Best 5 Explores of 2023

[HughieD]

OK - the year is nearly done so it's time for your Best Five Explores of 2023,

Number them 5 to 1, one picture each and a link to report.

Not the most epic year for me, but some decent explores all the same. Here's mine:

No.5
Nocton Hall Hospital, Lincolnshire, June 2023
It may be pretty stripped bare but the sheer size of this place means it sneaks in at No.5. Permission visit.

Report HERE

No.4
Rauceby Asylum, Lincolnshire, May 2023
Not the most impressive asylum but having missed the boat with them and having failed at here previously, it was great to at last get it done.

Report HERE

No.3
Llanberis Bomb Store, North Wales, April 2023
First time I suffered torch failure so good to get this place done properly. It's impressively located and managed to get into the mine workings at the back of the bomb store this time around.

Report HERE

No.2
Dinorwic Slate Quarry, North Wales, April 2023
My 4th time here. Never tire of this awesome place. The sheer scale and the stuff left behind never fail to impress.

Report HERE

No.1
Ma On Shan Ironstone mine, Hong Kong, August 2023
This was arguably the best mine I've ever explored and an awesome through trip, in the great company of @drhowser

Report HERE

 

[JakeV50]

2023 started off pretty shit for me, the worst year of my life for various reasons, because of this I hit urbex hard just to keep the ol' brain occupied. And it was definitely worth it! Ended up seeing some cracking places.

Number 5

Levenshulme Swimming Baths.

One from my trip up to the north-west. First time exploring in that area, I really enjoyed this place. It was a last minute decision to visit in the very last hours of the day we were due to drive home.

Levenshulme Swimming Baths – Manchester : May 2023 | Leisure Sites

Levenshulme Swimming Baths Me and @dansgas1000 went for a couple of days away to the Manchester area. We split the locations evenly so we both got to do places we really wanted to see. One of the ones I really wanted to see were the swimming baths. This was the final pin on the final day...

www.28dayslater.co.uk

Number 4

Derelict Locomotive - Suffolk

One from way back at the beginning of the year. I actually had to double-check it was this year we saw this, as it feels like an age ago. Pretty cool to see the big ol loco looming out of the trees at you.

Report - - Finnish State Railways Locomotive #1077, Suffolk – February 2023 | Other Sites

Derelict Finnish Locomotive #1077 After seeing an article on the internet mentioning this 'Harry Potter train hidden mysteriously in the Suffolk woodlands' I decided I would have a go at finding the location. About 15 minutes spent online, and browsing a couple of old railway forums sent me...

www.28dayslater.co.uk

Number 3

Milton Green Highways Depot

This one comes in at number 3 for me, as it was quite unexpected. If it wasn't for Dan suggesting it, I probably wouldn't have bothered. The natural decay and lack of vandalism made it special.

Report - - Milton Green Highways Depot, Cheshire : May 2023 | Other Sites

Milton Green Highways Depot One from a few months back. It has been posted previously on here. Visited with @dansgas1000 Very little history can be found on this. A quick Google brings up a file described as ‘Plan 1’ on the Cheshire Archives from 1937. Perhaps this is when the site was...

www.28dayslater.co.uk

Number 2

RAE Bedford

Bedford popped back on the radar at the end of summer. Most people have done the 3x3, but word got around that the 8x8 was open, so me, Mikey and Dan made our way to have a look. The 8x8 was absolutely stunning inside.

Report - - RAE Bedford 3×3, 8×8 & Canteen: August 2023. | Military Sites

RAE Bedford RAE Bedford was established in 1946. It was designed to be a hub for aircraft experimental development work. At the time it was described as “the finest research and development establishment outside the United States”. Former RAF Thurleigh was selected as the base for the new...

www.28dayslater.co.uk

Number 1

Southery Pumping Station - Norfolk

Anyone who knows me will be aware that I am a bit of a slut for a pumping station. Southery was found just by chance, I dragged Dan along, not even knowing what the building was. He was confused initially, but as soon as I looked through the window and saw that lovely Ruston sat there, that was it. Southery started something, it really was genesis. So much so that I now have a tattoo of the Ruston two-cylinder engine found in here on my arm, so it's with me for life.
Over the past year, we have been obliterating pumping stations as much as we can.

Report - - Southery Pumping Station, Norfolk : April 2023 | Industrial Sites

Southery Pumping Station While bored one evening, researching old pumps and mills as usual, I stumbled upon a possible pumping station situated in Southery, Norfolk. Being fairly local, me and @dansgas1000 decided to take a drive and see if it was still there. The reference I found to it...

www.28dayslater.co.uk

Thanks to all the mods and admin for keeping the forum up to a high standard, hopefully 2024 will bring some great things!

 

[GRONK]

Number 5
Corporation Swimming Baths, Crewe - March 2023
Thread: Report - - Corporation Public Swimming Baths, Crewe - March 2023 | Leisure Sites

Anyone that knows me well will know I've got a real soft spot for this building. I actually learned to swim in this very pool and have many fond memories of visiting it whilst growing up nearby.

Number 4
The Park Hotel, Preston - February 2023
Thread: Report - - The Park Hotel, Preston - February 2023 | Other Sites

Alright, this one is your run-of-the-mill Railway hotel, but there is something about the stained-glass and beautiful tiles that lined every corridor that made the place feel special.

Number 3
Lightwater Valley Family Adventure Park, Ripon - January 2023
Thread: Report - - The Ultimate, Lightwater Valley Family Adventure Park, Ripon - January 2023 | Leisure Sites

For me, the only thing that beats a day at a Theme Park is a day at a closed park. Yes, it was on the tour bus for a few weeks, but 'The Ultimate' offered some stunning views over the Yorkshire Countryside as I watched the sun rise from the top of the first lift hill.

Number 2
Robert Cain Brewery, Liverpool - December 2023
Thread: Report - - Robert Cains Brewery, Liverpool - December 2023 | Industrial Sites

The one that (nearly) got away, I've been after Cains for as long as it has been vacant, having made countless failed journeys to the site only to be disappointed. I finally managed it this year, and it was exactly as I hoped it would be. The future is looking bright for this building, which plans to re-purpose the vacant sections and resume brewing on the site, albeit at a much reduced volume.

Number 1
The Pennine Tower, Lancaster Services - November 2023
Thread: Report - - The Pennine Tower, Lancaster Services, M6 - November 2023 | Leisure Sites

What can I really say about this one, other than the right place at the right time? Just like Cains, I have made many journeys to the services just to have a crack at the tower with no success. Luckily, earlier this year me and Mrs Gronk were passing, and I thought I'd have a quick look for access whilst she grabbed a coffee. The views from the top of the tower were amazing and well worth the effort and countless attempts to get it.

 

[Mikeymutt🐶]

My five favourite explores of the year.

First at number five is the Norfolk feather factory. It was an unknown to us and me and Dan and Jake made a couple of visits to it. Was nice to have a nice factory in the county as industry is quite light here.

Report - - Norfolk Feather Company..Diss, March 2023 | Industrial Sites

Visited here with @dansgas1000 and @JakeV50 in the early spring. I then went back with Man Gone Wrong. It's a place I had noticed had shut and nothing done with it. I mentioned it to the other two and they said they had noticed it looking rather empty and unused. So we decided to give it a...

www.28dayslater.co.uk

Number four was Delphi Diesel. It was a nice big place to have a wander about. Even though it was stripped it still had a lot to see, and the social club was an added bonus.

Report - - Delphi Diesel / Lucas Cav..Sudbury, August 2023 | Industrial Sites

I remember seeing speeds original report on this place and thought it looked a great wander, but forgot about it. Then in the summer Dangas and Wastelandr gave it a look which sparked the interest. It’s not to far from me so planned to go with Jake and Man Gone Wrong. A few tips from dan and...

www.28dayslater.co.uk

Number three is Grays State Cinema. I know it was done lots, but it was only the second cinema I had seen in my years exploring. And the projector room alone made it for me. A solo visit for me one early morning, sadly I lost all my photos from here except a few.

At number two is Fletchers. I had been before years ago, but was nice to spend more time here and see other bits. A great exploring classic that should be seen.

Report - - Fletchers Paper Mill..Greenfield, December 2023 | Industrial Sites

I had lost half of my exploring pictures and others from this year a few months ago. And not really been out doing much exploring throughout autumn as I tend to like the woodlands at this time of year. But we did make a recent trip to absolute classic of a place. I first tried this in January...

www.28dayslater.co.uk

And finally RAE Bedford. I had been the 3x3 about eight years ago. But numerous attempts at the 8x8 had resulted in big fails. Until this year when we finally managed to get in and see it. I made three visits here seeing the twon wind tunnels and the social club. Sadly this was another place I lost nearly all my photos bar some I recovered. I know most disagree I still prefer the 3x3,I preferred the character of the place, it had more to see, it was more photogenic.

 

[mookster]

Difficult question for me to answer really, while I didn't do much I'd class as 'epic' I saw some very cool stuff this year and even managed an unexpected cheeky sleepless 36 hour trip to Belgium for the first time in nine years. I didn't think picking five favourites would be difficult but it's actually been a lot harder to narrow it down than I thought it would be.

The following are in no particular order.

1. Jeld Wen, Lowestoft

I had wanted to see this place for years, but the distance from home and the ever-present security who were determined to spoil everyone's fun always put me off as it seemed like a pointless venture. Then at the start of the year or late last year security just buggered off never to be seen again and it was game on and I'm glad I got to it before it was too ruined by the local morons. Explored as part of a weekend in the area which was filled with excellent things.

Report - - Jeld Wen, Lowestoft April 2023 | Industrial Sites

For years I have wanted to see this place. It would pop back into my consciousness occasionally, I saw it from the outside on a trip to East Anglia about five or so years ago, but it was always so far away and with the security presence front and centre by the most attractive part, it was never...

www.28dayslater.co.uk

2. Gray Cancer Institute, Northwood
Another place I had had 'on my radar' for a while. I first scouted it out in the summer of 2022 but it was well sealed, then had a visit right at the start of this year when I only managed to get into the modern extension, finding the aerial walkway into the rest of the building bricked up. Third time was the charm and I got in with no issues back in the summer, before the inevitable bus loads of daytrippers arrived and it was sealed.

Report - - Gray Cancer Institute / Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood - May 2023 | Asylums and Hospitals

The Gray Cancer Institute was founded by Louis Harold Gray at Mount Vernon Hospital in Northwood, north-west London, in 1953. Gray was a physicist who worked primarily on the effects of radiation on biological systems, and the Gray Cancer Institute was the world's first centre dedicated to...

www.28dayslater.co.uk

3. Abandoned Church, USA
Back in the summer I went on what was originally intended to be a non-exploring focused trip to my favourite place in the world, however I still managed two days of exploring a bunch of stuff including a few on my own, and I met up with a very good friend of mine over there for a trip around the wilds of New Jersey at the end which was awesome. This church is up there in my favourite churches I've ever visited, it looks so unassuming from the outside but internally the decay is perfect and there is so much left to see.

Report - - English Church, USA July 2023 | European and International Sites

Quality over quantity was the outcome of this trip, and this was undoubtedly my exploring highlight. At the time, I went as far as to say it's the best church I have ever explored, anywhere, and I stand by that statement. You'd never know this beauty was inside from the unassuming grey exterior...

www.28dayslater.co.uk

4. Aegidium Cinema, Brussels

I honestly don't know where to start with this place. Ever since the building was sold to a community preservation group they have offered on extremely rare occasions tours of the inside, and it just so happened myself and a group of friends all happened to be free - and were planning domestic explores - on the same day a tour was being offered. So the domestic explores were quickly sacked off, spaces were reserved, ferry tickets bought and a very hastily arranged plan cobbled together. It's the second longest amount of time I have ever stayed awake for (up at 4.30am for work on the Friday, home at just after midnight Sunday morning, no sleep) and I think over the course of Friday night and through Saturday we all gradually lost our minds. But it was awesome and I absolutely need to do an explore trip to the continent again.

Report (Permission Visit) - Aegidium Cinema, Belgium August 2023 | European and International Sites

The Diamont Palace opened in 1905 in the Sint-Gillis district of Brussels. It was first a ‘Salle de Spectacle’ and the auditorium was located one floor up, at first floor level. The foyer and stairs have the feel of entering a grand house, with marble, mirrors and chandeliers all still intact...

www.28dayslater.co.uk

5. Herdman's Flax Mill, Northern Ireland
I managed to finally complete explorations in all of the UK's separate countries this year, with a very long-planned trip to Northern Ireland in September. One day was fantastic, one day was a real slog full of failures, but that's how it goes, the bonus was eating one of the most incredible Chinese takeaway meals I've ever had and simply spending time with good friends. Herdman's Flax Mill is the second massive mill complex in the country after Barbour Threads, and has a lot more to see, the rare surviving complete hydroelectric turbines and associated machinery being the highlight.

Report - - Herdman's Flax Mill, Sion Mills, Northern Ireland September 2023 | Industrial Sites

Last of my posts from an all too brief trip to Northern Ireland a couple of weeks ago. At least now I can say I have explored in literally all corners of the UK! This was the main big location I had always wanted to see in Northern Ireland, thanks mostly to it's pretty incredible complete set...

www.28dayslater.co.uk

I've already got some interesting plans being worked on for 2024 so hopefully it'll be another excellent year. It's also my 15th exploring anniversary in June which is something to mark, somehow.

 

[dansgas1000]

It was a shaky start of the year for me mentally but this has now improved and exploring has been consistently good this year, it's been successful for the most part. I had to wait to post this as one of these on the list I visited a matter of days ago. This is also the year that I found my interest in derelict pumping stations following mine and @JakeV50's visit to Southery Pumping Station and I have found a lot of stuff myself this year which feels rewarding.

Top 5:

5. Milton Green Highways Depot, Cheshire

I liked the look of the decay in the corridors and offices when I saw this place on here, it turned out to be even better than expected and on the whole, I think it's an underrated location.

Report - - Milton Green Highways Depot, Cheshire - June 2023 | Industrial Sites

Introduction This is a place I have seen pop up a couple of times on here. I really liked the green decaying rooms so I wanted to take a look for myself. This was one of the first stop-off points for mine at @jakev50’s trip last month up Manchester and Liverpool way. Surprisingly, it turned out...

www.28dayslater.co.uk

4. Delphi Diesel Systems/Lucas CAV, Suffolk

I had this place pinned for a while and @Wastelandr suggested going one weekend as he saw it on a report that I hadn't seen. It was such a huge place and although fairly stripped I still really liked it here. This was also my first time meeting Wastelandr so was great to catch up with him.

Report - - Delphi Diesel Systems/Lucas CAV, Sudbury, Suffolk - August 2023 | Industrial Sites

Introduction Me and @Wastelandr were keen to meet up for the first time as we have spoken quite a bit and we are both not a million miles away from each other, Wastelandr suggested taking a look at this factory which has been posted previously on here by Speed, he mentioned a factory in Sudbury...

www.28dayslater.co.uk

3. Fletcher's Paper Mill, Greenfield

I have wanted to do this place since I started exploring back in 2017. I remember Mikey mentioning it to me yonks ago but I never did it due to how far away it is and back then it was much harder to get in. As the situation has changed here slightly I decided to finally give it a go and it was certainly worth the wait. The boiler house was a highlight for me, pictured below (report coming soon).

2. Southery Pumping Station

To be honest this should be joint first. Jake mentioned that we should give this a look one day back in April, he found it as a listing on an old heritage website. I barely even knew what a Pumping Station was back then and I assumed it was going to be an empty windmill or something. We walked around half an hour alongside the river to the building and we were gobsmacked when we looked in the window, it was the best moment of 2023 for me despite being a small place. I have since visited again for a second time.

Report - - Southery Pumping Station, Norfolk - July 2023 | Industrial Sites

Introduction This is one of the first pumping stations me and @JakeV50 checked out on our various trips up to Fenland to discover these little industrial gems. This was one of Jake’s finds from a local heritage website and I’ve been looking forward to posting my take on the place. Information &...

www.28dayslater.co.uk

1. RAE Bedford

I had a day off work and decided to check out the 3x3 building as it was pretty easy to access at the time. I spent around three hours in there. I don't often visit buildings of that scale by myself but I thought I would give it a go. A week or two later, we caught wind of the 8x8 being easy too so me @Mikeymutt🐶 and @JakeV50 traveled there to take a look. The far control room in the 8x8 is one of the nicest things I have ever seen and the place was even better than expected. This is another site I have wanted to visit for years so I was so pleased to finally tick it off. Report coming soon.

Honorable Mentions:

Pilkington Headquarters Canteen, St Helen's
I liked this place mainly due to the modernist and minimalist interior, it was very photogenic and was one me and Jake visited on our trip up to Manchester. It didn't make the Top 5 as it was a little more stripped than I thought it would be with piles of rubble scattered inside the building.

Report - - Pilkington Headquarters Canteen, St. Helens - May 2023 | Leisure Sites

Introduction Another from mine and Jake’s Merseyside trip. I love the modernist and minimalist interior of this site so I was excited to visit. We also did Pilkington’s old sandwash plant, my recent report of this can be found here if of interest. Company History & Information This is one of...

www.28dayslater.co.uk

Purl's Bridge Pumping Station, Cambridgeshire
Another brilliant station we found in Fenland, we had no idea what to expect but were presented with a lovely Ruston diesel engine inside. It would've probably been in my Top 5 if it wasn't for the difficulty of photographing with the lighting, not to mention all of the cobwebs. It was also an absolute sauna inside being a muggy summer's day and the building being almost entirely constructed of wood.

Report - - Purl's Bridge Pumping Station, Cambridgeshire - June 2023 | Industrial Sites

Introduction You know the drill, me and @JakeV50 set off to try and cover some more of the old pump houses around Fenland. This day was a bit of a failure as we visited quite a lot of empty/inaccessible ones, but this one was definitely a highlight. In fact, this was my favourite find so far...

www.28dayslater.co.uk

Banham Shop, Norfolk
This is a site pretty local to me that again I have known of for years. I can't believe I didn't get around to doing it until this year. It was so much better than I expected and was still in reasonable condition. I haven't reported on this one as it comes very close to the 'residential' side of things.

There are plenty more I could include in the Honorable Mentions section but those are the main ones I could think of. Looking forward to visiting more places and contributing as we move into 2024, and thanks to the admin & mod team for working hard to ensure the site remains the best place for urban exploration content.

 

[GRONK]

5. Milton Green Highways Depot, Cheshire

It is lovely in that entrance hall with the greenery all over the walls, quite a contrast to the rest of the building which is bone dry