National Coal Mining Museum, Wakefield
At the National Coal Mining Museum this summer visitors can grab their bucket and spade and travel back in time to the 1960s to see how miners spent their summer holidays.
Dig up a summer of fun, ride on the paddy train, enjoy beach games and learn what a treat it was to get out of the pit and go on holiday. There might even be donkeys to ride!
All through the summer holidays, not only will the Coal Mining Museum have a huge sandpit to explore, but there will be summer crafts Sunday to Friday, and living history interpreters to help visitors delve into history.
When the sun gets too much, pop on a hard hat, pick up a lamp and go an adventure 140 metres underground into England’s last deep coal mine.
Chat to charismatic former-miners as they tell the tales of their mining careers and the men, women, children, animals and equipment that worked in the coal mines for centuries before them – and hear how mining lingo, hardships and dangers shape how we live our lives today.
Visitors can strike up a conversation with the blacksmiths restoring metalwork and creating new works of art, and kids can let off steam in the Adventure Playground. There’s also the chance to meet the ponies and find out from their keepers what jobs they would have done and what makes them so special.
Still got time to fill? Explore acres of woodland and see how bright orange mine water is cleaned.
FACTFILE
- Address: Caphouse Colliery, New Road, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF4 4RH
- Admission: £5 per car
- Opening times: 10am to 5pm every day
- Website: ncm.org.uk