nush
Member
Urban Exploring, often referred to as Urbex or UE is a hobby where you explore various man made buildings and sites, both abandoned and derelict or "Active" sites where you get in to areas not open to the public in order to document what can be seen there with photos or video to share with various other Urbexers. Ground rules are 1)No breaking or entering to gain access, if a door is locked don't break it down. If there's a gap in the fence then it's fair game. 2) Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints. No looting, graffiti, no smashing things up even if things are already smashed by someone else. Trespass laws vary by region and location, so take care and read up. But honestly, quite often if you're caught and not making trouble just telling the security that your a photographer (As you'll have a camera with you anyway) will just get you escorted off the site and a warning not to come back. Security is a low paid job, they don't want to do any more work then they have to and they only really care about squatters setting up, drug addicts or scrap metal merchants stripping places.
Safety
You should go prepared and do whatever research you can before visiting a site. It's best to make visits with an exploring partner who can help out if one of you gets in trouble, I'm experienced enough to do solo visits but DON'T if you are just learning. Basic safety equipment is a must, Fully charged phone, with an additional Powerbank if you're using that same phone for photos/video. Protective gloves, Strong footwear (Even then I've had broken glass or nails get jammed in the soles of my shoes), facemask (Abandoned places can be dusty or have Asbestos). Head mounted LED torch.
Where to go for Urban exploring?
There are two basic classifications of sites, active and abandoned. But you can also go up to rooftops, clocktowers or down to large drainage systems, mines or bomb shelters for urbex, these can also be active or abandoned.
Examples of Abandoned sites
This literally could be anything, from homes large and small, office buildings, malls, factories, theme parks, hotels to nightclubs. The site is no longer in use, waiting for renovation or demolition. You see them and just know they have been empty for a long time and are in a state of disrepair.
Examples of Active sites
This is any site that is still in use, possibly with active security and staff there. You'll encounter this with rooftopping (Getting on the top floor of high buildings), construction sites, Sports stadiums when there are no events being played, staff areas of commercial buildings like hotels and malls. High risk NOT recommended.
A sample of some of my explores
Mojave Desert Diner
Abandoned Theme Park
Abandoned Premium Lounge Hong Kong Airport
Abandoned Nightclub
Office building I used to work in (Active Renovation)
Rooftopping
Sports Stadium (Active)
Creepy as fuck building full of weird stuff
And many many more.
Resources
killerurbex.com
weburbanist.com
Recommended Youtube Channels
Broken Window Theory
The Proper People
This Is Dan Bell
I've been urban exploring since I was a kid, back then it was just "Going into empty buildings and messing around", once the internet became a thing I discovered there were adults that still liked to do this. Just take a camera and you're now an Urban Explorer! Which years too late I learned that I'd found the British Royal train in an engine shed (Wolverton Works Milton Keynes UK) and didn't know what it was, "Some murder on the Orient Express train" I called it. Had I known I would have 100% taken a shit on the queens toilet! The doors were old style metal handles with no locks as well. Digital cameras were not a thing then anyway.
Any other Urban explorers here on GAF or would you like to see and hear more?
Safety
You should go prepared and do whatever research you can before visiting a site. It's best to make visits with an exploring partner who can help out if one of you gets in trouble, I'm experienced enough to do solo visits but DON'T if you are just learning. Basic safety equipment is a must, Fully charged phone, with an additional Powerbank if you're using that same phone for photos/video. Protective gloves, Strong footwear (Even then I've had broken glass or nails get jammed in the soles of my shoes), facemask (Abandoned places can be dusty or have Asbestos). Head mounted LED torch.
Where to go for Urban exploring?
There are two basic classifications of sites, active and abandoned. But you can also go up to rooftops, clocktowers or down to large drainage systems, mines or bomb shelters for urbex, these can also be active or abandoned.
Examples of Abandoned sites
This literally could be anything, from homes large and small, office buildings, malls, factories, theme parks, hotels to nightclubs. The site is no longer in use, waiting for renovation or demolition. You see them and just know they have been empty for a long time and are in a state of disrepair.
Examples of Active sites
This is any site that is still in use, possibly with active security and staff there. You'll encounter this with rooftopping (Getting on the top floor of high buildings), construction sites, Sports stadiums when there are no events being played, staff areas of commercial buildings like hotels and malls. High risk NOT recommended.
A sample of some of my explores
Mojave Desert Diner
Abandoned Theme Park
Abandoned Premium Lounge Hong Kong Airport
Abandoned Nightclub
Office building I used to work in (Active Renovation)
Rooftopping
Sports Stadium (Active)
Creepy as fuck building full of weird stuff
And many many more.
Resources
Killer Urbex: Urban Exploration Locations and Resources 2024
Find abandoned places in all 50 states, learn tips and tricks for urban exploration, and discover the wonders of urbex with John Bourscheid's Killer Urbex.
killerurbex.com
30 Websites & Online Forums for Adverturous Urban Explorers
Ever wonder what is inside that dark tunnel or deserted structure you pass on your way to work every day?
weburbanist.com
Recommended Youtube Channels
Broken Window Theory
The Proper People
This Is Dan Bell
I've been urban exploring since I was a kid, back then it was just "Going into empty buildings and messing around", once the internet became a thing I discovered there were adults that still liked to do this. Just take a camera and you're now an Urban Explorer! Which years too late I learned that I'd found the British Royal train in an engine shed (Wolverton Works Milton Keynes UK) and didn't know what it was, "Some murder on the Orient Express train" I called it. Had I known I would have 100% taken a shit on the queens toilet! The doors were old style metal handles with no locks as well. Digital cameras were not a thing then anyway.
Any other Urban explorers here on GAF or would you like to see and hear more?
!
