Geevor Tin Mine
Geevor Tin Mine
4.5
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
Closed
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
This preserved mining site features a museum, underground tour and visitor center all perched on the rugged cliffs of Penwith, offering magnificent coastal views high above the crashing surf below.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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- andy c7 contributionsFantastic Place to VisitExtremely interesting site, you can see every aspect of the mine above ground and walk through a section of an old mine that pre-dates the Gleevor Mine. You do not go down in the cage but walk in and out almost at ground level. It is well worth the visit and the parking is free. The information boards provide massive amounts of information for adults and kids, my 12 year old daughter found it linked in with her Geograpgy, Chemistry and Geology. The mine only closed in 1986/1990 and you really feel as if the miners have only just left and some of them are the guides on site. It is worth going just to use the cafe never mind anything else. The food is outstanding, huge amounts and very reasonably priced.Visited February 2024Travelled with familyWritten 18 February 2024
- trish461London, United Kingdom3 contributionsA fantastic day out in CornwallThis is a fantastic tin mine to visit. You can easily spend 4/5 hours or more exploring all the different buildings relating to the mine including one called The Dry which shows the daily routine of the miners starting and finishing their shifts, all their lockers, clothing, so many pictures and more, it's a definite "not to miss" area. Also there is a great hard hat visit underground to a real mine shaft, sensible shoes needed! The tours are by wonderful ex-miners who have a vast knowledge of how the whole site worked before it closed in 1990, and talk very passionately about their mine. The grounds are interesting to walk around, you can walk to a lighthouse in one direction and chimney stacks in the other. There is a lovely cafe serving hot drinks and food, we visited on a weekday, but it could be busy at weekends. We caught The Tinner/Tin Coaster bus from Penzance bus station which took us straight to the front of the mine with a short 5/10 minute walk to the entrance. Loads of free parking. We cannot thank the staff enough for such a wonderful day.Visited March 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 15 March 2024
- John PReading, United Kingdom11 contributionsTip top tin mine experienceWe enjoyed a superb day at Greevor. The welcome greeting from Claire was very warm, informative and friendly. Grant, our guide and former miner was instructive and he oozed knowledge about the gravity extraction of tin and Matt was so reassuring when we went underground and found it very narrow and raining there too !! The cafe was excellent and the quality and quantity of food was outstanding and truly value for money. Thanks must go to Danielle, Karris, Wendy, Matt and Margaret. A great team. We would recommend arriving well before 11 to watch the film and after visiting everything else on site complete the visit to the dry room. This is a fascinating and truly revealing insight into the working condition of a miner and is also a very sad, frozen moment in time, of the demise of Cornish mining.Visited March 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 18 March 2024
- H SinghBirmingham, United Kingdom28 contributionsAwesome authentic day out!!We’ve been in Cornwall a few days and the weather today was temperamental at best!! We found this place online, and previous reviews stated a lot of this attraction was indoors. We arrived and first things first the staff are so lovely!! Everyone was so chilled out and nearly all of the staff we met around the site took the time out to explain the inner workings to us, and share personal stories! This is an awesome touch. There’s a good mix of original features and workings and interactive activities for the kids, also a really cool walk through a historic mine underground. There’s lots of awesome original artefacts to see, and there is a lot that has been left as it would have been 30 years ago, with lots of personal local stories included! All in all for what we paid for a family ticket we found this excellent value for money (especially considering the price of other local attractions in the area), and would happily come back again! Just a note, the cafe on site is great, albeit small - if you do come you can book a table, we were here on a fairly quiet day, and there was still a wait for a table. The food and service was great here too! Thanks all at Geevor for a really great day out!Visited March 2024Travelled with familyWritten 28 March 2024
- Philippa396Manchester, United Kingdom76 contributionsFascinating visit to tin mine, including underground tourFascinating mine, loads to see and do. And a wonderful cliff top location. Everything more or less as it was when mine sadly closed in 1986. Really appreciated the helpful and informative guides, several of whom had formerly worked at the mine and shared their personal experiences . The underground tour is very exciting . Also a nice cafe and shop , and opportunity for lovely coastal walks from the site. Entrance fee seems a bit expensive but it’s well worth it.Visited April 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 2 April 2024
- William MBournemouth, United Kingdom87 contributionsSupercalifragilisticexpialidociousFirst time down this remote coast but well worth it despite Cornish mizzle. Easy parking, warm welcome, reasonable price and off to explore. The Compressor House supplying the compressed air that was vital to the operations, The Winder House with its massive power, The Drill Shop which the miners relied on. By now, if you’re an engineer or have worked in industrial plants you wish there were more story boards because it’s so interesting to get into the back-up operations that were needed for a few men at the mine face. The Dry seems spartan but this was some years ago when workers needed decent showers and social facilities after an arduous shift. Take time to study the photos and stories to take in the human side. Although The Mill is the centre of the tour with a real guided tour and brilliant explanations, it’s actually fairly straightforward after learning what had to be done with the excavated rock. Nonetheless we get a good knowledge of why minerals can be so costly to extract when we see a little cup of tin after all that shaking and sifting. Then we brave the wet, hard hat, stooping scrabble through the underground passage thinking how hard the life was and did I ought to be doing this. Back in daylight either explore the fascinating coastline and/or walk back up to see The Sample House with its thousands of records, the first aid and pit rescue and other random buildings. The café is excellent but extremely busy but the Mine Shop has to get a visit. A fantastic place to visit that retains its authenticity because they’ve not over-commercialised it. Undoubtedly the best family visit in west Cornwall and a real education.Visited March 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 10 April 2024
- Paul FChesterfield, United Kingdom5,170 contributionsClosed on Saturday!!!!!A great place with bags of history and staff well versed in all things mining! Cafe and shop comments the overall experience. The views are incredible and to think back how industrially significant this place was! Most bizarre thing though, the weekend is surely one of the mist popular days to visit and it's shut on Saturdays! Why? Close Monday, Tuesday....but Saturday how oddVisited April 2024Travelled with familyWritten 15 April 2024
- steven DLincoln, United Kingdom96 contributionsTin mineExcellent place to visit. The history of the tin mining is well explained, by visuals and films. A walk in the narrow mine is a must for the visit. The card machine was not functioning on the day but banking app saved the day.Visited May 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 15 May 2024
- 1448thomasWaterlooville, United Kingdom13 contributionsTin mining history trip.Decided to visit mine after wanting to find out more about the tin mining in Cornwall. The place is like a time capsule being left as it was when the mine shut in the 80’s . the locker room was really moving as it still has all the staffs clothing and lockers on display. Staff on site really friendly and informative, ignore the numpties who have left negative review, do yourself a favour and go there.Visited May 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 15 May 2024
- Dave STexas9 contributionsA great way to spend a dayThe Geevor tin mines are a part of the history of this area which was built on mining. The mine ran from the late 18th century through the 1980’s. The entire area was developed into a tourist attraction in the 1990’s. As an attraction, it offers something for everyone. There are museum exhibits about mining, interactive attractions (including a panning for minerals demo) and you get to go through an actual underground portion of the older mine. Throughout the exhibit you meet people who either worked in the mine before it closed or had family who worked the mine. Their knowledge and stories really make the exhibits come to life and help visitors understand mining culture. I highly recommend this exhibit-kids will love it. Getting there is a bit tricky unless you drive yourself. But you can take a bus from St. Ives, Penzance or Lands end. The coaster bus is a good choice and runs regularly. It costs 2 for a one-way trip and you get a 10% discount on your entry ticket if you take the bus. It takes about 2-hours to see the park so plan accordingly.Visited May 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 25 May 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.5
1,513 reviews
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10
Michael C
26 contributions
Jun 2024 • Family
We visited Geevor as we were looking for something a little different to the usual seaside holiday day out. We were not disappointed. The whole experience is very well put together. You can take it at your own pace, there’s plenty to look at and explore. The museum area is really informative and interesting. There are even some former miners on hand to talk you through some of the aspects of working in a tin mine. They are clearly very passionate about their heritage as well as being friendly and helpful. The areas that give an insight into the day to day life of a miner are also well worth exploring (changing rooms, shower blocks etc) and they are preserved to represent how they would have been 35 or so years ago when the mine closed. The highlight is the underground section where you get to explore a small section of the tunnels. This isn’t overly long but you can go through as many times as you like. It’s quite tight in places, so not one for anyone with claustrophobia. We visited on a lovely sunny day and the views over the Atlantic were stunning, we also walked for 40 minutes or so, along the coast and got to see some more old mine pump houses including the spectacular botallack pump house that is perched precariously on cliffs right next to the ocean. The nature of the attraction means it’s suitable for any weather though. It’s worth noting a Cornish heritage pass will get you a 50% discount on admission, so that’s worth considering if you plan on visiting any other Cornish hero associated attractions. Overall very highly recommended.
Written 3 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steve_Lincs1
Lincoln, UK1,877 contributions
Aug 2024 • Family
This place is a hidden gem. There is probably more to do here than you will think and it’s at least a half day visit. The entrance price is also very good value as you can return for free within 12 months.
The mine buildings themselves contain the history and information on the mine and tin mining production across Cornwall.
There is a tour of the old Mexico mine and then you can walk out onto the south west coastal path if you wish.
A well recommended visit
The mine buildings themselves contain the history and information on the mine and tin mining production across Cornwall.
There is a tour of the old Mexico mine and then you can walk out onto the south west coastal path if you wish.
A well recommended visit
Written 10 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jack B
1 contribution
Apr 2023 • Family
Went to geevor over the Easter break (during a huge storm ). And what a fantastic day. all 4 children from 7 to 1 had a blast and not just from the 50mph winds. There’s so much to see they’re always kept buisy. The food in the cafe is very well priced and very tasty and the staff are all lovely I’d recommend this to anybody well worth the visit
Written 17 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ali T
Totnes, UK17 contributions
Sept 2024 • Family
I visited Geevor Mine recently with friends and we all had such an interesting and enjoyable time. The staff there were lovely, there were so many parts of the mine to visit and the exhibits and explanation gave a real sense of the history of the place and all the processes involved. We didn't realise (or had forgotten) how suddenly the mine was shut down. The huge miners' locker room looked as if the men were all about to return for another shift - overalls hung up, boots waited. It was quite sad and eerie.
But even more touching was the Cross Cut exhibition. You entered a dark chamber and it was as if you were standing at the top of a mineshaft looking down. Sometimes you could see the ghostly figures of miners at work and listen to them talking as they worked. We met the artist James Barber, who created the installation. He spent months talking to the miners and their families and recorded conversations, which waft over you as stand in the dark. Outside are many artefacts from the mine donated by the community, which relate to what was experienced "in the mine shaft". It was an extraordinary experience - congratulations to James on creating such an authentic and almost surreal experience.
So a trip to Geevor is highly recommended. And don't miss out on the cafe. Delicious food.
But even more touching was the Cross Cut exhibition. You entered a dark chamber and it was as if you were standing at the top of a mineshaft looking down. Sometimes you could see the ghostly figures of miners at work and listen to them talking as they worked. We met the artist James Barber, who created the installation. He spent months talking to the miners and their families and recorded conversations, which waft over you as stand in the dark. Outside are many artefacts from the mine donated by the community, which relate to what was experienced "in the mine shaft". It was an extraordinary experience - congratulations to James on creating such an authentic and almost surreal experience.
So a trip to Geevor is highly recommended. And don't miss out on the cafe. Delicious food.
Written 22 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Richard P
Nethy Bridge, UK22 contributions
Jun 2024 • Couples
Hadn't planned on visiting, but ended up there and well worth the entrance fee. Easy to access, lots of parking, great as we have a campervan. To avoid too much detail, I'll simply say the museum flows nicely, lots of information, there are ex miners who worked until the mine closed who add that personal experience along with the history. If you take children I'd guess it'd be good, lots of age appropriate information. Parts are extremely poignant. The sheer scale/size is amazing, and I'd recommend taking a wander to the far side of the site to get an impression of the overall site. A highlight is of course the actual mine tunnel. And do not take off your helmet, you will hurt your head!! A very unexpected but extremely pleasant find, well worth a visit.
Written 19 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stephanie H
Littlehampton, UK36 contributions
Oct 2023 • Family
One of our favourite trips while on holiday. It’s so well set up for tourists, it was a cheap day out and the added bonus was being able to complete the experience by getting to talk to actual miners who worked at the mine when it was open! I’m think it’s an amazing gesture too that you can return for free up to 12 months later (honestly though we would pay again)!
Written 26 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steve_Lincs1
Lincoln, UK1,877 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
I’d always wanted to visit a Cornish 10 mine so decided to pick Geevor as I had seen the flyers for it on our holiday site.
To say it was beyond all expectations would be a gross understatement! We booked tickets the day before and arrived mid week in August on quite a drizzly day. The entrance to the attraction is a small hot where you collect hardhats and then venture through some more information before coming out into the natural minor area.
when you reach the main area itself, the number of buildings that you can look around and the information available is vast. From the mine head to the winding house and all of the buildings used by the miners everything has been left as it was when the mine closed nearly 30 years ago. there is also an interactive museum section explaining everything to do with the area and it’s tin mines.
I walk down towards the sea is where the actual mine tour takes place, and this was the only thing that was not as expected. The mine tour actually takes in a hand dug mine from several hundred years ago, rather than the later mine that would’ve been in use more recently due to this it’s is quite cramped and anybody suffering from claustrophobia may not have such a great time! It is one long continuous walk through tunnels, and there is very little light and no information within the tunnel itself. It is an experience, but not the one that I thought we may have when we booked.
There is a lot here! It’s quite easily be a full day and there is a nice walk to the Levant tin mine and also onto Bottallack. Highly recommended.
To say it was beyond all expectations would be a gross understatement! We booked tickets the day before and arrived mid week in August on quite a drizzly day. The entrance to the attraction is a small hot where you collect hardhats and then venture through some more information before coming out into the natural minor area.
when you reach the main area itself, the number of buildings that you can look around and the information available is vast. From the mine head to the winding house and all of the buildings used by the miners everything has been left as it was when the mine closed nearly 30 years ago. there is also an interactive museum section explaining everything to do with the area and it’s tin mines.
I walk down towards the sea is where the actual mine tour takes place, and this was the only thing that was not as expected. The mine tour actually takes in a hand dug mine from several hundred years ago, rather than the later mine that would’ve been in use more recently due to this it’s is quite cramped and anybody suffering from claustrophobia may not have such a great time! It is one long continuous walk through tunnels, and there is very little light and no information within the tunnel itself. It is an experience, but not the one that I thought we may have when we booked.
There is a lot here! It’s quite easily be a full day and there is a nice walk to the Levant tin mine and also onto Bottallack. Highly recommended.
Written 28 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jo R
1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Family
Geevor Tin Mine was an absolute highlight of our recent trip to Cornwall. There is SO much to see here, from talks from a man who worked down in the mine when it was in operation, walking through a disused mine (my four year olds favourite part) panning for gems, tonnes of buttons and levers for kids to fiddle with. If you’re on the fence about whether or not you’ll get your moneys worth, don’t be, you will 1000% not regret coming here. We were there for about 5 hours. Everyone gets a hard hat to wear which I thought was just a fun think to do until we walked through the mine 😂 grownups need those things. We also had a fun quiz to keep us busy with.
All in all, 5 out of 5 from us!
All in all, 5 out of 5 from us!
Written 25 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CornwallGirlatheart
Goonhavern, UK14 contributions
Feb 2024 • Family
This is an all round brilliant day out for all ages and is dog friendly to. The guides here are a fountain of knowledge and are so patient and friendly with all the questions from all ages. Make sure you look to see what actvities are on when you arrive as we found the talk absolutely mind blowing and all ages were engaged in seeing the exhibits our guide shared.
The shop and food are also worth noting as its not a rip off, and there is also quality to be found here. The shop on exit has some interesting things and isn't full of the normal tat so a great place to buy some art, fossils as well as keyrings or books!
In terms of weather this venue is great for wet days as it has so much inside but for a picnic overlooking the sea you won't be disappointed. The car park is free, all the toilets on site kept clean and nice, and I think you will be proud to support a charity keeping the only British tin mine attraction going with no local council support. This is an independent offering and the passion of the team behind it in every aspect is visible by the way they deal with every individual. In terms of customer service there are some major retailers who could take note of how its done here with little public fanfare! I am happy to spend my pounds here where I can see they will invest it back to improve the visitor experience for years to come .
The shop and food are also worth noting as its not a rip off, and there is also quality to be found here. The shop on exit has some interesting things and isn't full of the normal tat so a great place to buy some art, fossils as well as keyrings or books!
In terms of weather this venue is great for wet days as it has so much inside but for a picnic overlooking the sea you won't be disappointed. The car park is free, all the toilets on site kept clean and nice, and I think you will be proud to support a charity keeping the only British tin mine attraction going with no local council support. This is an independent offering and the passion of the team behind it in every aspect is visible by the way they deal with every individual. In terms of customer service there are some major retailers who could take note of how its done here with little public fanfare! I am happy to spend my pounds here where I can see they will invest it back to improve the visitor experience for years to come .
Written 14 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lydia B
2 contributions
Nov 2024 • Family
You can spend the whole day here, but definitely allot at least 2 hours. So much history, and some of the people who lived it are still there to tell the stories. Many thanks to Colin, who spoke with us about his time on one of the rescue teams. We visited in the off-season, and so had the chance to get a tour of the mill and through an older tunnel of the mine. (During summer, you walk through the mill on your own.) The tunnel tour is about 5-6 minutes, so you have a chance to feel how tight things are but not get claustrophobic. The "Dry" is incredible and tells the stories of the different mining jobs. There's something for all ages (including panning for gems), plus the cafe food is fabulous and the views are stunning. We walked the coast to Portheros Cove. You can also walk the other direction to Levant Mine and beyond. Everyone (from the cafe workers to the tour guides) is friendly and full of information. Highly recommend!
Written 22 November 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is it worth paying for this if we are National Trust members and so could go to Levant or East Pool for free? We have primary school-aged children.
Thanks
Written 30 May 2021
Yes it is, full of history and so worth a visit
Written 8 November 2021
Is this somewhere to go on a wet day?
Written 15 August 2019
Hello, i would say absolutely, its 95% inside and a short walk outside to access the internal cavern, there is also a cafe for a meal
Written 17 August 2019
I would like to take my husband to a tin mine as part of our 10th wedding anniversary as it’s symbolised by tin.... however we also have a 6yr daughter to consider in our visit. Which would be the most interesting and offer the most for us all also considering safety as most important - Geevor tin mines, Poldark Tin Mine or Levant Tin Mine and beam engine... is it right they do gechaching? We are national trust members so would probably do Levant anyway but any advice greatly appreciated on other two. Both seem good s would love to go underground but don’t want anything steep or precarious for my little girl. Thanks in advance for any advise.
Written 3 June 2018
Hi there . We had a tour of geevor in early may 2018 and had a great few hours . Very interesting . An exhibition first and then a tour for yourself around the inside of the mine . Then a half hour conducted tour underground led by a chap that had worked in the same mine for 25 years . Its dark and a little wet and you need to mind your head at times but very informative and the guide very amusing . Geevor is not national trust and i think cost around £12 pp . Nice tea room and shop after . We stopped in penzance for 5 days so hired a car for 1 day and didnt take that long to get there . Quite thought provoking . If your daughter is ok in the dark ( it is lit up inside ) she will be fine . You wear a hard hat and old overall . Worth a trip
Neil
Written 4 June 2018
Would anyone recommend this over Levant mine and beam engine?
Written 20 March 2018
If you only have time for one I would recommend Geevor but they are so close to each other, only around a ten minute walk along the coast, it is easy to do both in one visit.
Written 1 June 2018
How long does it take to go round here?
Written 19 March 2018
We were there about 3 and a half hours, lots to read and look at, the highlight was the trip down the mine which took up at least an hour.
Written 24 March 2018
Not that I know, but it's dark down there, and slippery - so you need to be careful if you go with small child.
Written 5 December 2017
I have mobility problems and walk with a crutch how accessible is this site.
Written 30 October 2016
There are slopes and steps within the mine but access as far as I could see was good yes there will be restrictions but I would not see this ruining a good day out.
Written 31 October 2016
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