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I have decided to make this site to document the various places that I have explored and photographed. From underground locations and industrial complexes to the asylums that once served the countries mentally ill people. I have been doing this for over three years now, enjoyed every minute of it, and plan to continue doing so. I am based in Bristol, where I started out, but have travelled across the country to explore places further afield.
All of the photos you see on this site are my own.
All of the photos you see on this site are my own.
The legal aspect
The legal aspect of urban exploring depends entirely on where you go. Derelict sites such as hospitals, factories, schools etc. are deemed civil trespass which is not a criminal offence in the UK. Things get a bit serious if you start to explore places such as railways, national grid, MOD sites and any property owned by the Crown. They are protected by the criminal trespass law which can carry a prison sentence. A full list of locations can be found here. More further information on trespass law I recommend having a look at this page on 28dayslater.co.uk. I must express that urban explorers are not criminals; we have respect for the locations we visit and urge others to do so as well. As the saying goes “take only pictures, leave only footprints”.
What are the dangers?
People often wonder how dangerous these places are. Some have obvious risks like exposed asbestos (for which I always carry the appropriate mask on me), unsafe floors and sharp rusty objects, to name a few. High up places like cranes and rooftops sound dangerous, and they are, but if your careful and know your limits then you'll be just fine. Storm drains however carry a greater risk if you don't take into account the weather and sometimes tide times. So, common sense plays a huge factor in most of what I do; at all times I have only ever taken calculated risks.
A number one rule for most people is never explore alone. Ever. If you do injure yourself and there is no one about and your phone battery has died (very common now as you will probably know), what will you do? Always exploring with one or more persons could save your life or their life. You should always trust your own judgement too, if something doesn't feel right then it usually isn't. Know your own limits and always stay fully aware. Many places, particularly industrial, have hazards around every corner. You can't just explore these places expecting everything to be safe. You need to assess every situation. A rotten floor can easily be disguised underneath carpet and as such may not support your weight, resulting in injury.
Some safety essentials when exploring are a must. Always take a torch (I recommend a Lenser P7), first aid kit and water at the very least.
A number one rule for most people is never explore alone. Ever. If you do injure yourself and there is no one about and your phone battery has died (very common now as you will probably know), what will you do? Always exploring with one or more persons could save your life or their life. You should always trust your own judgement too, if something doesn't feel right then it usually isn't. Know your own limits and always stay fully aware. Many places, particularly industrial, have hazards around every corner. You can't just explore these places expecting everything to be safe. You need to assess every situation. A rotten floor can easily be disguised underneath carpet and as such may not support your weight, resulting in injury.
Some safety essentials when exploring are a must. Always take a torch (I recommend a Lenser P7), first aid kit and water at the very least.
Exhausted after some late night draining
A game of patience
Failure to gain access is a common part of exploring. Sometimes you will find yourself attempting the same place multiple times before succeeding. For people new to urban exploring you will likely expect to be able to just walk in and freely take photographs without a care in the world. This is not quite the reality unfortunately. Having patience is key to success. A lot of time is spent doing research, scoping out access points, the security situation etc. I assure you this is all part of the fun and once you do succeed in gaining access the reward is all the more satisfying.