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The hidden cave made of crystals that fans call most magical place in England

05 July 2023 , 09:30
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The hidden cave made of crystals that fans call most magical place in England
The hidden cave made of crystals that fans call most magical place in England

A UK travel expert has been raving about an "incredible" crystal tourist attraction less than an hour away from London that few people seem to even know exists.

With the school summer holidays coming up, parents are looking for things to do to keep their children entertained.

The grotto can be found at Painshill gardens in Surrey qhiukiuiqktprw
The grotto can be found at Painshill gardens in SurreyCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
The grotto is made of more than 10,000 crystals and is the biggest in Europe
The grotto is made of more than 10,000 crystals and is the biggest in EuropeCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
Few people seem to know about the tourist attraction just an hour from London
Few people seem to know about the tourist attraction just an hour from LondonCredit: Instagram/@londonfamilydaysout

One place they could do that is Painshill in Surrey, where they could see the largest man made crystal grotto in Europe.

The grotto is described as a "highlight of any day out at Painshill" where "children are captivated and adults stand in awe of the incredible man-made feature".

The Painshill website goes on to call it "a magical, naturalistic cave with shimmering, bubbling water, rough rock and stalactites covered in sparkling crystals".

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It also says that, on a sunny day, "shafts of light pierce the interior through carefully placed openings in the ceiling" which "makes the crystals sparkle as it bounces off the coral pools and lake water".

Someone who recently visited was the person behind the London Family Days Out Instagram account (@londonfamilydaysout).

In a video shared to their account, they said: "This incredible crystal grotto is less than an hour from Waterloo train station.

"It’s at Painshill in Surrey. It’s made of more than 10,000 crystals and it’s absolutely stunning."

They were also delighted by the rest of the Painshill garden too, which is described as both a "living painting" and a "work of art" complete with "dramatic follies, calming waters and stunning views".

London Family Days Out said: "Winding paths will take you on a journey to discover a living canvas with beautiful vistas and dramatically placed garden buildings.

"Stroll around the Serpentine Lake, wander through woodland and promenade past follies, including the Ruined Abbey, Gothic Temple and Turkish Tent.

"I really recommend a visit. We spent the day there and enjoyed the cafe too!"

The park was even used as a filming location for Bridgerton, including some of the scenes where the characters promenade and picnic outside.

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However, it was the grotto that took the lion's share of the praise from other people, most of whom admitted they didn't know about it.

One said: "This looks stunning."

Another wrote: "It looks gorgeous, didn’t even know this existed."

A third added: "Never knew that was there."

Tiktoker Alexandra (@alexaz87) is also a fan of the attraction and described it as, "the most amazing place I've ever been in England" while another user said: "It's so magical."

Entry to the grotto is included in the price of entry to Painshill, which is available from £10 for adults and £5 for children, although other concessions are available.

Online prices are cheaper than paying in person on the day.

Meanwhile, here are five cheap and free activities to do over the summer holidays.

And this huge new playground is set to open in the UK this week.

The grotto is described as the highlight of any day out at Painshill
The grotto is described as the highlight of any day out at PainshillCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd

Ryan Gray

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