Winding Engine House


The Oaks Kibble


Children on the Nature Trail


Object on the Materials Trail

Planning and Preparation 

Entry is free. Charges apply for some activities; these are payable at Reception.

Preliminary Visit
We do advise that you make a preliminary visit before bringing your class to allow you to familiarise yourself with the site and to complete any risk assessments.

Supervision
Pupils must be accompanied at all times and remain the responsibility of their group leader.

• Supervision on the underground tour

The cage has the capacity to take twenty people underground at any one time. School groups have underground tours in groups of nineteen, which must include two adult supervisors, plus one of the Museum's mining guides.

It is essential that two adults are available in the event that a pupil decides not to go underground at short notice. The mining guides cannot supervise students. Tours will not take place without suitable adult supervision.

• Supervision around the rest of the Museum

The Museum recommends a supervision ratio of one adult to every ten children.

Underground Tour

Duration
Whilst an hour is spent underground, groups will require 1 hour 20 minutes in order to collect and deposit hard hats and cap lamps. Parties descend at 10-minute intervals.The temperature underground is approximately 12°C. Warm clothing and sensible footwear is essential. 

Conditions
The temperature underground is eleven degrees, but can feel cooler due to the ventilation system. There are no toilets underground.

Contraband
It is not safe to take cigarettes, matches or battery-operated items underground. These items are classed as contraband and will be retained in a locked drawer for safekeeping in the lamp room while the underground tour is taking place.

Dress
The extensive Museum site is a varied environment. Conditions may sometimes be muddy and dirty. Please dress appropriately for an outdoor industrial site with uneven surfaces. Trainers with flashing lights must not be worn underground for safety reasons.

Health and Safety
The Museum takes the health and safety of its visitors very seriously. For more information please download our health and safety guide

We cannot write risk assessments for you, but please use our risk-assessment advice document to help you with your paperwork. Please click here to download a risk assessment advice document

SEN Pupils  
Every effort will be made to include students with special educational or medical needs, whilst maintaining the safety of others. Special attention should be given to appropriate supervision ratios. Any special requirements of the students should be taken into account at the planning stage. Please indicate these needs on your booking form.

All areas of the visitor centre are accessible to visitors in wheelchairs, including the library, galleries, shop, cafeteria and toilets. The majority of the site is accessible. Wheelchair users or those with more serious disabilities are welcome to take a shorter underground tour. For safety reasons the number of wheelchair users underground at one time must be limited. In exceptional circumstances the Museum reserves the right to refuse admission underground. Decisions will be made based on public safety.

Museum Shop
The Museum shop stocks resources for teachers and items suitable for children. Please click here to see the available resources. Goody bags are available on request.
Please limit groups using the shop to twenty students at any one time. Pupils must be fully supervised.

Lunch Facilities
A picnic area is available for packed lunches, weather permitting. There is also a shared space indoors where pupils can eat their lunch; this will be allocated to you on arrival. These are shared spaces and we ask that they are left clean and tidy after use.

Coat Storage
Lockable cupboards are available for coats and bags in the shared lunch area.  However space is limited, so if possible please leave belongings on the coach. Please be aware that the Museum cannot take any responsibility for items left in the cupboards.

Cancellation of bookings
If a workshop is cancelled with less than five days notice, the full amount will be payable. This is to cover staff costs and does not apply to self-led activities.

Code of Conduct
Please read and disseminate our Code of Conduct, which outlines our expectations of group leaders and the behaviour of their students.

Please Click here for our Code of Conduct