National Mining Museum Scotland Geology Edinburgh

Experience history like never before and walk in the footsteps of miners at The Lady Victoria Colliery, home of the National Mining Museum Scotland.

The Colliery was opened in 1895 as Scotland’s first super-pit. It ceased production in 1981 and now serves as an example of one of the best preserved Victorian Collieries in Europe. The Museum tells the story of coal in Scotland and explores the future of the renewable energy transition.

The Museum’s educational Pithead Tours are led by ex-miner tour guides who share their knowledge, lived experiences, and fun anecdotes. The pithead tour includes a recreated underground roadway and coal pit so you can experience the atmosphere and noises of a working pit.

Continue your journey back in time through the Museum’s Permanent Exhibitions, which have multi-layered links to the curriculum.

First, through ‘The Story of Coal’ learn about coal’s creation in the Carboniferous period 360 million years ago, then follow human efforts to extract it from the earth from the 13th century to modern times. Then, in ‘A Race Apart’ exhibition experience what life was like for the miners and their families in Scotland’s mining communities (with included dress up opportunities!). Move into the present in the Museum’s new interactive Green Zone where you can explore engineering and energy developments.

The Museum’s learning programmes offer a Mine of Information. These tailored school workshops include hands-on and interactive learning opportunities handling items from our collection – ranging from STEM in our Renewable Energy Workshops to History in learning about life as a Victorian mining family.

Recognised Collection of National Significance

Accredited Museum

Young Person’s Guarantee Employer

We tailor our visits specifically to suit your topic and the age and stage of learners. We cater to Nursery, Primary, Secondary and Further Education. Workshops and visits can cover a broad range of Scottish Curriculum for Excellence topics including: STEM, Social Sciences, History, Art & Design. Popular workshops include ‘A Mine of Information’ which explores Scottish Mining History, and ‘Powering Up’ which teaches about different forms of energy. We are happy to develop workshops for topic requests.

A typical school visit to the Museum is structured in three parts so that you can get the most out of your visit: a pithead tour with an ex-miner, time to view the exhibitions with quizzes as you go along, and a workshop led by the Education Manager.

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.

Workshops from our schools programme can cater for a maximum class size of 30. Groups larger than this would require booking separate sessions.

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 with collection items about mining or the Victorians fore community groups, care homes, and schools/educational groups to borrow for free. Please contact the Education Manager with enquiries.

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

Your local authority or organisation may require a risk assessment to be completed before your visit. Even if not, it is recommended.

It is the group leader’s responsibility to prepare the risk assessment for a visit to the Lady Victoria Colliery and National Mining Museum.

We recommend that you make a planning visit to help you prepare your risk assessment. These planning visits are free of charge. To book, please contact the Education Manager or Reception on 0131 663 7519 or email educationmatcover@nationalminingmuseum.com

If a planning visit is not possible, please contact the Education Manager for a Risk Assessment Information Sheet for guidance on potential hazards at the site.

Education Manager: Megan Turner

email educationmatcover@nationalminingmusuem.com

phone 0131 663 7519

School group visits of a guided tour with ex-miner tour guide and access to two exhibition floors and Green Zone cost £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 £30 (per workshop), for our ‘Mine of Information’. For £40 a craft activity (either making your own safety lantern or mine cart) is included. Other workshops are £45 (per workshop).

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

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.

• 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 changing facilities
• Picnic area
• Outdoor play are

• Staff are undertaking SEN training
• Sensory backpacks are available on request.
• 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.
• 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.

Winter Hours

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

Summer Hours

1st April – 31st October – 10am – 5pm

A Mine of Information