National Coal Mining Museum for England

Following the government’s announcement that all museums must close from 5 November 2020, the National Coal Mining Museum will now be closed pending further updates.

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The National Coal Mining Museum for England is now open to pre-booked visitors. Please check the website for details.
Please wear face masks or coverings in all the indoor parts of the museum, for your safety and the safety of other visitors and staff.


• Explore Caphouse, a modern colliery which witnessed more than two hundred years of coal production.
• Hear stories directly from former-miners about their careers and understand the roles men, women, children, animals and machinery played in the operation of the mine.
• Visit the Technology Gallery and see some of the tools of the trade to discover how miners overcame the challenges of working underground including a new permanent exhibition “A Light in the Darkness” which looks at the contribution that Sir Humphry Davy and others made in the lamp’s evolution.
• In the Victorian Gallery you can understand how difficult mining was in the 19th century and why they realised it wasn’t appropriate to have children working underground.
• See our historic steam-winding engine which pulled miners and coal from 140m underground before taking a trip to the stables to meet our horse and ponies.
• Find out where miners would start and end their days and how they would get paid in the Pithead Baths.
• In Mining Lives you can find out about the people and communities at the heart of the industry. Our new special exhibition “Drawn from the Pits”, exploring how working in the mine influenced the work of a group of eminent mining artists.
• Let off steam in the adventure playground
• Wander through acres of woods, with a stream and cascade fed from expansive reed beds and incredible water treatment ponds.
• Visitors are encouraged to return at a later date to experience the Underground Tours, Soft Play Area, Hope Pit and the Library.
• Pre-booking is essential. Booking fee of £2.10 per party of up to 6 people.