Big Pit: Underground Tour

Museum Visit

Big Pit: Underground Tour

🔍 Discover and Explore

What was it like to work underground for coal miners and colliery horses?

Discover how coal was mined in Wales and experience the working conditions underground.

✏️ Take Part

Travel 90 metres (300 feet) underground and experience a unique and captivating journey around a section of original underground workings led by one of Big Pit’s Miner Guides.

ℹ️ About This Session

During the underground tour visitors will be required to walk a distance of 700 metres wearing a helmet and carrying a lamp weighing 5 kg.

This lamp is approved for the purpose by the HSE but lighting levels are generally lower than many visitors will be used to.

Big Pit staff will fit you with a helmet, lamp and belt before you go underground, which will involve some close contact. If you have any concerns about this please let a member of staff know.

Please let us know when you are booking if you have any pupils that would be sensitive to these experiences, and we will do our best to make everyone feel comfortable!

Capacity

17 people (plus Miner Guide) per tour.

Pupil/Staff Ratio

up to 8yrs: 6 children / 1 adult

8 – 11yrs: 10 children / 1 adult

11 - 16yrs: 14 children / 1 adult

*No specialist clothing is required for the underground tours, but we advise wearing suitable warm clothing and appropriate footwear.

Duration: 1 hour

Dates: To enquire about availability, please send your school’s name, number of pupils, year group and preferred dates to bigpit@museumwales.ac.uk or call 02920 573650

Cost: Led by Museum staff – free of charge.

Curriculum

Humanities: Enquiry, exploration and investigation inspire curiosity about the world, its past, present and future. / Our natural world is diverse and dynamic, influenced by processes and human actions.

Learning Objectives

Build up a body of knowledge and have the skills to connect and apply that knowledge in different contexts by discovering the history of coal mining.
lead and play different roles in teams effectively and responsibly by understanding the roles and responsibilities of coal miners.
Develop knowledge about their culture, community, society and the world, now and in the past through learning about the history of the Welsh coalfields and its wider impact.
Take part in physical activity by undertaking the underground tour.