Summer Holidays - National Coal Mining Museum

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!

Host or Publisher National Coal Mining Museum