If you visit North Wales, a trip to the Welsh Slate Museum is a must. They've turned a big industrial area into a wonderful free tourist attraction, that explains the landscape and cultural history very well. Based in the old workshops for the quarry, you get to see; a slate splitting and tile cutting demonstration, nice videos about the history of the industry, lots of wagons and info on the miners. They've also transported a short terrace of miners cottages, transporting each back to 1869, 1901 and 1969. It's fantastic and very thought provoking. There is so much to see and do, we missed our on the Quarry Hospital and only got to walk a short section of the fantastic signposted walks.

We had a really great trip here on a weekday during the school holidays. There was plenty of parking, despite us not turning up very early. (The parking machines were out of order, but there's free WiFi so you can pay by app). The museum is completely free (at least part-funded by donations) and really high-quality. To start with there's a c.20 minute film in a mini-cinema, which is really educational and as well as an overview of the process of mining gives fantastic context into Welsh mining culture, which we so appreciated. There were slate splitting demonstrations throughout the day, and 'paint a slate' activities for children (paid). There's a cafe with covered and open picnic tables and an outdoor play area for children. We had this down as a 'wet weather activity' but you go outdoors between the various buildings where the displays are (you can linger indoors if it is wet though). One of these are reconstructed miners houses, showing what the houses would have been looked through time. Another showed the way that water power was used, featuring the largest working water wheel in mainland Britain. I was amazed to learn about the inventions that the mining industry drove. Genuinely great museum. We were here for just over 2 hours but could really have spent longer.

This museum is truly extraordinary - it not only chronicles the history of the slate industry and the way of lives, it also preserves the Victorian workshops, buildings, slateworker's home and tools. As it was built on disused quarry, the rail access for slate transport to the port, the workshop and the waterwheel for power generation are all available for viewing. The waterwheel is in fact huge - it's the largest working model in mainland Britain! One can even buy a piece of slate to bring home.

Really interesting museum. So good learn more about slate mining heritage of the area. It was such hard work! Well set out with a cafe and of course Lake Padarn right by it. I can't believe that it is free. The Quarry hospital was fascinating too.

A free museum.... what more could you want. Yes it's a little rough around the edges and could have a little more info about things, but you can easily spend two hours here. The staff were all friendly and on hand to answer any questions, lots of different demonstrations going on. Probably a little boring for young children but as a couple we found it an interesting insight into the history of the area. The cafe was pleasant and food fresh. Worth a trip on the steam train over the road whilst here too. Car park is paid but not over priced, if I remember correctly it was PS4 all day. Would happily come back here for a second visit in the future

What a fabulous pace to visit parking is PS5 for the day. Museum is free and it's fab so much history and things to do. It has a cafe on site a small playground and a gift shop. Outside 2 Minute walk across the way is the lake railway again with small cafe and shop. PS10.50 adult return journey about hour total .. the views are spectacular out of this world. A lovely day out for families wheelchair friendly.