Visitors can travel 300 feet underground at Big Pit National Coal Museum for free this summer, with the usual charge for its world-famous underground tour removed from Saturday 18 July until Tuesday 1 September 2026.
The guided tour takes visitors down the original mineshaft and into the historic underground workings of a real Welsh coal mine. Wearing a helmet, cap lamp, belt, battery and ‘self-rescuer’, visitors can discover what working life was like for the generations of men, women and children whose labour helped power the Industrial Revolution.
Led by one of Big Pit’s knowledgeable guides, the experience brings the history of Wales’s coal industry vividly to life, sharing the stories of the communities and people shaped by the industry.
Big Pit stands within the Blaenavon Industrial Landscape, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its international importance in the development of iron and coal production. Alongside the underground tour, visitors can explore the Pithead Baths exhibition, historic colliery buildings and the Mining Galleries.
Plan your visit
Free underground tours will run from 18 July to 1 September 2026.
Tickets are available on the day and visitors will join the next available tour. Places are subject to availability, so arriving early is recommended.
Children must be at least one metre tall to go underground and those under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Big Pit National Coal Museum is open daily from 9.30am to 5pm, with underground tours operating between 10am and 3.30pm. Entry to the museum is free. Parking costs £5 per day, with free parking for Blue Badge holders and motorbikes.
Big Pit National Coal Museum
Blaenavon
Torfaen
NP4 9XP
Sat nav: NP4 9RL
