Reviewed December 2019
All we had to do was turn up 5 minutes before our allocated time and head towards the mine entrance. We all popped on our hard hats (they even fit the little one!) and we were given our briefing. I had completely forgotten you couldn’t take anything with a battery underground, so the mobile with camera was left behind!
A quick professional photo was taken before 19 of is descended underground! Mini Mumbler clutched my finger, but after another girl popped her torch onto the wall he was excited to watch us descend in the lift!
As the lifts doors opened, we all scurried out and waited to be let through the special secret door. A snowy scene with UV tracks led all the way up to Santa’s Grotto. It was all in the first part of the mine tour so the head height wasn’t restricted!
There was a seating area outside where Dave the ex-miner told us some tales of his childhood Christmas’ and interacted with the children. Each family was invited into the private Santa’s Grotto so you really got that private, individual experience!
Mini Mumbler was in awe as he told Santa what he would like for Christmas and Santa reminded him that he had to go to bed early on Christmas Eve (thanks for that Santa!). He then received a wrapped present, a chocolate coin and a certificate for visiting Santa underground!
We then exited into another Christmas scene area. As we were waiting for the last family to finish their Santa visit, Dave led a Christmas sing song. Everyone joined in and it was a really lovely, special moment!
On going back up the lift we all sung Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer!! Our photos were all printed and ready for purchase and we were reminded to collect our special treats from the cafe; a reindeer gingerbread for Mini Mumbler and mince pie each for Mummy and Daddy!
This was a really lovely, unique Santa experience, Mini Mumbler received a high quality gift of a 3 in 1 vehicle blocks (just like lego) and Santa, the friendly elf and Dave the ex-miner were so friendly and very welcoming! We will also never forget the time we went 140m underground to visit Santa in a yellow hard hat!
And you know what, it was a nice break to not have my phone, trying to capture the moment and the memory to be in our mind!
National Coal Mining Museum Santa Underground
£6.50 adult, £8.50 child, £7.00 photo
Gift & chocolate coin for child, certificate, gingerbread Rudolph for children and mince pie for adults!
