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Blacksmith at work, National Slate Museum

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About

Shadowed by towering slate mountains, the National Slate Museum Llanberis is housed in the Industrial Victorian Workshops that once serviced and maintained the enormous Dinorwig slate quarry above it. The workshops catered for all the repair and maintenance work demanded by a quarry, which once employed well over 3,000 men. From strikes and suffering to craftsmanship and community, this is an unique opportunity to glimpse the lives of the slate workers and their families.

Attractions include our stunning introductory film – To Steel A Mountain; daily slate splitting demonstrations by our Quarry Craftsmen and giant waterwheel – the largest of its kind in mainland Britain. Other favourites at the Museum are our homes including the Chief Engineer’s House and the Quarrymen’s Houses – re-erected stone by stone at the Museum and refurbished to show key dates in the slate industry’s history.

Visit the workshops themselves including foundry, smithy, saw sheds and Caban (Mess Room) and see UNA – our Hunslett Locomotive once used to haul rubble in the quarries but now – at over 100 years old – the Museum’s pride and joy. New developments on site include a new ‘pattern’ store area to safely house the museum’s fantastic collection of over 2,000 wooden patterns – originally used in the casting process.

Annual events programme. Café. Shop. Open all year (closed Saturdays November to Easter). FREE ADMISSION.

The Ffowntan Café

The Ffowntan café serves a variety of refreshments from sandwiches and home-made soup to cakes, treats and hot meals.

Book Tickets

Facilities

Accessibility

  • Disabled access
  • Disabled toilets

Booking & Payment Details

  • Credit cards accepted (no fee)

Catering

  • On-site catering
  • On-site light refreshments
  • Picnic site

Children

  • Baby changing facilities
  • Children welcome

Groups

  • Education/study area
  • Facilities for educational visits
  • Facilities for groups
  • Guided tours for groups

Meeting, Conference & Wedding Facilities

  • Facilities for conferencing

Parking

  • Parking with charge

Property Facilities

  • Dogs Accepted
  • Gift shop
  • Public toilets
  • Smoking not allowed

Site Features

  • Welcome Host

Target Markets

  • Coach parties accepted

Map & Directions

Road Directions

The Museum is located in Padarn Country Park off the A4086 in Llanberis. From the A55 take J11 onto the A5 and then onto the A4244 and Llanberis. From the Midlands take the A5 from the M54 and from South Wales take the A470. When in Llanberis follow the signs for Padarn Country Park.

 

National Slate Museum

Type:Museum - Industrial

Padarn Country Park, Llanberis, Gwynedd, LL55 4TY

Add National Slate Museum to your Itinerary

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Tel0300 111 2 333

Opening Times

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