A good - and mostly accessible - trip down t'pit!
3.5
3.5
Date of visit: August 2019
I have experience of challenges around: moving around
Overall Rating
Good
Interesting museum on a former coal mine. Good range of exhibits and exhibitions above ground and the chance to go 140m underground for a tour led by a retired miner. Access above ground is better than underground, but this is to be expected. The museum looks to have tried to have made good reasonable adjustment to allow wheelchair users to experience the tour.
Disabled Access In and Around
Good
Above ground museum is fully accessible with ramps and level access. There is an underground tour for wheelchair users. You will have to be able to transfer into one of the museum's wheelchairs and will need a companion to push you around underground. The lift underground is an old mining lift with a slight lip to get in. Underground the route is acceptable but there are a few bumps and rails along the way so be careful.
Parking & Transport
Average
Car park on site. Bus services run within easy walking distance of the Museum. From Wakefield or Huddersfield, the Yorkshire Tiger bus stops at the Reindeer pub with a few minutes walk to the Museum. The nearest mainline railway station is Wakefield Westgate. It takes about 20 minutes for a taxi ride from the train station.
Accessible Toilets
Good
Accessible toilets are available in the museum and the cafe area. They were clean and tidy and nice and large.
Staff
Good
Mixed bag. The receptionist was a bit brusque but the museum staff, including the retired miners who led the underground tour, were helpful and charming
Additional Information
I would recommend it - there is enough to see above ground. The underground tour is just about accessible.
