The National Coal Mining Museum is gearing up for an exciting transformation as it prepares to install a state-of-the-art winding engine, ensuring future generations can continue to explore its iconic underground experience. The current winder, which powers the descent into England’s last accessible deep coal mine, will be replaced in early 2025.
As part of the upgrade, the museum’s underground tours will temporarily close from Sunday, 29 December 2024, and are expected to reopen in April 2025. Until then, visitors can still take the underground journey through history, with a festive twist available as Santa transforms the mine into a magical grotto until Tuesday, 24 December 2024.
While the underground experience takes a brief hiatus, there will be plenty for visitors to enjoy, including the launch of a new immersive digital experience in January 2025.
Thanks to funding from the Rural England Prosperity Fund through the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, the museum is transforming a historic surface tunnel into a cutting-edge attraction. Designed with immersive experience specialists XPLOR, based locally in South Kirkby, this new experience will use state-of-the-art technology to take visitors on a journey through nearly 200 years of coal mining history. Guided by experts and brought to life with first-hand stories, visitors will encounter fascinating characters along the way.
In addition to the new digital experience, the museum will continue to offer a wide range of activities and attractions during the underground closure. Visitors can enjoy a new behind-the-scenes colliery tour, exciting exhibitions and events, family-friendly activities, and much more, including the museum’s popular café, play area, horse-keeper talks, pony displays, and nature trails.
Lynn Dunning, CEO of the National Coal Mining Museum, said, “It is critical that our winder is replaced to allow us to take visitors deep underground for generations to come, and to continue to share important stories around England’s coal mining heritage. Our underground tours will be open for the remainder of the year, including our magical Santa’s grotto, which will be launched as part of our annual Light Up Festival.”
She said, “The rest of the Museum will remain open in the New Year as usual, with so much to see and do, including an exciting new immersive experience which we can’t wait to share more details about. It’s an exciting time for the Museum with new exhibitions opening in the New Year and lots of exciting events planned. We look forward to welcoming visitors old and new.”
For updates and further details about the museum’s plans, visit www.ncm.org.uk.
