Chat to charismatic former-miners

As they tell the tales of their mining careers and the men, women, children, animals and equipment that worked the coal mines for centuries before them. Hear how mining lingo, hardships and dangers shape how we live our lives today.

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Explore 6 galleries and buildings

Find out about the story of coal and how it changed our nation forever. Unearth the stories of life as a coal miner at work and home. See how mining tools and machinery evolved over 200 years.

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Explore the great outdoors

Meet our horse and ponies, let off steam in the adventure playground then wander through acres of woods, with a stream and cascade fed from expansive reed beds and incredible water treatment ponds.

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Book your visit

All visitors to the museum will need to pre-book a slot for you and those in your bubble your visiting with. There is a £2.10 booking charge and they are spaced in 10 minute slots.

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What's on

Gala Day!

Brass bands, union banners and beers. Family, friends, the fun of the fair… and the worse for wear. Come and experience the sights and sounds of Gala Day in our brand-new temporary exhibition.

Summer @ Pit: The Grand Day Out

Grab your bucket and spade and head to the National Coal Mining Museum, where we’ll be giving you a taste of how miners spent their summer holidays with changing weekly themes! Get digging at the beach, discover the history of Gala Day, get hands-on with our pop-up crafts and even challenge yourself to do one of our trails.

Shine a Light

Peer into the lives of mining communities through the memories of Wakefield artist Seanna Doonan. Drawn from her own experiences growing up hearing folk songs about miners and the miners’ strike, she captures the people, voices and stories of miners in pen and ink.

Meet us at the coalface…

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