Hopewell Colliery
Hopewell Colliery
5
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  • Superhoop2808
    London, United Kingdom110 contributions
    Perfect on a hot day
    We visited middle of July last year and of course the temperature was mid 30's so this was the perfect place to visit. Just 10c underground and as our guide said, when we finished the tour going back outside was like getting off the plane at Tenerife. Just us and 2 others were on the tour so just perfect and our guide was unbelievably knowledgeable and also had a good sense of humour making the tour a lot of fun. Would highly recommend to anyone in the area for all ages.
    Visited July 2022
    Written January 31, 2023
  • M C
    2 contributions
    A must when you visit the area
    Excellent tour for all ages - from the young kids to adults. Extremely informative and engaging. Many new things to learn for everyone and an unique way to experience the mines and mining. Rich was an outstanding guide. The cafe is also very good with great variety of hot and cold food for a tasty lunch.
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written April 17, 2023
  • Liz C
    Royston, United Kingdom31 contributions
    Great place
    I went to look before taking a school trip there. They will love it , it’s a fascinating place. The two guides were most helpful, knowledgeable and informative. I think the place would be great for families and anyone with a keen sense of history.
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written April 25, 2023
  • Michelle W
    3 contributions
    Brilliant!
    Had the most fantastic tour with Richard so informative and interesting! Lots and lots of questions asked and answered. What a little treasure this mine is, such interesting history, and it's still a working mine. Just fascinating. There is also a very lovely cafe on site which is open until 3pm (I think!). Great pasty, cream tea and a slice of pavlova. Well worth a visit and very reasonable prices for the tour and cafe.
    Visited June 2023
    Written June 20, 2023
  • Sally W
    5 contributions
    Great experience
    Great experience, very interesting tour underground. Cool temperature and tall people need to take care walking under the low roof height! Great cafe on site with friendly staff.
    Visited June 2023
    Written June 26, 2023
  • Geoff W
    2 contributions
    Excellent tour
    The guide, Rich, was very knowledgeable and informative. He is a Freeminer himself and shared his experiences freely. He made the tour of the mine very interesting and explained everything in a very easy to understand way. The tour lasted a lot longer than was advertised. Very definitely worth a visit if you're in the area.
    Visited June 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written June 28, 2023
  • jennifer m
    London, United Kingdom5 contributions
    Amazing experience
    This underground tour of a working mine was amazing, the tour guide Rich was knowledgeable, funny and definitely worth a visit. It was a small group and that was really nice, and we were encouraged to ask lots of questions. Well worth the cost of the ticket and different to the walking tours available. Steady shoes required as walk down to the mine is a little steep, but we felt safe.
    Visited July 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 15, 2023
  • Liz S
    4 contributions
    Go!
    Exhilarating! The tour guide Rich is a Free miner- listening to his expertise as you visit the mine is mesmerising. You see the coal seam, where the coal is taken from the coal face and experience total darkness (not for long!). Adults and kids loved it. Thank you Hopewell Colliery for sharing your passion for free mining, geology and the heritage of the Forest of Dean.
    Visited August 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written August 5, 2023
  • Paul
    Berlin, Germany5 contributions
    Miss this at your peril!
    What an amazing tour. The mine and history is fascinating. Richey, the tour guide was brilliant, a real font of knowledge which was delivered with passion and humour. He even thrilled our two teenagers who really enjoyed the experience. I would recommend booking because if you miss this, you have missed a treat!
    Visited August 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written August 19, 2023
  • mrsbrown412
    Bath, United Kingdom58 contributions
    Give it a go!!
    A very enjoyable tour, with the gentlemen which took us down the mine, was extremely knowledgeable, and very friendly. He managed to book us on to the guide at the last minute. There is a nice café, And a large shaded car park. The tour is very reasonably priced only £10 for an adult and £9 for children. My 12 year old thoroughly enjoyed it.
    Visited August 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written August 24, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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Laurence T
St. Neots, UK1 contribution
Aug 2022 • Family
An original and enjoyable experience, descending into one of the few hand-worked coal mines left in the country. The guide, Rich, is one of the Freeminers of the Forest of Dean. Learning about the history of the Freeminers is as fascinating as exploring the mine itself.
This isn't a show cave with special effects lighting, it's the real thing. Recommended for adults and kids alike. Our group included a range of ages from around 5 years old to, well, someone's gran. Bring a fleece, decent shoes or boots, and a sense of adventure.
Afterwards, tea and cakes in the café.
Pre-booking is recommended, the tours run at specific times and on certain days. Check the website to make sure.
Written August 18, 2022
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.

SallyBrownsb76
Bexley, UK142 contributions
Jul 2022 • Family
Saw the mine advertised in a local leaflet but it was close by where were were staying in Clearwell so we booked on line that day and went on their last guided tour of the day. It’s a working coal mine and we were taken taken down a steep decline to the coal face. We each got a hard hat with a light attached. I took my 14 and 10 old and they were fascinated even though both had initially moaned about going. Our guide, Rich I believe his name was, was very informative, knowledgeable and happy to answer lots of questions. We almost didn’t go but I’m so pleased we did, great bit of education for me and the kids. There is a free car park on site as well as a cafe and toilet and some outdoor seating.
Written July 26, 2022
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.

Elaine C
Gloucestershire, UK80 contributions
Jul 2021
Two hungry boys in need of a chip fix and couldn’t have popped in to a more obliging place! Boys were well happy with their generous takeaway portions served in decent foil plates with all the condiments they needed.
I have eaten here with friends on several occasions and never been less than 100% happy with what we have had. The ladies do a great job, work hard and do all they can to make sure customers are satisfied. Food is good value for money and it makes a change to have a good meal which hasn’t just been warmed in a microwave like so many places fo.
Written July 29, 2021
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.

minkydoodad
United Kingdom7 contributions
Jun 2021 • Friends
Rich is a great guide, friendly, engaging and answered every question with his wealth of knowledge and experience. It was a fascinating insight into mining and the local area, and I plan on returning when then weather allows exploration to the deeper shaft.

Whilst I didn’t eat in the cafe, it was busy, the food looked amazing and our local Airbnb host heartily recommended it. Tickets are easy to book online.

As a side note, ensure you wear suitable footwear with grip. A fellow tour participant was lucky he didn’t slip in his leather brogues!
Written June 6, 2021
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.

MKMEJ
20 contributions
Apr 2022 • Family
UNMISSABLE What a wonderful tour into the mine by Rich. Rich needed a helper, so my son Jackson stepped into the role as Rich’s second in command for the descent. He was wonderful with him Loads of questions asked by the group all expertly answered by our man Rich. One of the best things I have done with the family in recent years. A history lesson deep under 200ft of rock to find the 30 inch seam of black goal (coal).

A step back in time to the days of darkness and hard graft to earn a living.

Also, a wonderful cafe filled with memories of generations of miners to have a lovely cuppa, and I recommend the toasted sandwich’s.

Fantastic!
Written April 14, 2022
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.

EA
2 contributions
Jun 2021
A thorough introduction to a unique aspect of local industry - freemining in this area dates back centuries. Our guide was knowledgeable and approachable and his personal experience of working as a miner shone through. Highly recommend to anyone in the area - study shoes and sensible clothes recommended (you may want to wear gardening or work gloves, as the handrails are slippery in places). Not recommended for anyone unsteady on their feet.
Written June 28, 2021
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.

Superhoop2808
London, UK110 contributions
Jul 2022
We visited middle of July last year and of course the temperature was mid 30's so this was the perfect place to visit. Just 10c underground and as our guide said, when we finished the tour going back outside was like getting off the plane at Tenerife.

Just us and 2 others were on the tour so just perfect and our guide was unbelievably knowledgeable and also had a good sense of humour making the tour a lot of fun. Would highly recommend to anyone in the area for all ages.
Written January 31, 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.

Claire F
3 contributions
May 2021 • Family
We visited the colliery on bank holiday Monday, a very hot day! Rich, the long twirly bearded guide, was so friendly and informative, he made the visit very interesting. Our 3 boys (7,12 & 13) loved going down the mine and they all had a lot of questions for Rich, which he was more than happy to answer. The cafe is also fantastic with a large variety of food & drink on offer, and seating inside & outside. The cafe staff were also very friendly. Overall a very enjoyable visit for us all!
Written June 2, 2021
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.

Sally W
Towcester5 contributions
Jun 2023
Great experience, very interesting tour underground. Cool temperature and tall people need to take care walking under the low roof height! Great cafe on site with friendly staff.
Written June 26, 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.

Rachel H
Haslemere, UK14 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
A fascinating insight into what it must have been like through the ages to be a miner…and the unique story of The Freeminers of the Forest of Dean.
Rich was a ‘mine’ of information (boom boom) and he effortlessly kept up us all engaged and fascinated throughout. No mean feat for a group with 5 teenagers!
The knowledge and interest to know more is testament to how good a guide Rich is.
I highly recommend making time for this if you are in the area.
Written August 30, 2022
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.

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