The pick and the lamp have long been proud symbols of coal mining but they also represent what we, as a museum, stand for. We go deep into the heart of what coal mining means to us and this nation. We scratch beneath the surface, we pick at the life beneath, we unearth the history and the pride. We spark coal to life.
We raise a lamp to the stories, the culture, the values. We illuminate the past and we light the future of our connection with coal, mining and its rich heritage. We will pass them on. We are the gateway to our nation's relationship with the earth, with the lumps of black rock that glow, heat, power.
We raise a lamp to the stories, the culture, the values. We illuminate the past and we light the future of our connection with coal, mining and its rich heritage. We will pass them on. We are the gateway to our nation's relationship with the earth, with the lumps of black rock that glow, heat, power.
Services
Journey 140m underground and discover 180 years of mining history. Find out about the people and communities at the heart of the industry and uncover how the miners lived at work and play. We will be regularly monitoring our capacity on site and may temporarily close the site at short notice to ensure the enjoyment and safety of our visitors.
Journey 140m underground and discover 180 years of history with one of our charismatic former miners. Every tour 'darn pit' is led by an ex-miner with a 'reyt' broad accent and loads of experience under his somewhat heavy tool belt.
He'll unhand you of your 'contraband', and talk you through 180 years of mining, explaining why he has every right to tell you to 'shut tha' trap' and when you are 'done and dusted' you will be free to explore life above ground.Get kitted out with your hard hat and battery lamp then step into the 'cage' to descend 140m underground to discover the harsh realities of coal mining through the centuries.
He'll unhand you of your 'contraband', and talk you through 180 years of mining, explaining why he has every right to tell you to 'shut tha' trap' and when you are 'done and dusted' you will be free to explore life above ground.Get kitted out with your hard hat and battery lamp then step into the 'cage' to descend 140m underground to discover the harsh realities of coal mining through the centuries.
On term-time weekdays, you can pre-book the 11am and 2:30pm timeslots - the rest are available for arrivals on the day. On weekends and school holidays, half of our tours are reserved for arrivals on the day. Please note that during school holidays we advise you to arrive early (we open at 10am) to book your places, as the underground tours are often all fully booked up by midday.
Here you can dig deeper into each area of the Museum: discover the history of our colliery buildings; see and hear from the people who worked underground; download fun activities that you can enjoy from home; and much more! This site was a modern colliery until it closed after more than two hundred years of coal production.
Take a 'pit stop' to refuel at the Museum caf with homemade sandwiches, hot and cold drinks and tasty snacks. Overlooking the valley to Thornhill and Dewsbury, the Museum caf is an excellent place to take time out from discovering all that the Museum has to offer. As far as possible the caf follows a policy of using regionally produced goods and suppliers or products that have been fairly traded.
Reviews (16)
Christina Bean
Jan 21, 2022
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Scott Taylor
Jan 06, 2022
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Rob Fraser
Dec 29, 2021
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Paul Cook
Nov 25, 2021
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Excellent museum.
Plenty of varied indoor displays of artifacts,or former actual workings.There is is a large site with many outdoor exhibits,often previously active pit machinery and support equipment,mostly carefully restored.There is the underground tour for the real feel for how life underground as a miner would have been.
There is also a nature walk,pit ponies and a great cafe.
A really fantastic place for all and especially children.
Best wishes from Paul.
Plenty of varied indoor displays of artifacts,or former actual workings.There is is a large site with many outdoor exhibits,often previously active pit machinery and support equipment,mostly carefully restored.There is the underground tour for the real feel for how life underground as a miner would have been.
There is also a nature walk,pit ponies and a great cafe.
A really fantastic place for all and especially children.
Best wishes from Paul.
Rob Newton
Nov 25, 2021
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A wonderful place for a day out. A guided tour around the old workings deep underground with very knowledgeable and light hearted ex-miner guides to tell you about how it used to be.
And lots to see and do above ground too:- Adventure playground for kids.
Pit ponies in their stables.
Beautiful nature walks
A lovely cafe.
And lots more besides!
And lots to see and do above ground too:- Adventure playground for kids.
Pit ponies in their stables.
Beautiful nature walks
A lovely cafe.
And lots more besides!
Andrew Bulmer
Oct 25, 2021
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What a fantastic place to visit.
I'm a single dad & took the kids for half a day and needed a full day to get around it all.
It's all free what an excellent experience.
Paid for the underground tour and the tour guide nicknamed big bird took us around. The kids loved him and his rendition of we will rock you as we were going Down the lift shaft.
To be honest all the staff was fantastic from the reception to the cafe staff.
Well done. Will definitely visit again. 💯
I'm a single dad & took the kids for half a day and needed a full day to get around it all.
It's all free what an excellent experience.
Paid for the underground tour and the tour guide nicknamed big bird took us around. The kids loved him and his rendition of we will rock you as we were going Down the lift shaft.
To be honest all the staff was fantastic from the reception to the cafe staff.
Well done. Will definitely visit again. 💯
Meg Towler
Oct 24, 2021
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Not visited since before Covid, we only live around the corner so been meaning to come back for a while. Wow this museum is even better than it was a few years ago and it was good then!! The staff are so incredibly friendly, it’s great for all ages, theirs plenty of parking. It’s by far the best museum in all of Yorkshire - amazing day out.
Paul Wrake
Sep 30, 2021
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Andy R.
Mar 25, 2017
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Martin S.
Apr 18, 2015
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This is a good museum telling an important story that needs to be told about one of our most important industries. The highlight is without doubt the underground tour, taking about an hour and a half, led by an ex-miner as tour guide. You get to see where miners once worked and the equipment that they used and there are examples to be seen of the techniques used in different periods of history. Visitors squeeze into a cage for the descent and it is mostly pretty authentic, not polished and cleaned for the modern visitor. At ground level there are quite a few different exhibitions in different buildings
Qype User Peterj
Jan 29, 2011
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Jennifer L.
Jul 16, 2010
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While we were visiting a couple of friends in Yorkshire, this was one of the highlights of our visit!
I have a not entirely normal love of rocks, but I'm not a huge fan of heavy machinery, and I really enjoyed the museum. The underground tour is a must, with the colorful guide (typically a former miner) regaling us with the interesting stories and background of the workings of this mine. (Yes, as an American, it was nearly impossible to comprehend anything through the accent! :-) ) Be sure to wear flat, closed toe shoes and bring a light jumper, as it's dark and somewhat cold deep in
I have a not entirely normal love of rocks, but I'm not a huge fan of heavy machinery, and I really enjoyed the museum. The underground tour is a must, with the colorful guide (typically a former miner) regaling us with the interesting stories and background of the workings of this mine. (Yes, as an American, it was nearly impossible to comprehend anything through the accent! :-) ) Be sure to wear flat, closed toe shoes and bring a light jumper, as it's dark and somewhat cold deep in
Qype User Mimin
Jan 17, 2009
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The NCM Museum was absorbing to visit - but my abiding memory is of losing a lens out of my spectacles down a lift shaft! I'm not going to be seeing that lens again in a hurry! Well, it was my own fault - that'll teach me to check my lenses are properly screwed in before visiting a deep dark coal mine again! (I don't think I'm actually going to be visiting a deep dark coal mine any time soon, but, you know, be prepared)
I liked the social history about the miners' lives best - it's always sobering to hear accounts of how people lived what is really just a short
I liked the social history about the miners' lives best - it's always sobering to hear accounts of how people lived what is really just a short
Qype User Lyndse
Nov 19, 2008
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This is a great museum. As the previous reviewer says, it was a working mine, and the tour guides are all ex miners, so they really know what they are talking about and are very happy to answer your questions! It's all completely safe and a real insight into what was a huge industry. There is also loads to do above ground, with pit ponies to visit, an exhibition area and a very reasonable cafe. On certain days, they also have staff doing role plays in the exhibition ares which is great for kids. This is a unique museum and I recommend it.
Qype User Manche
Nov 19, 2008
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Any place that can provide enough to keep our two kids (aged 5 and 3) occupied for 6 hours has to be good. In the morning I took the 5-year-old down the mine (an excellent tour, although he wanted to go back up to the surface by the end), whilst my wife explored the under-5s play area with the 3-year-old (they both enjoyed it!). In the afternoon there was a train ride, a walk, several interactive exhibitions to explore and -- best of all -- a free rubber when we completed a challenge in one of the Halls. Top marks to the staff, who were consistently friendly and knowledgeable; and top marks to
Qype User Dileri
Nov 09, 2008
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This used to be a working mine. They now have a museum showing how mines used to be run along with social history sections dealing with things like children in mines and the miners strike in the 80's. During the summer they often run a little train car between the 2 main areas. During holidays they run craft workshops and talks by actors dressed in costume. There is also a short nature walk round the site (short enough for 2 small children to enjoy) though it does go up and down quite a bit.
Highlight of any visit would be the underground tour. This needs to booked at reception and spaces
Highlight of any visit would be the underground tour. This needs to booked at reception and spaces
