South Wales Miners Museum
BEST FOR
Ages 0+
ENTRY
from £3
SETTING
Outdoors
WHERE
Port Talbot
What it’s like
A retired coal miner leads you underground to see the pit face, then it's a blacksmith's forge and steam engines above ground.
The guided tour is the whole point here. An ex coal miner takes you through the mine itself, explaining what the job actually involved rather than giving you a script, and it's a very different thing hearing it from someone who did it. Last tour goes in at 3pm, so don't turn up at half past and expect to get down there.
Above ground there's a working blacksmith's forge, a steam locomotive, a winding engine and a lamp room to poke round at your own pace. None of that needs the guided slot, so if you've got a toddler who won't sit through a tour, there's still plenty to look at outside. The site says the displays are hands-on, which matters with small kids who'd rather touch things than read a sign.
Entry is £4 for adults and £3 for children and seniors, which is fair for what's a proper local history site rather than a polished visitor centre. Booking's asked for so you get a set time slot with the guide, though the site says you can also just walk in if you'd rather chance it. There's a café on site and pay and display parking run by the council, plus wheelchair access and disabled toilets at the entrance.
It's open most days from 10:30am to 3:30pm, but closed Mondays, so plan around that if you're doing a midweek trip. Around Halloween there are craft sessions and a themed ticket for over-fours, which is worth knowing if you're after something a bit different from the usual tour.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- All ages, though the underground tour suits kids old enough to sit through a guide
- Last entry
- Last guided tour 15:00
- Booking
- Book by phone or email for dedicated time slot
- Parking
- Pay & Display, operated by Neath Port Talbot Council
- Wheelchairs
- Wheelchair accessible with disabled toilets at museum entrance
- Closed Mondays, so check your day before setting off.
- The forge, locomotive and lamp room are self-guided if the tour times don't suit.
- There's a café on site for a break before or after the tour.
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
£4 for adults, £3 for children and senior citizens.
Do we need to book?
Booking by phone or email gets you a dedicated time slot with the guide, but the site says walk-ins are also welcome.
What time is the last tour?
The last guided tour goes in at 3pm, with the site open until 3:30pm.
Is it suitable for a toddler?
There's no minimum age listed, and the outdoor exhibits like the forge and steam locomotive are hands-on and don't need the guided tour.
Is there parking?
Pay and display parking on site, run by Neath Port Talbot Council.
Is the museum indoor or outdoor?
It's an outdoor site, with the coal mine tour going underground and the rest of the exhibits open air.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
Yes, wheelchair accessible with disabled toilets at the entrance.
Is there anything on for Halloween?
There are Halloween craft sessions and a themed ticket for children over four, priced at £3.
Featured in 2 Huddlepin lists
See all Caves, Mines & Underground in Cardiff · Things to do in Cardiff
MAKE A DAY OF IT
