What is urban exploring

Urban exploring, abbreviated urbex or UE, is visiting, photographing and documenting man-made infrastructure, usually abandoned buildings or locations that are not publicly accessible. The term was coined around 1990 by Canadian explorer Jeff Chapman, also known as Ninjalicious.

The term urban exploring is English and literally means exploring urban (=urban) cities or buildings, but it can just as well take place in the countryside.

Urban exploring is practiced by urban explorers.

See the series

Offshore

Urban Art

Back on Track

They will get healthy

Stay the Night

The King’s Speech

Dealing with Abandoned & Dilapidated Buildings

Entering abandoned buildings is the most common form of urban exploring. This usually concerns abandoned old factory buildings, but often also former hospitals, schools, office buildings or asylums. Castles and churches are also very popular. Often these buildings have been badly damaged by the ravages of time and sprayed with graffiti. Abandoned buildings are mainly visited for their architecture, such as castles and churches, or for historical interest.

Buildings that are still (partly) actively used are also interesting, as far as areas that are not publicly accessible such as machine rooms, lift shafts and roofs are concerned.