Cheddar Gorge is the pick for dramatic scenery, show caves and a proper cliff-top walk, with advance adult tickets from £23.30. Wookey Hole is the pick for younger kids and a wet-weather day, with caves plus 4D cinema, mirror maze, soft play and mini golf bundled into one ticket from £21.24. Both are in the Mendip Hills around 20 to 25 miles from Bath, so if you can only manage one trip, the choice comes down to what you want the day to feel like rather than which is "better."
Cheddar Gorge
Cheddar Gorge combines Britain's largest gorge, with cliffs up to 137 metres high, with show caves underneath it. A Day Ticket (advance booking from £23.30 adult, £17.50 child) gets you into Gough's Cave, the Museum of Prehistory, Cox's Cave, Jacob's Ladder and the Lookout Tower, and the Beyond the View cinematic experience. The Cliff-Top Walk is a free 3-mile loop around the gorge itself, with shorter options if the full circuit isn't for you, and dogs on leads are welcome throughout.
It's roughly 25 miles from Bath, about 43 minutes by car.
Wookey Hole
Wookey Hole is built around its own show caves, centred on the Witch of Wookey Hole rock formation, but it's packaged as a full family attraction rather than a caves-and-walk day: the ticket also includes a 4D cinema, adventure golf, Dinosaur Valley, indoor soft play, a mirror maze and museum exhibits. Off-peak adult tickets start from £21.24 booked in advance (standard price £24.99), with child tickets from £16.99 and senior tickets from £18.69.
It's a touch closer to Bath than Cheddar, around 20 miles by road.
Comparison
| Cheddar Gorge | Wookey Hole | |
|---|---|---|
| Distance from Bath | ~25 miles (43 min drive) | ~20 miles |
| Adult ticket (advance) | From £23.30 | From £21.24 |
| Child ticket | From £17.50 | From £16.99 |
| What's included | Show caves, museum, Lookout Tower, cinema experience | Show caves, 4D cinema, adventure golf, soft play, mirror maze |
| Best for | Scenery, walking, slightly older kids and adults | Younger kids, wet weather, all-in-one entertainment |
| Dogs | Welcome on leads | Check current policy before visiting |
Which one should you actually pick
If the weather's good and you want a proper outdoor element to the day, Cheddar Gorge's cliff-top walk is the differentiator: nowhere else on this list of two gives you a genuine hike with a view. If you're travelling with younger children, especially on a wet day, Wookey Hole's indoor soft play, mirror maze and 4D cinema will keep them occupied in a way that a gorge walk won't.
Both are roughly similar on price for an adult ticket, so cost isn't really the deciding factor. Think about ages, weather, and whether you want to be outside for part of the day.
Getting there from Bath
Neither Cheddar Gorge nor Wookey Hole has a direct train link, so a car is the easiest way to reach either. If you don't have one, check current bus options before committing, since Somerset's rural bus routes change more often than train timetables and a connection that exists today may not next season.
If you'd rather spend the day somewhere with more straightforward transport, our day trips from Bath guide rounds up the alternatives, and our Bath to Wells and Cheddar guide covers Wells itself, which sits on the way to Cheddar and is worth a stop either direction.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Cheddar Gorge from Bath?
About 25 miles, roughly a 43-minute drive.
How far is Wookey Hole from Bath?
A little closer than Cheddar Gorge, at around 20 miles by road.
How much does Cheddar Gorge cost?
Advance Day Tickets start from £23.30 for an adult and £17.50 for a child, covering five attractions including the show caves and the Lookout Tower.
How much does Wookey Hole cost?
Off-peak advance tickets start from £21.24 for an adult (standard price £24.99), £16.99 for a child, and £18.69 for a senior, covering the caves plus the 4D cinema, adventure golf, soft play and mirror maze.
Which is better for young children?
Wookey Hole, since the indoor attractions (soft play, mirror maze, 4D cinema) give younger kids more to do and work just as well on a wet day.
Can I visit both in one day?
It's possible since they're both in the same part of Somerset, but each deserves a few hours on its own, so most visitors pick one rather than rushing both.