National Mining Museum Scotland

Experience history like never before and walk in the footsteps of the miners at the National Mining Museum Scotland, located at the iconic Lady Victoria Colliery. Opened in 1895 as Scotland’s first “super-pit,” this remarkable site ceased operations in 1981 and is now recognized as one of the best-preserved Victorian collieries in Europe.

The Museum offers a dynamic and immersive educational experience, ideal for school groups, university students, and lifelong learners alike. Through interactive exhibits, guided tours, and hands-on activities, visitors can explore the powerful story of coal mining in Scotland—from its impact on communities and the economy to the development of mining technology over time.

Highlights include:

• Historic Setting: The dramatic architecture of the Colliery buildings offers a tangible connection to the industrial past, providing an authentic backdrop for learning.
• Live Demonstrations and Guided Tours: Led by former miners, these tours provide personal insights and real-life stories that bring the history of mining vividly to life.
• STEM-Focused Learning: Discover the engineering feats behind the pithead gear, winding engine, and ventilation systems—ideal for students studying physics, mechanics, or industrial design.
• Social History and Human Stories: Explore the lives of miners and their families through personal artifacts, photographs, and reconstructed scenes from mining villages.
• Energy Transitions: The Museum not only looks to the past but also addresses the present and future, exploring Scotland’s journey from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources and the challenges and opportunities of the green energy transition.

Educational visits can be tailored to suit different age groups and curricular needs, and resources are available for teachers to enhance pre- and post-visit learning. Whether you’re studying history, science, geography, or social studies, the National Mining Museum Scotland offers a rich, engaging, and thought-provoking experience for all.

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National Mining Museum Scotland
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The National Mining Museum Scotland offers a truly unforgettable experience that brings Scotland’s rich industrial heritage to life in a way that is immersive, educational, and deeply personal. What makes the Museum especially unique is its powerful combination of authentic setting, expert storytelling, and dynamic learning experiences—all housed within the beautifully preserved Lady Victoria Colliery, one of the finest surviving examples of Victorian industrial architecture in Europe.

A standout feature of the Museum is its educational Pithead Tours, led by former miners who bring unparalleled insight and warmth to the visitor experience. Their lived experiences, practical knowledge, and engaging anecdotes create an authentic and often moving connection to the history of coal mining. Visitors can step into the recreated underground roadway and coal pit—complete with sights, sounds, and atmosphere—to truly feel what life was like working deep beneath the ground.

The Museum’s Permanent Exhibitions offer something for all ages and interests:

• “The Story of Coal” takes visitors on a geological and historical journey from coal’s formation in the Carboniferous period 360 million years ago, through centuries of human innovation in coal extraction.
• “A Race Apart” delves into the lives of miners and their families, shedding light on the strong sense of community, resilience, and identity within Scotland’s mining villages. This exhibition is highly engaging for younger visitors, offering interactive elements and even dress-up opportunities.
• The brand-new interactive Green Zone brings the story into the present and future, inviting visitors to explore the evolution of energy and engineering. This forward-looking exhibit highlights Scotland’s shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy, aligning with today’s conversations around sustainability and innovation.

What truly sets the Museum apart is its commitment to education and engagement. The Museum’s ‘Mine of Information’ learning programmes offer tailored, hands-on workshops for schools that link directly to the curriculum. Students can handle real historical artefacts, engage in STEM-focused activities such as the Powering Up- Renewable Energy Workshop, or explore social history by learning about life in a Victorian mining family. These sessions foster critical thinking, curiosity, and a deeper appreciation for Scotland’s industrial legacy and future. Most of these activities are also available as outreach.

We are also Autism Friendly accredited and offer “one of the best accessible visits” with sensory backpacks, sensory options, hearing loops, quiet spaces, adaptions where possible, site specific PECS boards and more!

Whether you’re a history enthusiast, an educator, a curious student, or a family looking for a day of discovery, the National Mining Museum Scotland offers a rich, authentic, and inspiring experience that connects the past to the present in a uniquely powerful way.

Recognised Collection of National Significance
Accredited Museum

Young Person’s Guarantee Employer

Autism Friendly Accreditation from the National Autistic Society

We tailor every visit to meet the unique needs, interests, and curriculum requirements of your group. Whether you’re visiting with nursery pupils, primary or secondary school learners, ASN department, or students in Further Education, our team will work with you to ensure your experience is age-appropriate, engaging, and aligned with your learning objectives.

Our educational offer supports a wide range of topics across the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence, including:

• STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)
• Social Studies and History
• Health and wellbeing
• Art & Design
• Sustainability and Global Citizenship

Workshop Options

We offer a variety of themed, hands-on workshops, each linked to specific curriculum outcomes. Popular choices include:

• A Mine of Information
  Delve into Scotland’s rich mining heritage. Pupils explore historical objects, handle real mining equipment, and learn how coal shaped the country’s communities and economy with a focus on your own local area. Of course there is also a chance for everyone to dress up as a miner too! This workshop is suitable for all ages and abilities.
• Powering Up – Renewable Energy Workshop
  A dynamic STEM-focused session where students investigate how engineering and innovation are helping create a more sustainable future for Scotland and the world. Students learn about traditional energy sources like coal, and investigate modern renewables as part of Scotland’s transition to a greener future.
• Victorian Mining Families
  Designed especially for younger pupils, this session brings the social history of mining to life through role play, costume, and storytelling, helping learners empathise with the lives of children and families in the past.
• Natural Disasters and Geology – New
  Through a comparison of Scotland and Japan’s topography, we’ll investigate rock formations and the Earth’s natural processes before looking at natural disasters and the amazing inventions being used to help. Pupils will have the chance to make their own seismometers to take away with them. 
• Developing the Young Workforce – Employability Skills
  We offer a range of activities for supporting employability skills from taster sessions, bespoke Travel & Tourism/Heritage Skills workshops, to hands-on “take over” type events and activities.

We are also happy to design bespoke workshops for specific themes or topics your class is studying. 

Structure of a Typical Visit

To ensure your group gets the most from their time at the Museum, a typical visit can be structured into three engaging parts:

1. Pithead Tour
   Led by one of our experienced ex-miner guides, this tour takes learners through the iconic Lady Victoria Colliery site, including the atmospheric recreated underground roadway and coalface. Students experience the sights and sounds of a working pit and hear first-hand stories from someone who lived the job.
2. Self-Guided Exploration of the Exhibitions
   Pupils explore our permanent exhibitions with tailored activity sheets or quizzes to guide and deepen their learning. Key displays include The Story of Coal, A Race Apart, and our interactive Green Zone.
3. Curriculum-Linked Workshop
   Led by our Education Manager, this interactive session reinforces key learning outcomes and allows students to engage directly with museum objects, models, and resources in a creative, supportive environment.

All visits include a designated lunch area and the option to visit our gift shop. Pre-visit information and risk assessments are available to help with planning.

Accessibility is of key importance and we offer sensory backpacks, quiet space, and adaptions wherever possible. We have pre-visit visual guides and site specific PECS boards available.

We are committed to making your visit meaningful, memorable, and educationally enriching. Get in touch to discuss how we can support your teaching and inspire your learners!

We cater for various group sizes but would recommend splitting larger groups and rotating their activities throughout the day. Please contact the Education Manager in advance of your visit with group size.

We are always happy to help! From our free loan box service to digital resources – just ask!

Many digital resources are available on our website: https://www.nationalminingmuseum.com/learn/school-learning/resources/. This includes resource packs and videos on topics including: Mining Minibeasts, NET Zero Town Challenge (Climate Change), Mining Detectives (Local History) and The Victorians. Your Local Area Mining Heritage Packs for Ayrshire, Clackmannanshire, Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, Fife, Lanarkshire, Midlothian, Stirlingshire, Sutherland and West Lothian are available on request from the Education Manager. 

We also provide loan boxes on a variety of topics for community groups, care homes, and schools/educational groups to borrow for free for up to 4 weeks. Please contact the Education Manager with enquiries. 

Can’t make it to the Museum? We also offer outreach and virtual visits too!

This is permitted unless filming for a commercial purpose when you are required to contact us in advance.

We provide a risk assessment information sheet for the entire Museum and workshop specific risk assessments. We recommend all group leaders/teachers book for a pre-visit recce, free of charge, to complete their own risk assessment.

Mrs Victoria Brown

Education Manager

education@nationalminingmuseum.com

Telephone: 0131 663 7519

Website: nationalminingmuseum.com/learn/

School group visits, for Guided Tour with ex-miner tour guide and access to two exhibition floors and Green Zone, cost only £1 per pupil, 1 free adult for every 10 pupils and thereafter £8.50 per additional accompanying adult. Carers and 1:1 Support Workers are free of charge.

Educational Workshops start at only £40 (per workshop) but price is dependent on topic. All our pricing has been kept low in order to be as accessible as possible. NMMS offer bus transport reimbursement for all Midlothian based schools/educational groups. 

Can’t come to us? We also offer outreach and virtual visits too!

Our site has first aid boxes and trained first aiders. However, we would always recommend that group leaders carry out their own risk assessment and have a trained first aider.

Sensible footwear and layers as it can sometimes get cold on the pithead tour! 

• FREE car park on site with coach parking, disabled visitor spaces, and a ramp leading to the main reception area
• Drop-off zone directly outside main doors of Museum
• On public transport route for Scotrail trains and Lothian/Borders buses 
• WiFi 
• Hearing Loop 
• Lift 
• 2 manual wheelchairs on site 
• Wheelchair access throughout 
• Level access at main reception, to gift shop, café and toilets 
• Gift Shop 
• Café with Gluten free and vegan/vegetarian dietary options 
• Toilets on ground floor in our café, on second floor exhibition area and in our Green Zone Activity Room 
• Baby/access changing facilities 
• Picnic area 
• Outdoor play area
• Sensory Backpacks
• PECS boards
• Pre-visit visual guides 
• Quiet Spaces
• Packed lunch room

We pride ourselves on making sure our Museum is accessible as possible. Please see our website for more details on accessibility and disabled access facilities at our site. https://www.nationalminingmuseum.com/visit/access-information/ 

Please contact the Education Manager direct if you wish to discuss any aspect of your visit or any additional support needs your group may have and we will be happy to assist.

Some key points are as follows:

• Staff have taken part in SEN training and Education Manager has been Makaton trained
• NMMS is Autism Friendly Accredited
• Sensory backpacks are available on request.
• We can offer quiet spaces, light/sound adaptions, PECS boards, ear defenders, etc  
• There is a large FREE car park on site with disabled visitor spaces and a ramp leading to the main reception area.
• There is a drop-off zone directly outside the main doors of the museum.
• There is level access at the main reception. There is level access from the main reception to the gift shop, café and toilets.
• The double entrance doors are automatic in operation and have an opening width of 1.7 metres.
• The reception area is well lit.
• There are low level counters at reception, gift shop and café.
• Disabled visitors’ toilets are available in the café area on the ground floor and the 2nd floor behind the lamp room.
• The disabled visitors’ toilets are purpose-built unisex facilities.
• An emergency alarm is provided in the toilets.
• Doors open outwards.
• All taps are easy to use and do not require an ability to grip.
• A coat hook and low level mirror are provided.
• Access between floors is by stairs and by lifts.
• Stair cases all have handrails both sides.
• The lifts are large enough for most power operated wheelchairs.
• A hearing loop system is in use through the exhibition floors.
• All public parts of the museum are fully wheelchair accessible with the exception of the Winding Engine House. There is a film showing this area in the gift shop.
• The layout is spacious and there is ample room for wheelchairs throughout the public areas.
• Foldable/portable walking stick seats are available on request. Please ask a member of staff who will be happy to help.
• Red flashing beacons light up when the fire alarm sounds.
• Guide and assistance dogs are welcome. 

NMMS is open 7 days a week.

Winter Hours

1st November – 31st March – 10am – 4pm

Summer Hours

1st April – 31st October – 10am – 5pm

Powering Up workshop – “Such a great workshop, it really helped support our Global Goal 13 – Climate Action topic and pupils were engaged throughout. The resources offered wouldn’t have been possible in class, really impressed” – Teacher, Newtongrange Primary

“Net Zero Town Planning” digital resource – “Fantastic digital resource that not only engaged pupils in thinking about energy and climate change but also to take a look at their local area and the wee things they can do that will make a big difference. My class were really engaged and it’s been one of the best activities we’ve taken part in!” – Teacher, Stobhill Primary

Outreach workshop – “We loved having the Education Manager visit our school – the range of real mining objects she brought and the opportunity to learn more about mining in our area was amazing, especially when most pupils didn’t even know the town was a mining town!”- Teacher, Fauldhouse Primary

ASN Visit – “One of the most accessible days out we’ve ever had – other museums could learn from you. Staff were so welcoming, knowledgeable and kind. We’ll be booking again!” – Support staff, Upmo