A guide to urban exploring

Urban exploration, urbex or UE, is the examination of the normally unseen or off-limits parts of human civilisation. Abandoned industry, hospitals and even military bases.
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A growing amount of adventurers have been visiting abandoned mines, orphanages and factories lately. Websites about urbex are popping up everywhere and even news articles have been written about this subject.

I was recently introduced to the subject and I visited a few locations as well. It was such a great experience, I just had to write about it.
In this little article there will be an explanation on how to start urban exploring and some deviants/explorers will be featured. Let me tell you this though, you will never know how great it really is if you don't try it yourself


So you might be asking; How do I start Urban exploring? Here's a list on the steps to take.

1. Finding a Location: This part is fun but not easy. Regardless of the country you live in, there always are empty abandoned buildings around. Finding them is not easy but there are a lot of tools for this. The most important one is Google (remember, Google is your best friend) there are also forums about the topic like. Urbex Forum
   Google earth will help as well


2. Gear up! Step 2 is all about urbex equipment. Some things you can never forget: Flashlight, old clothes, strong shoes(nobody likes rusty nails in their feet), water and a charged cell phone.


3. This step is all about safety, the locations you will be visiting can be very dangerous. This is why you should never go alone, find someone who wants to go with you. Also you should ALWAYS let someone know where you are going, just in case you get in trouble.


4. This step can be hard sometimes. Sometimes locations can be closed by wooden boards and doors can be locked. Never destroy something to get in! Try to find a way in without spoiling the location for future visitors like you.


5. The last step, and probably the most important. Do not get caught! A lot of places that are great for urbex are not open to the public. You will face a lot of "Don't enter" and "Forbidden" signs. I do not encourage entering these area's, but if you do make sure that you are silent and scout the area for guards before you enter.

If you follow the list above you can have a great adventure. It is awesome the see how nature takes back its ground and its great knowing that you are visiting a place that almost no one ever visits.
Also if you decide to do some exploring of yourself there is a rule amongst urban explorers that you should follow;
take nothing but photographs and leave nothing behind but footsteps
So if you remember this rule and if you tell friends where you are going you will have a great day ahead of you

Featured Urbex photos

And now my children, go on and explore!