Museums & Galleries · Poole
Purbeck Mineral and Mining Museum
📍 BH20 5DW
Photo: Sarah Charlesworth (CC BY-SA 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons
- Experience what it was like inside a typical Purbeck clay mine
- View the underground tunnel
- Children's activity trail to be a Clay Mine Super Sleuth
- Woodland Clay Trail walk exploring clay history at Norden
- See mining equipment and narrow gauge railway artefacts
The Purbeck Mining Museum tells the story of Purbeck Ball Clay mining and its narrow gauge railways, housed in the last underground mine building that worked in Purbeck. You can step inside a recreated clay mine, view the underground tunnel, and browse collections of mining equipment and railway artefacts. Families can follow children's activity trails, including a Clay Mine Super Sleuth hunt and a Norden Nippers picture trail, while the Woodland Clay Trail offers a walk through nearby woods. Entry is free, with donations welcomed. Found near Corfe Castle, Dorset, the museum sits within easy reach of Wareham station and Kimmeridge Bay beach, with 132 bookable places to stay within 5 miles on BritStays.
Practical details
- Open
- 11:00–16:00, last entry 15:30; weekends only in October
- Booking
- Free entry, donations of at least £3 per adult suggested
- Best for
- Children's activity trails suitable for ages 5–13
From the attraction's own website on 11 Oct 2026 — check before you travel.
Visitor reviews
No reviews yet — been here? Be the first to share what it's like.
Log in or create a free account to write a review.
Do you own or manage Purbeck Mineral and Mining Museum?
Claim this listing to respond to reviews and keep your information up to date. Verification is free — see why owners claim their listing.
Create a free account to claimPlaces to stay near Purbeck Mineral and Mining Museum
Make a proper break of it — these stays are all within 25 miles.
0.5 mi
0.6 mi
0.6 mi
1 mi
1.1 mi
🎪 What's on near Purbeck Mineral and Mining Museum
Events from
Skiddle
Sat 14 Nov · 14:30
The Sound of Musicals - Poole
St Aldhelm's Church, Poole · 8.4 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Sat 14 Nov · 14:45
Raver Tots Bournemouth
Cameo Bournemouth, UK, Bournemouth · 9.8 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Sat 5 Dec · 15:00
An Afternoon of Indie: BOURNEMOUTH (over 30s), 3pm-7pm
O2 Academy Bournemouth, Bournemouth · 11.2 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Sat 5 Dec · 18:00
Muffled Ear Club's Christmas Groove
Bear Cave, Bournemouth · 10.1 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
🗓️ Make a break of it
Turn a visit to Purbeck Mineral and Mining Museum into a proper getaway — ready-made plans, and the drive worked out with fuel, EV charging and the best stops.
🚆 Or come by train
- Wareham 4.1 miles
- Holton Heath 4.6 miles
- Hamworthy 5.9 miles
Straight-line distances · live departures on each station page