Where can you buy geodes?

Want to get your hands on a geode? Learn where to buy geodes in the UK – and have a go at cracking your own!



Geodes are a wonder of the prehistoric world. But unlike many geological wonders, they don't wear their beauty on their sleeve.

To the untrained eye, a geode is just, well, a rock. Crack it open, however, and you'll see a sparkling cavity lined with quartz, amethyst or calcite in a beguiling range of colours.

Geodes are formed over thousands – even millions – of years as decayed matter gets trapped in cooling volcanic rock.

That means every time you crack open a geode, you're seeing its prehistoric interior for the first time – ever.

Stump Cross Caverns is a bit like a geode, too. Here in the green heart of the Yorkshire Dales, our limestone caves were formed over hundreds of thousands of years.

Drive along our neighbouring B-road, however, and you might not suspect there was anything special just 65 steps underground.

Join us in our subterranean wonderland, and you'll be face to face with glistening stalagmites, stalactites and other stunning rock formations.

Here at Stump Cross Caverns, we're potty about prehistory. That's why we opened Geode James's Geode Shack – a place where you can find geodes for sale and have one cracked open in front of your very eyes.

We're biased, but we reckon it's the best place to buy a geode in the UK.

There are other options, of course. Let's explore a few.

Where can you buy geodes in the UK?

There are several places you can buy geodes in the UK. Which you choose will largely depend on the types and number of geodes you're after.

Crystal shops

If you're looking for a decorative geode, your best bet is to visit a crystal shop, whether online or on the high street.

Sometimes, these shops are dedicated to crystals, gems, minerals and geodes. Often, however, they're combined with other items. Spiritual or metaphysical stores are a good place to start.

Specialist rock dealers

If you want to know more about a geode, you can go to a specialist rock dealer. They may have information on the value of the stone and where it came from – things that crystal shops won't necessarily offer.

Online wholesalers

Want to buy in bulk? Online wholesalers and mineral specialists should be your first port of call.

The main benefit of these geode wholesalers is that they can supply you with a wider variety than specialist stores.

Rock and mineral shows

There's a surprising number of annual rock and mineral shows across the UK. These typically include exhibits of fossils, minerals and crystals from the region and beyond.

Here in Yorkshire, there's the Yorkshire Mineral and Fossil Fair in Hawes and – just up the road from us – the Harrogate Rock, Gem and Bead Show.

Museum gift shops

Museums with prehistoric or geological exhibits will often sell geodes in their gift shops. Notable geology museums in the UK include London's Natural History Museum, Birmingham's Lapworth Museum of Geology and Scarborough's Rotunda Museum.

Online marketplaces

There's a booming online trade in geodes, with second-hand dealers selling them on eBay, Etsy and other eCommerce sites.

These are great for variety and convenience. You can browse, compare and purchase a huge range of geodes from the comfort of your own home. Just make sure you check the dimensions before you buy.

Antique shops

Finally, there's the world of antiques and curios. These kinds of shops and markets are perhaps the closest you can get to finding a geode in the wild without heading out with your hammer and chisel.

Antique and curio shops are fun places to rummage, and you can find remarkable specimens. But if you want something quickly or want a reliably comprehensive inventory, you'll probably want to look elsewhere.



About Geode James's Geode Shack

All these places have their advantages. None of them, however, offer an interactive, family-friendly customer experience. Enter Geode James's Geode Shack right here at Stump Cross Caverns.

The premise of our geode shack is simple. Come along, buy a real, unopened geode and have it cracked open before your eyes.

The moment of wonder when an ancient, ordinary-looking rock is cracked open to reveal crystals is a joy for us to behold. And it can be a joy for you and your family to experience.

Once the geode is cracked, you get to take it home as a souvenir. It adds layers of interactivity and excitement to a traditional buying experience.

Visitors choose from small, medium or large unbroken natural geodes. Staff safely crack open the rock in front of you. That means you're the first person in history to see the glittery treasures inside.

Interested? You can book your trip to the geode shack online or buy your geode on the day. And while you're there, you can embark on a self-guided tour of our mysteriously beautiful prehistoric limestone caves. It's a day out you won't forget in a hurry.

How can you spot a geode?

The simple answer is that you can't. From the outside, a geode looks like any old rock – just as an archaeological site is often just a patch of grass until the spades go in. And for geode hunters worldwide, that's exactly the fun of it.

Nevertheless, there are some telltale signs – or hints – that a rock might be a geode.

First, look out for rocks that are unusually round or oval or feel lighter than they look. Some have a rough or lumpy exterior. And in some cases, loose crystals rattle inside when the rock is shaken.

The only way to know for sure, however, is to crack it open and take a look.



Want to be the first person in history to see an unopened geode cracked? Choose your geode online today and visit Geode James's Geode Shack here in the Yorkshire Dales.