The National Coal Mining Museum has retained its coveted Travellers Choice Award for the 9th year in a row. The TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Award is given only to the top 10% of attractions worldwide. The museum is ranked 11th nationally and 2nd in the North of England and is the only Museum/Art Gallery in Wakefield to be rated with an average score of 5 by visitors to the museum and maintains similar regard on Google and Facebook Reviews.
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is a full day out for all the family which includes a trip 140m underground to England’s last deep coal mine with former miners. Above ground the museum has 14 galleries charting the evolution of coal mining and giving a glimpse into miners and their communities and the opportunity to meet the Museum’s three ponies and a horse. As visitors explore the site they will see how (and why) wholesale mining evolved from a labour-intensive industry involving the whole family -including children, to a highly mechanised and technical industry. Visitors can also meet the resident blacksmiths who demonstrate the practical modern-day use of coal to create artworks that can be a memento of the day.
The whole family can follow the stream through 12 acres of woodlands and reed beds ending beside the extensive playground where children can burn off their excess energy. The Museum also runs events which this year will including their Seaside @ Pit, Summer Science Spectacular, Heritage Open Days, Light Up and the Santa @ Pit.
Jenny Layfield, Museum Director said “We are absolutely delighted to be recognised in this way. The museum is unquestionably one of the best days out in the country and the team work very hard to ensure that every visitor, whoever they are, and whatever they are interested in, has a great day out. This is reflected in the outstanding scores we receive on review sites such as TripAdvisor.”
Wakefield district includes a historic cathedral city and is home to vibrant independent towns, stunning rural scenery and some of the UK’s best cultural attractions. Wakefield is something of a hidden gem: it’s the gateway to the rest of Yorkshire and beyond, with Leeds, Manchester, York and Sheffield all within around an hour’s drive, but what many are unaware of is the range of attractions and events available across the city and its wider district. Some key attractions within the Wakefield district include Yorkshire Sculpture Park, The Hepworth Wakefield, Pontefract Castle, Xscape Yorkshire, the National Coal Mining Museum, Diggerland and Theatre Royal Wakefield.
