campground. However, service animals, are not allowed on tours of the Raccoon Mountain Caverns due to the danger of the service animal’s presence being disruptive to the environment of the “nesticus furtivus” spider, which has been the only known to exist in the Raccoon Mountain Caverns. The “nesticus furtivus” spider is endemic to the Raccoon Mountain Caverns and its ecosystem. Therefore, great care must be taken to ensure that non-native animals do not disrupt the spider’s environment. The presence of foreign matter introduced by service animals can also damage the caverns’ rock formations and facilitate the growth of fungus that can harm the caverns’ ecosystem. In addition, service animals are not permitted on tours of the Raccoon Mountain Caverns because of the proximity of the safety hazard of narrow passageways between rock formations .  We appreciate your understanding of our obligation to protect the Caverns and its ecosystem.

Pets are permitted in the following areas:

On roadways and in parking lots open to public vehicular traffic and in picnic areas & panning areas

Q: Is the cave dangerous? A: Caves, by their very nature, can be dangerous environments. Please follow all staff instructions to ensure a safe and memorable experience. None of the wildlife in the cave pose a threat to humans.

Q: My question isn’t listed here; how can I get more information? A: Give us a call or send us an email! We’d love to hear from you and will happily answer any additional questions you may have. A more detailed FAQ specific to the Wild Cave Expedition tours can be found at wildcave.com/faq.html

crystal palace tours

crystal palace tours

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Home to one of the most beautiful caverns in the world, a history complete with pioneers and outlaws, and unique shops and restaurants, Sonora has just about everything you need for a one-of-a-kind weekend getaway.

Located about 2.5 hours west of San Antonio, it’s easy to reach while being just far enough away from the big city to have all the peace and quiet you’re looking for.

Start your getaway to Sonora at the Caverns of Sonora. Head underground and you’ll encounter countless spellbinding formations in each room you visit. Choose from several guided excursions ranging from the nearly two-hour Crystal Palace Tour to the more adventurous four-hour Discovery Challenge Tour, to experience the caverns for yourself.

While The Caverns of Sonora are a must see, it is by no means the only natural wonder in town. Tie on your hiking shoes and find your way to the Eaton Hill Nature Center & Preserve, a 37-acre showcase of the flora and fauna of the Texas Hill Country and the West Texas desert. Explore the nearly two miles of hiking trails that take you through thickets and past rocky outcrops and check out the displays in the restored more than 110-year-old home. Whether you’re looking to simply get outdoors, take photos, or do some wildlife watching, you’ll find it all here.

Sonora’s rich ranching and pioneering history holds many surprises, the likes of which you can discover at the  Old Sonora Ice House Ranch Museum. See the gun that brought down the infamous outlaw William “News” Carver and artifacts from Native Americans and the area’s earliest ranchers. For more history, visit the Miers Home Museum. Built in 1888, it’s a museum dedicated to Sonora’s past featuring a collection of artifacts and archives of the local newspaper.

No visit to Sonora is complete without seeing a few of the town’s other sites. Head to downtown Sonora to see the gorgeous 1891 Sutton County Courthouse, then play a round at the Sonora Golf Club, a top nine-hole course in Texas. Sonora’s major annual events, such as the Sutton County Days & Sonora Outlaw Rodeo in August and The Dry Devils River Music Flood in October, are great reasons to visit as well.

Sonora’s natural splendor, Western history, and famous Texas hospitality makes it a great choice for your next weekend getaway.

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Raccoon Mountain: The Crystal Palace Walking Tour

Adventure , Attractions , Outdoors

In the early 1900s, the exposed limestone rock at the base of Raccoon Mountain was a respite for local farmers, its crevices offering cool blasts of air from deep inside. In 1929, local caver Leo Lambert crawled through a small opening in the rock and found a sprawling series of beautiful caverns. Now one of the Chattanooga area’s most popular tourist destinations, Raccoon Mountain Caverns is considered to be the largest naturally preserved cavern in the southeastern United States. This means that besides minimal additions for safety, like lighting and handrails, the cave remains in its most natural state. Much of its 5.5 miles of underground passageways can be explored on Wild Cave Expedition Tours, which involve knee pads, headlamps, helmets, and crawling through small spaces. The Crystal Palace Walking Tour is a 45-55-minute guided tour through the first quarter-mile of the cave.  

In addition to the stalactites, stalagmites, reflection ponds, and natural bridges, part of what makes the Crystal Palace Walking Tour so captivating is the cave’s flowstone . Also known as “drapes,” flowstone is made up of layers of calcite left behind when water moves along the walls and floor of the cave. The cavern is also home to a cave shield, a rare formation only found in 82 caves in the United States and created by water forced horizontally out of the seams in the rocks. Tour guides regularly spot Mississippian-era fossils as well as native wildlife like salamanders, cave crickets, and cave flies. In friendly banter with your guide, you’ll also be on the lookout for “Imagination Formations” shaped like a saber tooth tiger, an alligator, and Scooby-Doo getting ready to eat a giant ice cream cone.  

Raccoon Mountain Caverns is open year-round, rain or shine, only closing for Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Reservations are required, and guests must be age three or older and able to walk independently. Due to the need to preserve the delicate nature of the ecosystem, caves are not handicap accessible and service animals are not permitted.

The Crystal Palace Walking Tour tickets may be purchased by calling 423-821-9403.  Raccoon Mountain Caverns is open daily 9:00am – 5:00pm and is located at 319 West Hills Dr. in Chattanooga.

crystal palace tours

Blue Whales: Return of the Giants 3D

Apr 8, 2024 | Adventure , Attractions

Return of the Giants 3D Blue Whales 3D narrated by Award-Winning actor Andy Serkis, takes viewers on a journey of a lifetime to explore the world of the magnificent blue whale, a species rebounding from the brink of extinction. Blue whales are the largest animals ever...

Bessie Smith Cultural Center

Mar 22, 2024 | Art & Music , Attractions , Stories

Celebrating African American History & Culture in Chattanooga A native of Chattanooga, Bessie Smith was a 1920s Blues icon. Mentored by Ma Rainey, she wrote and performed blues classics such as “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out” and “Gulf Coast Blues.”...

The Art of Play: Playgrounds

Mar 17, 2024 | Outdoors

The Art of Play: Area Playgrounds When the kids have resorted to bouncing back and forth between hotel beds or playing “The Floor is Lava” around the Airbnb, you know it’s time to get outside. A day full of play shouldn’t have to cost a dime, and thanks to the...

Go behind-the-scenes of Selhurst Park with a Stadium Tour this Easter!

Experience Selhurst Park like you've never seen it before – enjoy one of our spectacular stadium tours this Easter!

Available throughout the Easter holidays, our tours offer a unique experience at Selhurst Park – with plenty of fun for the whole family, perfect for entertaining young Palace fans during the school holidays.

Tour participants will be guided through typically closed parts of SE25, learning about the stadium and club's history and exploring the areas you can't typically see on a matchday.

You will begin in some of our lounges, see where the media operate from, be led into the home and away dressing rooms and then through the tunnel, along the pitch and into the dugouts, where you can take a picture to last a lifetime.

You'll hear previously untold stories at the heart of where they happened; follow in the footsteps of players and managers past and present; and see how one of the Premier League's oldest standing stadiums looks on the inside.

Places can be booked  by clicking here .

Book a tour

Upcoming Tour Dates

Tour timings listed below in BST, subject to availability.

  • Tuesday, 2nd April (sold out)
  • Wednesday, 3rd April (sold out)
  • Monday, 8th April (14:30 & 16:30)
  • Tuesday, 9th April (14:30 & 16:30)
  • Wednesday, 10th April (12:00, 14:30 & 16:30)
  • Thursday, 11th April ( 10:00 & 14:30)
  • Friday, 12th April ( 10:00 & 16:30)

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  1. Crystal Palace in Historic Center

    crystal palace tours

  2. Crystal Palace in Historic Center

    crystal palace tours

  3. The Royal Parks launches 360-degree virtual tour of the 1851 Crystal

    crystal palace tours

  4. The 10 Best Crystal Palace (Palácio de Cristal) Tours & Tickets 2021

    crystal palace tours

  5. Crystal Palace

    crystal palace tours

  6. Crystal Palace in Historic Center

    crystal palace tours

COMMENTS

  1. Stadium Tours

    Learn more about the stadium and its history as you're guided through a number of areas you can't see on a Crystal Palace F.C. matchday. Explore some of our lounges, see where the media operate from, and be led into the home and away dressing rooms! Tours run between 10:00-11:30, 12:00-13:30, 14:30 ...

  2. More Crystal Palace stadium tours available

    Experience the historic ground of Crystal Palace, where you can see the dressing room, tunnel, dugouts and more. Book online for upcoming dates and times in August and October 2023.

  3. Guided Tours

    Take an expert guided tour around the site of the Crystal Palace in the beautiful Grade II listed park. We run Guided Tours on the first Sunday of every month during the summer. It is a wonderful atmosphere learning all about the great Crystal Palace whilst walking by the remaining terrace walls and amongst the iconic sphinxes, which themselves ...

  4. Home

    The Crystal Palace Tour is a 45-55 minute guided walking tour through the first 1/4 mile of the cave.This section of the cave has been modified to include lights, pathways, steps, and handrails. Education is the focus of our tours and your guide will explain how caves form, provide a history of the cave, and point out a wide variety of formations such as stalactites, stalagmites, soda straws ...

  5. Crystal Palace Stadium Information

    Visitors attending tours of the ground can now see behind the scenes and access the home and away dressing rooms, the press room and some of the lounges. Fans also get to see Crystal Palace's trophy cabinet and learn about the history of Crystal Palace as a club. While the Eagles further run a separate accessible tour around Selhurst Park ...

  6. Crystal Palace Dinosaurs

    Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs made this virtual video tour of the Dinosaur sculptures in May 2020, providing an informational virtual walk for those unable to visit the park. Each sculpture is named within the virtual walk, along with the geological display. An audio tour for the Dinosaurs is available via AudioTrails.

  7. The Royal Parks launches 360-degree virtual tour of the 1851 Crystal Palace

    The charity which manages London's eight Royal Parks has partnered with educational virtual reality company Seymour & Lerhn to develop and launch the first ever virtual tour of the famous structure. A miraculous feat of 19 th century engineering, the Crystal Palace opened on location in Hyde Park on 1 st May 1851. Measuring around 563 metres ...

  8. Crystal Palace F.C. Virtual Venue™ by IOMEDIA

    3D Interactive Seat Views for Crystal Palace F.C. interactive seat map using Virtual Venue™ by IOMEDIA ... Click START for a guided tour or click EXIT to begin using Virtual Venue TM. Exit Start. NAVIGATOR. Use the Navigator to select your preferred aerial view, and turn on or off various levels.

  9. Walking Tours

    Crystal Palace Literally packed with formations. ... and Penny Ceiling. Previous Slide ︎ Next Slide ︎; Tour Pricing Crystal Palace. $12.95. Per Child. Age 4-12. $21.95. Per Adult. Age 13 & Up. Age 3 and under free. OR Both Tours. SAVE BIG. With Combo Tickets. Save $8.95. $27.90. $18.95. Per Child. Save $15.95. $46.90. $30.95. Per Adult.

  10. Tour Information :: Caverns of Sonora

    Crystal Palace Tour. An intimate and expertly guided walking tour, of 12 people or less, through almost two miles of highly decorated cave passages. The tour takes approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes and leaves from the gift shop. There are 360 stair steps and you go to a depth of 155 ft. below the surface. Group Tours.

  11. Touring Southern Indiana's Marengo Cave

    Visitors have the option of two tours, the 40-minute Crystal Palace Tour or the 60-minute Dripstone Trail tour. A combo ticket is available, as well. We opted for the Crystal Palace tour, which is not as deep into the ground as the Dripstone Trail and is filled with beautiful formations, including its namesake, the Crystal Palace room.

  12. Crystal Palace

    The Crystal Palace Tour is a 45-55 minute guided walking tour through the first 1/4 mile of our cave system.The Crystal Palace has been modified to include striking lights, pathways, steps, and handrails. Education is the focus of our tours. Our guide will explain how the caves form, provide a history of the cave and point out a wide variety of formations.

  13. Sonora

    Start your getaway to Sonora at the Caverns of Sonora. Head underground and you'll encounter countless spellbinding formations in each room you visit. Choose from several guided excursions ranging from the nearly two-hour Crystal Palace Tour to the more adventurous four-hour Discovery Challenge Tour, to experience the caverns for yourself.

  14. Raccoon Mountain: The Crystal Palace Walking Tour

    The Crystal Palace Walking Tour tickets may be purchased by calling 423-821-9403. Raccoon Mountain Caverns is open daily 9:00am - 5:00pm and is located at 319 West Hills Dr. in Chattanooga. In addition to the stalactites, stalagmites, reflection ponds, and natural bridges, part of what makes the Crystal Palace Walking Tour so captivating is ...

  15. Private Guided Moscow Underground Palaces Metro Tour

    Private and Luxury in Moscow: Check out 17 reviews and photos of Viator's Private Guided Moscow Underground Palaces Metro Tour

  16. Private Moscow Metro Tour

    Private Sightseeing Tours in Moscow: Check out 6 reviews and photos of Viator's Private Moscow Metro Tour

  17. Moscow Metro Tour and Bunker 42 with Private Guide

    While Moscow is beautiful above-ground, it's fascinating underground. On this tour you will visit two of Moscow's most interesting underground attractions: the beautifully decorated Metro system, and the Bunker 42 anti-nuclear facility. Your private guide will tell you all about the history of these places, and answer any questions you might have. You'll see a different side of Moscow on ...

  18. Go behind-the-scenes of Selhurst Park with a ...

    Available throughout the Easter holidays, our tours offer a unique experience at Selhurst Park - with plenty of fun for the whole family, perfect for entertaining young Palace fans during the school holidays. Tour participants will be guided through typically closed parts of SE25, learning about the stadium and club's history and exploring ...

  19. Private Moscow Metro Half Day Tour 2022

    The Moscow Metro is one of the oldest in the world, as well as one of the most beautiful. As a visitor, it can be tricky to know which stations are must-sees, but this guided tour ensures that you see the best. Also, because it's a private tour, you don't need to feel self-conscious of being in a large tour group getting in commuters' way.