National Coal Mining Museum For England

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 that focus on the way of life in mining communities, the technology used for mining, and the work in the mines. You can visit the pit-​head baths, the winding house and several other ancillary buildings that all formed part of the essential infrastructure of a mine. There are quite a lot of interactive exhibits and mostly these are pretty good but unfortunately quite a few were out of order. The winding haulage system, outdoors, opened in the early 1990s, appears to be disused. I would have preferred to pay a reasonable admission charge (exhibitions are free, the underground tour is cheap) and that the resulting income was spent on maintenance. That reduced my rating by one star and the other star was lost due to the underground tour. Our guide was full of enthusiasm and interacted well with the group but insisted, indeed made a point of speaking in a strong Yorkshire accent, and, worse, using many dialect expressions. I am a native, educated English speaker and I found it hard-​going understanding him at times because of the unclear diction, use of local dialect phrases, etc. This must be a dilemma for the museum. On the one hand I would be the last to criticise someone for a regional accent, but on the other hand a tour has to be understood by the audience. The local flavour was good and added character to the tour, but it was no way to welcome visitors from outside the County, never mind outside the UK. I doubt if a non-​British couple in our tour understood it. Perhaps the museum might offer a choice of tour, some of which would be in standard English, (I don’t mean Southern English, an accent is OK if clearly spoken). This is about accessibility and in needs to be balanced with authenticity!

Great day for kids, expanded with loads to see and going underground is great fun.

Good fun

Spent a delightful day here, the underground tour made all the more interesting as guides were all former colliery workers, well organised good to see how labour used to be!!!

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 the mine. Everyone gets a torch (weighing about 2 kg) to wear.
The exhibit about the lives of the miners (in and out of the mine) was fascinating with first-​hand stories and artifacts on display. The exhibit about the women and children who used to work the mine was eye-​opening. The coal interface exhibit (discussing how the coal is mined) was also worthwhile, but, as a wannabe geologist, I wished for more information about the geological science behind the discovery and mining of the coal.
The children would like the pit ponies (which we didn’t get a chance to see). There’s a nature trail surrounding the mine which we didn’t have time to walk.
Big rocks, big machinery — what else do you need?

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 amount of time ago. Also the locomotive ride was fun and the pit ponies were adorable. Although I kept my fingers well clear when they were chewing. Recommended.

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 café. 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.

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 the museum too, for making it a great day out whilst maintaining the dignity and social history of a very human industry.

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 can run out on busy days. No bags or electrical items are allowed underground (including cameras and phones), but these can be left with staff at the pit surface. Can be cold in the pit and you need to wear sensible shoes. Under 5’s are not allowed underground.
Whilst access to the visitors centre and underground tour is free, use of the little train attracts a small charge.
From 22 Nov they offer santa special underground tours. These are chargeable but the kids do get a present from santa. I’m really looking forward to taking the kids this year.
There is a café with serves reasonably priced food and outdoor areas for picnics.
This review doesn’t include many of the things there are to see. Go — its really worth a day out.