Kent Mining Museum
Free museum in Betteshanger Country Park on the history of coal mining in Kent, told through the stories of former miners.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Kent Mining Museum tells the story of the Kent coalfield, where coal was mined for about a hundred years. It stands on part of the site of the former Betteshanger Colliery, which was the largest mine in Kent and the last to close, in 1989. The museum is run by a charity, the Kent Mining Heritage Foundation, whose aims are to record and preserve the county's mining heritage and to improve life in the local community through education and activities.
The museum uses two floors. Visitors learn what a day in the life of a miner was like and how coal mining developed in Kent, and they find out about the geography and geology of the East Kent coalfield and the importance of the mining communities. Former miners who volunteer at the museum share their experiences. A basement gallery is used for changing exhibitions and for community projects.
The coalfield was discovered by drilling in the 1880s, and four major collieries developed: Tilmanstone, Snowdown, Chislet and Betteshanger. Miners came from Wales, Yorkshire and the North East, and new villages such as Aylesham and Hersden were built for them. The museum works with local heritage centres in these former mining communities and organises the Kent Miners' Festival.
Highlights
- Stories told by former miners who volunteer at the museum
- Day in the life of a miner and the history of Kent's four collieries
- Hands-on activities, dressing up as a miner and a DOSCO simulator game
- Mining-themed playground next to the museum
- Free entry in a 250-acre country park
Permanent exhibition
- A day in the life of a miner and the Kent coalfield – Two floors on the history of coal mining in Kent, the geography and geology of the East Kent coalfield and the role of the mining communities, told partly in the words of former miners.
- Founded
- 2022
- Operated by
- Kent Mining Heritage Foundation (registered charity 1165403)
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
| Groups | £7.50 per personGroup tours from £7.50 per person, with up to 60 minutes of exclusive access to the museum and a tour by staff or former miners. An optional 45-minute talk with a former miner costs an extra £7.50 per person. |
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Entry to the museum is free; donations are welcome. Parking in Betteshanger Country Park is charged. School visits start at £5 per pupil.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The museum describes itself as accessible and inclusive, with two fully accessible floors. Dogs are not allowed in the museum; they are welcome elsewhere in the park on a lead. An accessibility statement is on the website. Blue Badge holders are exempt from parking charges after registering at the visitor centre reception.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Hands-on stations
- Playground / play area
Children can dress up as a miner, play a DOSCO simulator game, try code-break challenges, use a touch screen about fossils and follow a mouse hunt or a scavenger hunt. Neurodiverse or anxious visitors can borrow an explorers bag. A mining-themed playground is just outside the museum.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Betteshanger Park gates (Stagecoach 81 and 85) · 15-min walk
Deal station (3 miles) and Sandwich station (4 miles) are the nearest stations. Stagecoach bus routes 81 and 85 stop outside the park gates, about a 15-minute walk from the visitor centre.
By car
Paid parking
Betteshanger Country Park car park charges: £2.50 up to one hour, £3.50 up to two hours, £4.50 up to three hours and £5.50 for more than three hours, seven days a week, 24 hours a day, calculated by number plate cameras. Blue Badge holders are exempt after registering at the visitor centre reception.
The museum is on the A258, about 2 miles from Deal and 10 miles from Dover, and is easy to reach from the M20 and M2.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
The Lamp Room in Betteshanger Country Park serves sandwiches, hot snacks, cakes and drinks, with seating inside and outside; it is open Wednesday to Sunday, on bank holidays and every day in school holidays. No visitor wifi is mentioned.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
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| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Visitors can explore on their own or chat with former miners who volunteer in the museum. Group tours and talks are available by booking. Schools can book full-day, half-day or bespoke visits with qualified teachers; parking for educational groups is free and a sensory map and risk assessment are available. |
