National Mining Museum Scotland
ENTRY
from £3.85
WHERE
Newtongrange
What it’s like
A real ex-colliery where former miners take you down into the pit's history, with an audio option too.
This is Lady Victoria Colliery, a proper working pit until fairly recently, and the main event is the guided tour led by ex-miners who actually did the job. That's the bit worth building the day around. If you'd rather go at your own pace there's an audio tour instead, though it skips the human stories the guides tell.
An adult on the guided tour is £10.45, a child aged 7 to 15 is £8.25, and a family ticket comes to £23.10 (or £21 if you go for the version with the donation deducted). The audio tour is cheaper across the board, £8.80 for an adult and £6.60 for a child, family £20.79. If you just want to wander the exhibition galleries without a tour, that's £4.40 for an adult and £3.85 for a child, which is the option if you've got a very short attention span in tow or just want to poke round the shop.
The guided tour runs 1.5 to 2 hours and the audio tour is a brisker 45 minutes, but the museum itself reckons on several hours if you want to do the exhibitions and the colliery site justice. There's a children's play area and picnic tables out front if you need a break between bits, and the Green Zone and Energy Lab are there too if you've got the passport membership. Booking ahead is recommended rather than required, so you can turn up and sort a ticket at reception if you haven't planned that far ahead.
Worth knowing the café's currently being refurbished, with temporary refreshments served from the Power House instead. The walk from Newtongrange station has some cobbles near the end, and the Winding Engine House itself isn't wheelchair accessible, though the rest of the public areas have level access and there are two manual wheelchairs you can book or ask for on the day.
Facilities
Need to know
- Booking
- Advance booking recommended. Walk-ups welcome at reception
- Parking
- Free on-site car park with disabled spaces
- Food
- Café open 10am-5pm serving hot and cold drinks, soup, sandwiches, paninis, toasties, salads, cakes and baked goods
- Wheelchairs
- 2 manual wheelchairs available to book in advance or on arrival
- Getting there by bus or train
- Newtongrange Station on Borders Railway line
- Photos are fine but leave the tripod at home in the buildings
- Bring a reusable cup if you've got one
- Dogs are welcome on site
- Café groups of 6 or more should book ahead, smaller groups can just turn up
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
Guided tour and exhibition is £10.45 for an adult, £8.25 for a child aged 7 to 15, or £23.10 for a family. The audio tour version is a bit cheaper, and just the exhibition galleries on their own are £4.40 an adult.
Do we need to book in advance?
It's recommended but not essential, you can book on arrival at reception too.
How long does the guided tour take?
Around 1.5 to 2 hours. The audio tour is quicker at about 45 minutes.
How long should we plan for the whole visit?
Several hours if you want to properly cover the exhibitions and the colliery site, not just the tour itself.
What's the café situation?
It's currently being refurbished, so refreshments are served from the Power House in the meantime, still with vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options.
Can we bring our own food?
Yes, in the outside picnic areas at the front of the museum.
Is there parking?
Free on-site parking with disabled spaces.
Is it accessible for wheelchairs and buggies?
Level access through most public areas, with two manual wheelchairs available to book ahead or ask for on the day. The Winding Engine House is the one exception, it's not wheelchair accessible.
Can we get there by train?
Newtongrange station is on the Borders Railway line, and there's a pathway to the museum, though it does have some cobbles near the entrance.
Do carers get in free?
Carers get free entry if they've got relevant ID with them.
What's the shop like?
It keeps the same hours as the museum, so 10am to 5pm in summer and 10am to 4pm over winter.
Is the museum open all year?
It closes over Christmas and New Year, and for a few days in early September, otherwise it's open daily.
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