1. How long have you been urban exploring?
I have been exploring for just over a year now and have loved every minute of this hobby. When I first started I was not sure if it was something I would keep doing but like anything you soon realise if its for you or not.
Within a mouth of exploring I was traveling and meeting up with people from across the UK, Crawling though tunnels under a asylum in December, socking wet and still having fun! Travelling for hours, climbing fences and hiding from security are only some parts of this adventurous hobby.
2. What made you begin?
Some friends showed me some videos of urban exploring in tunnels and underground and its something I always wanted to try. So one day joined the friends who had introduced me to Urbex to go for a photo shoot at some local locations and it all started there. It soon became clear they where not as interested as me and I wanted to make this hobby a big part of my life but I never imagined I would have travelled so much of the UK and meet so many amazing friends on the journey within my first year.
3. What is it that you look for in a destination?
I personally like Manors, Abby's, Mansions, Halls and building with big grand features inside. My biggest interest is seeing chandeliers, old plaster work and furniture.
I visit lots of other locations and I also love asylums, churches, houses and industrial sites. They’re all of equally interest to me, but the BIG grand places are at the top of my list to visit!
4. What is your favourite building or location?
I have lots of favourite locations. But I if I had to pick one it would have to be Severalls Asylum because it was the first place I properly explored, and the first time I went with people I had met through my hobby, who are now one of my closest friends though Urbex and some of my favourite photographers. Also Severalls is one of the biggest UK derelict asylums still standing. (set for demolition this year)
The corridors and atmosphere are like something from a horror movie, peeling paint and ghost like chills as your walking around for hours on end.
5. Where is the furthest you have travelled to for a destination?
I’ve travelled to wales for a weekend of camping and visiting 5-6 locations, we covered just over 1500 miles in that weekend alone. It was an interesting experience to say the least; we went through struggles reaching locations, travelling,
Urban exploring (Urbex or UE) is exploring anything generally considered “off limits” to the general public. Matthew Adams works in Digital format media. He attended Lowestoft College to study Art and Design where his journey into the world of photography began.
Matthew Adams Urbex
Photography.