Summer Holidays
Join us from Saturday 18 July until Sunday 30 August for a holiday themed summer of family fun!
Get ready for weeks of amazing entertainment with interactive family shows, hands-on craft workshops, pop-up beach with music, and classic giant holiday games, special events and performances, creative trails, horsekeeper talks plus much, much more.
Our summer offer is great value for families; just £10 per car, including amazing activities and unlimited Paddy Train rides for everyone (usually £2.50 per person) – weather permitting.
If the train is unable to run, then there will be no charge. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Some workshops and tours carry an additional charge and can be booked online in advance, please see below for what’s on.
Please note: The Museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
What’s On this Summer:
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.
Makers’ Shed
Wed-Sun, 11am-4pm
Free as part of the summer offer, drop-in at Pony Discovery Centre
Join us for free crafts inspired by the work of Jason Wilsher-Mills and miners welfare trips to the seaside from a bygone era.
Science Show
Wed-Sun, 11.30am, 12.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm
Blacksmith’s Workshop
Free as part of the summer offer
Step from light into darkness in this explosive, interactive science show packed with fascinating facts, dazzling demonstrations, and encounters with historical characters.
Paddy Train (weather dependent)
Wed-Sun, free as part of the summer offer
Explore the Museum in a whole new way and hop aboard the Paddy Train from Hope Pit to Caphouse Colliery.
Behind the Scenes of Caphouse Colliery Tour
Wed-Sun, free as part of the summer offer, pre-bookable
Discover the stories and secrets of Caphouse Colliery on a special tour with our expert Museum Guides. Let them take you on a journey above the surface and behind-the-scenes of Caphouse Colliery, including special places never normally seen by visitors.
Beach Time at the Coal Mine
Wed-Sun, 10am-5pm, Free as part of the summer offer (when the sun is shining)
Relax, play, and soak up the summer vibes at the beach. Build sandcastles, play games like Jenga and dominos or just relax in our tranquil setting. Come along, kick off your shoes, and make some special memories.
Horsekeeper Talk
Wed-Sun, free as part of the summer offer
Visit Eric, Ernie, Aladdin and Bud. Join us for our Horsekeeper talks at 12pm and see what they have to eat at 2.30pm.
From Pit to Play Trail
Wed – Sun, free as part of the summer offer
Step into the shoes of miners and discover what working life was like, both underground and above! This fun, family-friendly interactive trail will take you on a journey across the museum, where hidden rubbing plaques are waiting to be found. Bring them to life by creating your own images, then finish your adventure by building a unique 3D dice game to take home.
Minecraft Escape Room In A Box
Thu 23 July, Thu 6, Sat 8, Thu 20 Aug: 10.30am and 1pm
£15 per ticket (Up to 2 adults & 1 child) + £5 per additional child, pre-bookable
Join us for a Minecraft themed escape room challenge. Solve riddles, crack codes and problem-solve your way to victory.
Nature Crafts: Family Workshop
Wed 29–Fri 31 July & Wed 5–Fri 7 Aug: 11am–12.30pm
£10 per family, pre-bookable
Head out onto the Museum’s Nature Trail for a hands-on craft adventure, and get close to nature by making sun prints, hammer-printing organic materials onto textiles. Forage the forest floor to create beautiful clay tiles to hide in the trees.
Inspiring Animation
Wed 29-Thu 30 July,
Free, pre-bookable
Join artists Lenny and Whale to explore animation techniques. Design characters using paper-based drawing and collage approaches. Use digital drawing apps to develop your work.
Donkeys at the Beach
Fri 31 July, Sat 8 August & Fri 21 August, 11am-3pm
We’ll be welcoming some very special four-legged visitors to the Museum as part of our summer holiday fun – come along and say hello!
Yorkshire Day
Saturday 1 August, 10am-5pm, find out more
Free as part of the summer offer
Join us for a grand gala family fun extravaganza in the proper Yorkshire way, inspired by the vibrant Miners’ welfare galas of years past. Immerse yourself in the sights, sounds and experiences of real coalfield celebration.
Stay and Play: Muddy Boots
Saturday 1 August, 11am-12.15pm, pre-bookable
Join us for a fun-filled Outdoor Muddy Boots Stay and Play Session! Perfect for little ones under 5 who love to explore, learn, and get their hands (and boots!) dirty.
Engineering Explorers
Wed 12–14 Aug: 11am–12.30pm
£10 per family, pre-bookable
Do you have what it takes to become a master mining engineer? Take part in a range of problem-solving challenges that spark curiosity and creativity!
Bath Bomb Making
13 August, 11am–12.30pm
£9 per child, pre-bookable
Join Forever Fizz for a fun bath bomb making workshop where creativity meets science. Create your own vibrant fizzy treats from scratch and discover how the ingredients react to create the colour explosion in your bath.
Wind in the Willows: Outdoor Theatre Performance
Saturday 15 August, 12pm, find out more
Free as part of the summer offer
Noisy Cow Theatre Co invites you to leave the modern world behind and join Mole, Ratty, and the formidable Badger on Kenneth Grahame’s classic adventure that has captivated hearts for over a century.
The Caphouse Brick Show
Sunday 23 August,
£4 early bird / £5 on the day (no entry before 12pm), pre-bookable
Get ready to unleash your imagination and join the building fun – a fun day out for fans of all ages! See LEGO brick-built masterpieces across a wide variety of themes and enjoy hands-on fun in a building zone.
Shrinking Pin Badges: Family Workshop
Wed 19–Fri 21 & Wed 26–Fri 28 Aug: 11am and 12.30pm
£10 per family, pre-bookable
Join us for a crazy colourful workshop, inspired by the vibrant storytelling tapestries of Jason Wilsher-Mills. Create your own pin badge that tells a story using Jason’s playful emblems, then watch it magically shrink before your eyes with heat.
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!
Captured History: Photography Walk
Sat 8 August: Young Snappers, free, pre-bookable
Join a special family friendly Photography Walk – and learn some basic photography techniques.
Why’s Our Water Orange Tour
Sat 25 July & Sat 29 August, free
Discover how we pump and purify orange mine water, through our innovative water treatment system.
Steam Winder Demonstrations
Wed-Sun, Free, just turn up
See how a few puffs of steam can work with some giant machinery to move the mighty Pit Wheel.
FAQs for Summer
Is the Summer Offer £10 per car or per person?
The Summer Offer is £10 per car, regardless of the number of passengers. If the train is unable to run, then there will be no charge.
What does the £10 include?
The £10 Summer Offer gives visitors access to a fantastic range of activities and experiences, including:
- Interactive family shows
- Hands-on craft workshops
- Behind the Scenes at Caphouse tours led by a former miner
- Pithead Baths Tours
- Pop-up beach with music
- Classic giant holiday games
- Special events and performances
- Creative trails
- Horsekeeper talks
- Unlimited Paddy Train rides (usually £2.50 per person)
Do Blue Badge holders have to pay?
Yes. The £10 charge is for admission to the Summer Offer activities and experiences, not for parking, so it applies to all vehicles, including those displaying a Blue Badge.
What time do activities start?
Activities take place throughout the day, from 10am to 5pm. Visit The Hub when you arrive to find out what’s happening and when.
If I walk to the Museum and don't use the Summer Offer, do I still need to pay £10?
No. If you are walking to the Museum and do not wish to take part in any Summer Offer activities, admission is free. However, you must check in at Reception when you arrive.
I have a large car or minibus. Is the cost still £10?
Yes. The £10 charge applies to all vehicles, including large cars and minibuses.
For buses and coaches, please contact the Museum in advance for pricing and booking information.
If I drive to the Museum just to visit the café, does the £10 charge still apply?
Yes. The Summer Offer charge applies to all anyone visiting by car during the summer. There are lots of additional experiences and events to enjoy.
I'm driving to the Museum but don't plan to use the Train/ Summer Offer. Do I still need to pay?
Yes. The £10 charge still applies. In addition to family activities, the Summer Offer includes a variety of experiences suitable for all ages, such as:
- Behind the Scenes at Caphouse tours led by former miners
- Live performances and music
- Talks and demonstrations
- Special seasonal activities and experiences
Can I leave the Museum and return later the same day?
Yes. You can leave and re-enter on the same day, but please ensure you keep your wristband on.
Please note that if you leave, your parking space cannot be guaranteed on your return, as we expect the site to be very busy.
