5/5 Leon B. 3 months ago on Google • 22 reviews New
As
a
sort
of
connoisseur
of
museums
in
South
Wales,
this
takes
ranks
incredibly
high
for
me.
Maybe
even
the
top
spot.
South
Wales
mining
runs
in
my
blood,
so
I
alway
relish
the
opportunity
to
learn,
live
and
breathe
the
history
of
our
proud
and
savage
land.
This
leads
me
to
the
review.
I
decided
to
call
up
to
enquire
as
to
how
to
book
the
tickets
for
admission.
The
lady
on
the
other
end
was
very
friendly
and
polite.
Even
said
"we
look
forward
to
seeing
you
later."
As
soon
as
I
heard
that,
I
immediately
got
the
missus
and
got
into
the
car.
The
parking
is
plentiful,
and
£2.50
for
4
hours
(pay
and
display).
Admission
is
£3
for
an
adult.
£3!
That's
less
than
a
cup
of
coffee
in
most
places
and
with
this
you
get
all
this
history!
We
spent
an
hour
or
so,
being
taken
on
a
guided
tour
through
the
museum.
There
were
multiple
exhibits,
explaining
the
types
of
coal,
what
it
was
like
for
those
underground,
etc.
There's
plenty
of
interactive
games,
including
a
dress-up
area,
which
is
great
for
families!
Sam,
our
guide,
was
an
absolute
gent,
as
was
Colin
(who
we
met
quite
early
on
for
a
minute
or
two).
I
always
love
that
places
like
the
SWMM
employs
ex-miners.
They
often
have
an
insight
and
a
banter
that
you
just
don't
see
with
someone
who
learned
about
it
from
a
book.
Listening
to
how
they
both
spoke
to
each
other,
there's
a
level
of
respect
and
friendship
that
is
absolutely
beautiful
to
see.
Even
later
on
when
Sam
would
recall
stories
that
involved
Colin,
that
respect
still
remained.
This
is
a
common
theme
amongst
miners.
We
could
have
listened
to
that
man
talk
all
day,
he
was
genuinely
a
lovely
bloke.
At
the
end
of
the
tour,
we
went
into
a
separate
room
and
purchased
some
things
from
the
little
gift
shop
that
was
there,
all
of
which
were
reasonably
priced!
There
we
met
someone
who
referred
to
herself
as
"the
queen"
and
a
lovely
lady
who
we
bought
the
tickets
from
at
the
beginning.
Both
of
them
were
beautiful
souls.
Very
kind
they
were.
I
could
sit
here
and
talk
about
the
staff
for
ages.
They
are
what
make
this
site
incredible.
I
have
been
to
many
museums
in
South
Wales.
Many
to
do
with
mining.
So,
when
compared
to
somewhere
like
Pwll
Mawr
(Big
pit)
or
the
Rhondda
Heritage
park,
it
is
quite
small.
But
what
it
lacks
in
size,
it
more
than
makes
up
for
in
literally
everything
else.
But
the
main
thing
for
me,
was
the
sense
of
family
that
I
got
from
the
staff
there.
When
you
think
of
the
history
of
mining,
family
was
everything
and
in
the
time
we
were
there,
we
went
from
being
museum
visitors,
to
a
part
of
that
family.
This
place
needs
to
be
known
about.
Everyone
I
speak
to
about
Welsh
history
and
Welsh
mining
is
going
to
hear
about
this
place.
Due
to
where
it
is,
there
are
a
multitude
of
different
walks
or
cycle
paths
for
you
to
enjoy,
with
varying
levels
of
intensity.
But
all
of
which
with
absolutely
stunning,
breathtaking
views.
I
full
heartedly
recommend
this
place.
I
would
scream
it
from
the
rooftops
if
I
could.
But
I
only
have
my
network,
and
my
reviews.
We
will
definitely
be
revisiting
in
the
future.
Keep
it
up
you
beautiful
lot!