Big Pit National Coal Museum

About the museum

Big Pit is a real coal mine at Blaenavon in the South Wales coalfield and now one of Britain's leading mining museums. Although it no longer produces coal, it is still classed as a coal mine under the Coal Mines Act, and the tunnels and colliery buildings on the heather-covered moor have been kept much as they were. It is part of the Blaenavon Industrial Landscape, which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000 for its importance in the story of iron and coal production, and it is an anchor point on the European Route of Industrial Heritage.

The mine is run as a national museum by Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales. Its best-known attraction is the underground tour, in which former miners and guides take groups down in the cage to the pit bottom, 300 feet below the surface, and show what life was like for the thousands of men, women and children who worked underground.

Above ground, visitors can see the historic colliery buildings, a multi-media tour of a modern coal mine with a virtual miner in the Mining Galleries, and exhibitions in the Pithead Baths where miners once washed after their shifts. The museum also tells stories linked to Welsh mining communities, including a programme marking the 60th anniversary of the Aberfan disaster, and offers workshops and free underground tours for UK school groups.

Highlights

• Underground tour 300 feet below ground with a guide
• Mining Galleries with a multi-media tour and virtual miner
• Pithead Baths exhibitions
• Historic colliery buildings including the winding engine house
• Free entry to the museum
• Part of the Blaenavon Industrial Landscape World Heritage Site

Permanent exhibitions

• Underground Tour – A guided tour 300 feet below ground, following the roadways of a real coal mine to see how miners worked.
• Mining Galleries – A multi-media tour of a modern coal mine led by a virtual miner, in the buildings above ground.
• Pithead Baths – Exhibitions in the former baths where miners washed after their shift, alongside the historic colliery buildings.

Founded

1983

Operated by

Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales

Visitors per year

approx. 155,631

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Entry to the museum is free; the underground tour is charged separately. Car parking costs £5 per day (see arrival).

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum is on a steep hillside on several levels. The entrance has level access, and parking on the three main levels gives access to the main entrance, underground tour, coffee shop and Pithead Baths; parking is free for Blue Badge holders. Ramps between levels are long and steep, and the walking surface is uneven or slippery in places. Most buildings can be used by wheelchair users, sometimes with assistance, and the winding engine house has a side entrance. Underground, electric wheelchairs must be swapped for a manual chair, a helper must accompany wheelchair users, and no more than four wheelchair users can be underground at once. Visitors should call 029 2057 3650 in advance to discuss needs. A visual story and a museum map are available before a visit. The museum is a member of the Hynt access scheme, which gives free tickets for carers and companions at some events and exhibitions. Assistance dogs are welcome except on the underground tour.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

Children must be at least 1 metre tall to join the underground tour, and each child carries their own 5 kg equipment; staff judge each case individually. The simulated mining experience on the surface is open to all ages, and some industrial machines are safe for children to sit on under adult supervision. The museum also holds seasonal events, such as Santa Underground at Christmas. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Getting there & parking

For satellite navigation use Blaenavon town or NP4 9RL and follow the brown tourist signs. From the M4 follow the brown signs from junction 25a (westbound) or junction 26 (eastbound); the museum is also signposted from the A465 at Brynmawr and Abergavenny.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

The coffee shop is open daily from 10:00 to 16:00 and serves hot and cold drinks, cakes and snacks. A gift shop is open during the visit. Visitors may bring a picnic. Mobile phones, cameras and other battery-operated items must be left in secure storage on the surface before the underground tour.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit