Summer Holidays
A ‘sun’sational summer awaits! From golden sands to daily activities and games – we’re bringing all the fun of the seaside to the Museum. Join us for a fun-filled programme of activities and events throughout the summer holidays, perfect for low-cost family fun all summer long!
From Saturday 19 July – Sunday 31 August, there will be a £7.50 charge per car (payable via cash or card) for our Summer offer which includes The Beach, car parking, and rides on our much-loved Paddy Train. If the train is not running, the £7.50 charge per car will still apply. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Please note: The Museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
What’s On this Summer:
Makers’ Shed
Wed-Sun, 11.30am-4pm
Free, drop-in at Pony Discovery Centre
Celebrate a summer of art and sculpture, and get creative with free crafts.
Stories of Pit Lasses
Wed-Sun, 11.30am-3.30pm
Free, drop-in at Parkinson’s Yard or Victorian Gallery
Listen to family-friendly stories of strong women from mining communities – from coal queens to pit brow lasses.
Underground Tours
Wed-Sun, 10am-3.20pm
£7.50 per person, pre-booking advised
Descend 140m underground and discover 180 years of history with a captivating former miner.
Time Tunnel
Wed-Sun
£5.50 per child, £6.50 per adult, pre-booking advised
Be transported through the centuries as you are taken through almost 200 years of mining history thanks to state-of-the-art technology. Led by a former miner you will travel through time and discover the incredible stories of coal mining through the centuries.
Minecraft Escape Room In A Box
Sat 19 July, Sat 9 August and Sat 23 August: 11.30am & 2pm
£15 per family, pre-bookable
Join us for a Minecraft themed escape room challenge. Solve riddles, crack codes and problem-solve your way to victory.
Summer Scavenger Hunt
Wed 23, Fri 25 July, Wed 6, Fri 8, Wed 20 and Fri 22 August: Rainbow Theme
Wed 30 July, Fri 1, Wed 13, Fri 15, Wed 27 and Fri 29 August: Mini Beast Theme
10.15am-11.15am, £2.50 per child, pre-bookable
Join us in Pit Wood to discover nature’s rainbow or the mini-beasts that call the Museum home.
Inspiring Animation
Fri 25 and Sat 26 July: 1.30pm-3pm
£7 per family pair, pre-bookable
Join artists Lenny and Whale to explore animation techniques. Design characters using paper-based drawing and collage approaches. Be inspired by the Museum’s collections and bring works of art to life using animation apps.
Lego Robotics (8–14-year-olds)
Sat 26 & Sun 27 July: 11am-12.30pm & 2pm-3.30pm
£7 per child, pre-bookable
Step into the shoes of an engineer from the past. Design, build, and program a robot coal cart and test how much ‘coal’ it can pull, using the power of modern technology!
Caphouse Creators Summer Holiday Special (7–12-year-olds)
Alternating weeks from 6 July – 28 Aug
£7 per child, pre-bookable
The Hub
Craft colourful pom-pom garlands, sculpt a pit cat, assemble your own movable wooden lizard, and sculpt a canary-shaped water whistle.
STEAM Club Summer Holiday Special (11–16-year-olds)
Alternating weeks from 23 July – 14 Aug
£7 per child, pre-bookable
The Hub
Create chocolate rocks, build a mighty machine, and make incredible art!
Yorkshire Day!
Fri 1 August, Sat 2 & Sun 3 August
Free (£7.50 per car applies)
Join us for a grand gala family fun extravaganza in t’ proper Yorkshire way, inspired by the vibrant Miners’ welfare galas of years past! See what’s on for Yorkshire Day.
Engineering Explorers
Fri 8, Fri 15, Fri 22 and Fri 29 August: 11am–12pm
£5 per child, pre-bookable
Looking for a fun and engaging activity for the whole family to enjoy? Then come and take part in a range of problem-solving challenges that spark curiosity and creativity!
Greta’s Glorious Garden
Sat 9 & 30 August: 11.30am, 12.30pm, 2.30pm & 3.30pm
Free, drop-in, Learning Room 2
Enjoy an interactive puppet show and join Greta in her magical garden as she gets ready for the glorious garden competition
Magical Music Workshops with Kidology Arts (5-12 years)
Saturday 16 August – The Whistling Mountains
Saturday 23 August – La Jota
11am-12.30pm & 2pm-3.30pm, £7 per child, pre-bookable
Join us as we celebrate our new exhibition, Aria of the Canaries, with magical music workshops led by musician and composer Amanda Johnson.
Tours:
Pithead Baths Explore
Wed-Sun, 12pm, Free
Meet at Pithead Baths
Discover the daily routines of miners, from the start to the end of their day, in this fun family tour!
