Winding Engine House Saturday tours

Ride the glass lift up to the 1876 colliery winding engine, the only vertical one in England still in its original spot, with volunteer-led tours and a cafe in the Dynamo House. Saturdays until the end of October, free.

Bestwood Colliery's Winding Engine House is the last piece of a vanished pit, and the only vertical steam winding engine in England still standing where it was built. On Saturday mornings volunteers open it up: ride the glass-sided lift to the top, watch the 18ft winding wheel turn (the engine now runs on an electric motor), look over period photographs and a scale model of the colliery, and take a guided tour led by volunteers, some of whom worked at the pit. The Dynamo House next door has mining heritage displays and a small cafe run by WI volunteers, with filter coffee, tea and home-made cakes at pocket-money prices. Entry and parking are free; use the Winding Engine House car park off Park Road, Bestwood Village. Guided tours run roughly 10am to 12 noon with no booking needed, but they are volunteer-led so subject to availability. The building is open Saturdays from Easter to the end of October, then closes for the winter. The rest of Bestwood Country Park is open daily for a walk afterwards.

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Bestwood Country ParkWalk the hilly park trails, poke round the winding engine house and picnic - free entry and parking.Nottingham · Free entry · accessible toilet · baby change · caféSee full listing →