Great Orme Mines
Self-guided visit to a Bronze Age copper mine on the Great Orme, with 200 metres of underground tunnels, a visitor centre and a recreated smelting site.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Great Orme copper mines were rediscovered in 1987, during a scheme to landscape part of the headland above Llandudno. Their workings date back about 4,000 years to the Bronze Age, when people mined copper ore here. Archaeologists consider the site to be the largest prehistoric mine found so far anywhere in the world.
Since excavation began, miners, cavers and archaeologists have surveyed more than five miles of prehistoric tunnels. Many are extremely narrow, and some were probably worked by children. The surface landscape, including the oldest, opencast part of the mine, has been gradually uncovered as well. Later mining on the Orme is also visible: visitors can look down a Victorian mine shaft that is 145 metres deep.
Today the site has a visitor centre with a model of a Bronze Age village, original artefacts and mining tools, and a short introductory film. A surface path leads past the opencast workings and a recreated smelting shelter, where visitors can learn how copper was turned into metal. The surface displays and the film were paid for through the Our Heritage project. The mine also publishes research papers and theses about the excavations and the finds.
Highlights
- 200-metre underground route through Bronze Age tunnels
- Opencast mine, the oldest part of the site
- Recreated Bronze Age smelting shelter
- Visitor centre with a model village and original artefacts
- View down a 145-metre Victorian mine shaft
Permanent exhibitions
- Underground Bronze Age mine route – A 200-metre walk through prehistoric tunnels on two levels, passing one of the largest prehistoric man-made chambers found so far and passages so narrow that they were probably worked by children.
- Visitor centre and surface site – A model Bronze Age village, original 4,000-year-old artefacts and mining tools, a short film, the opencast mine, a recreated smelting shelter and a Victorian mine shaft.
- Operated by
- Great Orme Mines Ltd
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £13.75 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | £8.25free up to age 4 · Children aged 5 to 15. Children aged 4 and under are free. |
| Groups (15+ people) | £12 per personAdult and university groups, per person. Schools pay £7.15 per child (5 to 15 years) and £8.50 per A-level student (16 to 18); one teacher is free for every 8 pupils or students. Group rates apply to groups of at least 15 and should be notified in advance. |
| Families | £36.752 adults and 2 children. |
| Additional child | £5.50On top of the family ticket |
The prices are the 2026 admission charges. Tickets can be bought on the day or booked online. Schools and groups pay on the day by cash, cheque or card; invoices are not offered.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: not available
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Wheelchairs and pushchairs are not suitable for the tour. The underground route goes down two levels by slopes and staircases, with 35 steps down and the same number back up. The floor is uneven and wet in places, the lighting is dim and some ceilings are low. Dogs are welcome everywhere, including underground, although not all dogs are comfortable on the metal grates and stairs.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 45 min |
|---|---|
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 4 |
| Family ticket | £36.75 · 2 adults and 2 children. |
- Stroller-friendly: not available
The visit suits children and adults of all ages. Pushchairs cannot be taken underground; the mine suggests a front carrier for young children, which keeps them lower than adult head height. Schools can use an education room with a learning pack.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Great Orme Tramway halfway station
The Great Orme Tramway, the Llandudno cable car and taxis from Llandudno serve the Great Orme.
By car
Parking available
Visitor car park at the site. The access road is not suitable for coaches; minibuses can park.
The mine is signposted “Ancient Mine” from the A55 and all other approach roads into Llandudno. Some satnavs send drivers the wrong way up the Great Orme, so follow the signs rather than the satnav once on the Orme. Groups often travel by the Great Orme Tramway, which must be booked separately, and walk a short distance from the halfway station.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
Gift shop.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | no |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | The tour is self-guided and takes about 45 minutes. It includes the visitor centre, a five-minute introductory film, the 200-metre underground section and a surface walk around the smelting shelter and the opencast mine. Each visitor receives a hard hat. The temperature underground is 5 to 8 °C, so warm clothes and sensible footwear are advised. Schools and groups have an education room and a learning pack, and should allow about one hour; there are no timed slots. |
