Your Visit
Opening Hours
The Museum is open Wednesday – Sunday, except 1st January and 25th & 26th December.
Underground Tours run from 10:15am – 3:30pm, leaving every 15 minutes.
Some attractions such as the train are only open at peak times. The beach and Snap Tin Café generally only open during the school summer holidays.
Wednesday to Sunday
Come Visit
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.
As you plan your day please bear in mind:
- You do not need to pre-book surface visits
- Please let reception know the number of people in your group even if you are just having a surface visit (eg using the playground or walking the dog)
- If you would like to experience our Underground Tour, we recommend pre-booking on weekends and during school holidays but there is an equal level of availability on arrival, on the day.
- We reserve two pre-bookable timeslots during term-time weekdays (11am & 2:30pm), however you should still be able to book on arrival (dependent on demand and capacity) Wednesday-Sunday.
- There will be no more than nine people on each tour and this could be a mixed group.
- We strongly recommend that you wear face masks or coverings in all the indoor parts of the museum except when seated in the café.
- It is mandatory for ALL individuals going underground to wear a face covering for the duration of the tour (including children and those normally medically exempt) – this is to protect you and our Mine Guides. There will be no exceptions to this rule and we recommend you book Hope Pit Explores instead if you cannot/do not wish to wear a mask.
- We are unable to operate wheelchair accesssible tours at the moment, we recommend you book Hope Pit Explores instead.
- Dogs are welcome on a lead in the outdoor grounds of the Museum.
- The museum’s full Coronavirus (COVID19) Risk Assessment is available here
- There will be guidance and recommendations at various points on site to assist you with managing your own safety during your day out.
- 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.
Getting here
The Museum is on the main road between Wakefield and Huddersfield (WF4 4RH). There is ample car and coach parking including disabled parking spaces and baby spaces.
Bus services run within easy walking distance of the Museum. From Wakefield or Huddersfield, the Yorkshire Tiger 232 bus stops at the Reindeer pub with a few minutes walk to the Museum.
The nearest mainline railway station is Wakefield Westgate. It takes about 20 minutes for a taxi ride from the train station. The 232 buses run from Wakefield Westgate and Huddersfield Train Stations to the nearby Reindeer pub.
Caphouse Colliery, New Road, Overton,
Wakefield, WF4 4RH
Accessibility
The Museum is located on original colliery sites and many of the original buildings have been retained to illustrate a working environment. In achieving a balance between authenticity and access, not all areas are easily accessed, particularly by wheelchair users. We are temporarily unable to offer wheelchair accessible underground tours. It is mandatory for all individuals going underground to wear a face covering for the duration of the tour. The museum runs regular SEN workshops and guide dogs and assistance dogs are welcome at the Museum, with a water bowl near the Café. Visitors with additional needs may wish to call 01924 848806 in advance to discuss specific requirements or book.
Wander round the Museum from the comfort of your home hearing from people who worked in the pits and lived in mining communities, glimpse at key objects from our collections and have a go at mining related activities.
