Accessibility – Big Pit National Coal Museum

We are proud to be the first museum to become a member of the National Access scheme Hynt.  Whether you’re an individual or an organisation you can access free tickets for carers and companions for some of our events and exhibitions. 

Hynt is an Arts Council of Wales initiative managed by Creu Cymru in partnership with Diverse Cymru; you can apply to be a member on the Hynt website.

Booking a ticket with a Hynt card

When booking your ticket with a Hynt card, we’ll ask you for your unique Hynt reference number. You can book your tickets with us in the following ways:

• In person at National Museum Cardiff – our friendly Museum Assistants behind the information desk will be happy to help you
• Or online – click this link to get started. If you have booked with us online using a valid Hynt barcode number, your Hynt account will be added to your Amgueddfa Cymru account for your future convenience. Please note it may take up to 24 hours for your Hynt membership to be added to your online account. 

Tickets are issued to the cardholder, who is required to present their photographic Hynt card at each exhibition or event that they attend. The amount of Hynt tickets available for online booking is restricted and determined by the number agreed upon during the application process. Please make sure to select the appropriate number of tickets for all members of your group.

To help plan your visit, have a look at our visual story. This includes photographs and information of what you can expect from your visit to the museum.

Museum entrance and exit

The main entrance and exit to the Museum is at the front of the museums adjacent to the car park and drop-off/pick area. There is level access to enter the museum.

Accessible parking

Parking is available on each of the 3 main levels allowing access to the main entrance, underground tour, coffee shop, Pithead Baths exhibition and other outer buildings. To view King Coal it is necessary to ascend/descend a fairly steep slope. Parking is free to blue badge holders. 

Quiet Times

The Museum can sometimes be crowded and noisy. The quietest time to visit the Museum is usually from 3pm. The last underground tour is at 3pm. (Please check our website for seasonal variations)

Lighting and temperature

Areas of the underground tour are dark with minimal lighting.

During the tour visitors will be required to walk 700 metres wearing a helmet and carrying a lamp weighing 5kg. This lamp is approved for the purpose by the HSE, but lighting levels are generally lower that many visitors will be used to.

The temperature underground can be quite cold, so an extra layer of clothing is recommended.

King Coal: The Mining Experience had loud noises, flashing lights and different light levels and colours.

Uneven flooring

Big Pit is on the side of a steep hill and on a number of different levels and although there are ramps provided, they are quite long and the climb can be arduous.

The walking surface both above and below ground is typical of an industrial site.

Please wear warm clothing and sensible footwear.

The floor can be uneven or slippery in places and there are numerous steps to negotiate. Underground, there are one or two places where you will need to bend to avoid bumping your head.

Borrow a wheelchair

Visitors with limited mobility and wheelchair users are welcome to call 029 2057 3650 to discuss any queries and to let staff know of any special requirements.

As non-approved electrical equipment cannot be taken underground, we must ask all users of electric wheelchairs to transfer to a manual chair — either their own or one provided by us if they wish to go underground. Please be aware that visitors may need assistance to navigate around the underground roadways.

Although there are ramps between levels on the surface, please note that some of these ramps are quite long and steep and the climb can be arduous. Wheelchair users may require assistance to navigate around the site.

Wheelchair users must be accompanied by a person who is able to assist them for the duration of the underground tour.

As the safety of our visitors is our first priority it is only possible for a maximum of 4 wheelchair users to be underground at any one time. This is because it may be necessary to evacuate visitors from underground by a different route if the shaft is out of commission e.g. as a result of power failure. The emergency egress route is not capable of being navigated by wheelchairs; in this situation the wheelchair user will need to be carried out.

Some manual wheelchairs with smaller wheels or without handles may not be suitable for use underground, and visitors may be asked to switch to one of our chairs.

We recognise the difficulties that some visitors experience in switching to an unfamiliar wheelchair so we will only ask visitors to do so if absolutely necessary in the interest of safety.

Where visitors have limited mobility, but are not regular wheelchair users, we may request them to use a wheelchair for the underground tour. Again, we will only ask visitors to do so if absolutely necessary in the interest of safety.

Most of the buildings are accessible for wheelchair users. Although, assistance may be required. The winding engine house can be accessed by an alternative entrance at the side of the building.

Wheelchair users are advised to exit Big Pit by the same route as they entered the Museum, via Reception area. This door is closed at 3.30pm, after this time, please ring the doorbell for assistance.

Mobility scooter

Mobility scooters are welcome and permitted inside the museum.

Emergency evacuation

It's unlikely that an alarm will sound during your visit. If one does, please don't worry – a red flashing red light will alert you to the emergency. Please follow any instructions given by members of staff, they will guide you to the nearest safe exit.

Accessible Toilets

Accessible Toilets are available on all three levels of the site. The accessible toilets in the Waiting Room and Pithead Baths are unisex. However, the accessible facilities in the toilets adjacent to the Winder are single sex.

PLEASE NOTE the underground tour lasts about an hour and there are no toilets underground.

Baby changing facilities

Baby changing facilities are available in the Pit Head Baths

Seating

There is no seating underground.

Seating is available at the entry to King Coal, in the Pithead Baths Exhibition and at various outside areas.

You welcome to use walking sticks or folding stools with seat attachments, provided they have rubber stoppers.

Enhanced Sounds

Please note that Big Pit is an Industrial Museum and therefore machinery noises are always present.

King Coal: The Mining Experience is an audiovisual experience with loud noise and the Pithead Baths Exhibition includes audio in some areas.

Service and assistance dogs

We understand that some of our visitors will require the support of a service dog and we are happy to admit appropriately trained service dogs.

Assistance dogs are allowed on site provided they are kept on a lead.

Where possible, dog owners should bring their relevant identification book and animals should wear the appropriate tabards or harness.

Guide dogs for both visually- and hearing-impaired visitors are welcomed but cannot be taken underground.

Drinking water is offered at the point of entry and on request in the coffee shop.

All dog owners are offered pooper-scooper when entering the Museum we appreciate you co-operation in keeping the museum clean and safe.

Hearing Loops

Induction loops for hearing aids are installed in the Reception and Enquiries building.

Dementia Friendly Tours

The Museum offers pre bookable Dementia Friendly Tours. Dates and further information can be found on the website.

Sensory backpacks

A limited number of sensory backpacks are available to borrow for free from the Welcome Desk. These designed as a fun way to help visitors explore the Museum. The backpacks contain:

• sound cancelling headphones
• fidget toys
• and other sensory tools.