Cornwall’s fascinating mining museum complex (must-visit)
Rust stains the stone walls where miners once hung their helmets, while waves hammer the cliffs just beyond the fence.
This is Geevor Tin Mine, a coastal mining museum that is, in my opinion, Cornwall’s most underrated attraction.
Narrow passageways carved out by hand stretch beneath the hillside, while rusting ore carts and original machinery sit frozen mid-shift – it’s almost as if the workers might return after lunch.
This isn’t a polished heritage attraction. It’s a site that shows you what kept families here afloat for generations — and what eventually brought everything to a halt.
Here’s all you need to know about visiting Geevor Tin Mine (and why you should pay it a visit).
What is Geevor Tin Mine?
Geevor Tin Mine is a preserved 20th-century tin mining site on the north coast of the Penwith peninsula in West Cornwall – between the villages of Pendeen and Trewellard.
Once a working industrial complex extracting tin from deep beneath the granite bedrock, it is now a heritage site where you can walk through former tunnels, peer inside original engine houses and see the tools used by generations of Cornish miners.
The site is part of the wider Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Much of what remains is exactly as it was left when the last shift ended in 1990 – boots still on racks, papers still in filing trays and control rooms left untouched.
The site includes more than twenty original buildings, as well as the preserved mill and processing areas where ore was crushed, separated, and readied for smelting. Below ground, you can step into the 18th-century Wheal Mexico.
History
Tin mining on the site now known as Geevor dates back to the late 18th century, when scattered shafts and adits were dug across the rugged cliffs above Pendeen.
Over the next century, neighbouring workings such as North Levant and East Levant gradually merged into a larger enterprise.
The industrial-scale mining operation known as Geevor Tin Mine formally began in 1911.
By the early 20th century, Geevor had become one of the most productive tin mines in Cornwall.
During its peak it employed over 400 men – with operations running deep beneath the seabed.
Tin ore was hoisted to the surface, crushed, milled, and refined on-site using gravity separation and flotation tanks.
Geevor’s proximity to Levant Mine, where a tragic manengine disaster killed 31 miners in 1919, underscored the inherent risks of deep mining. At Geevor, safety practices improved over time, but the work remained dangerous and physically demanding.
Mining at Geevor was not uninterrupted.
The mine closed briefly in 1921 due to falling tin prices, only to reopen in 1930 under new ownership. A major expansion followed during and after the Second World War, with deeper levels developed and new equipment installed.
During the 1960s and 70s, Geevor became one of the last surviving deep tin mines in the UK. However, global price instability and increasing operational costs led to reduced profitability.
When the price of tin collapsed in 1985 following the International Tin Agreement crash, Geevor held on for a few more years before finally closing in 1990.
At the time of its closure, Geevor was one of the last working tin mines in Europe. It was preserved almost exactly as it had been left, with machinery, tools and records intact.
Former miners led the early efforts to transform the site into a museum, and in 1993 it reopened to the public as part of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Things to see at Geevor Tin Mine
Geevor Tin Mine encompasses the UK’s largest preserved mining site, with original machinery, underground tunnels and over twenty buildings left just as they were when the mine closed in 1990.
Wheal Mexico Underground Mine
Step into an 18th-century hand-dug mine tunnel, carved before the invention of electric lighting or mechanised drilling.
Hard hats are required as you walk through narrow passages supported by timber props, with the marks of picks still visible in the walls.
Conditions are damp and uneven underfoot – bring sturdy footwear!
The Dry
This was the changing room for the miners, where boots and gear still hang as if waiting for the next shift. I found this section very poignant – it was like we’d stepped back to 1990 and the miners were just about to walk back in!
The Mill
This is a huge complex of original processing equipment where the extracted ore was crushed and sorted to separate tin from waste rock.
Explanatory panels and old control rooms show the steps involved in turning rock into marketable tin concentrate.
Hard Rock Museum
A modern, interactive museum tracing the geological and industrial story of Cornish mining.
Exhibits include maps, tools, tin ingots, and an extensive mineral collection. There’s a large-scale model of the mine workings and a lifesize wall mural of miners on shift.
Holman Collection
On your way back up from the mine, explore a dedicated engineering exhibit showcasing some of Cornwall’s pioneering contributions to mining technology.
The Holman Collection includes air compressors, rock drills and ventilation equipment developed locally for use around the world.
Outdoor Areas and Coast Path
The site opens out onto the rugged Tin Coast, with dramatic views over the Atlantic. From here, the South West Coast Path leads to Levant Mine, a ten-minute walk away.
Bring your phone and download the Xplor Tin Coast app to access a GPS-guided family trail packed with stories, challenges, and photo tasks.
Visiting information
Geevor Tin Mine is open from Sunday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with last entry to the site at 4:00 PM.
The Mill buildings and underground Wheal Mexico mine open slightly later at 10:00 AM. You don’t need to book in advance unless you’re organising a group visit of ten or more people. There’s free all-day parking for all visitors, although if you’re travelling by A3 or 17 bus, you’ll receive 10% off admission.
All standard tickets include access to the underground mine, the surface buildings, the Hard Rock Museum, and all family activities.
Admission also comes with the option to say yes to Gift Aid, which gives you free re-entry for 12 months at no extra cost.
Admission (2025 prices):
- Adult (full site): £22.00
- Senior 60+: £19.50
- Child (4+): £12.50
- Under 4s: Free
- Student: £17.00
- Family (2 adults + up to 3 children): £68.00
- Surface-only (adult/senior): £17.50
- Visitors’ personal assistants: Free
- Group of 10+: 10% discount and guided tour
- Travelling by A3 or 17 bus: 10% discount
- Gift Aid option: Free entry for a year
What is there on site?
On site, you’ll find the newly refurbished Count House Café, serving up homemade lunches, cakes, and hot drinks with sea views. The pasties are especially popular. For lighter bites, a new takeaway outlet called Mossel is open during peak periods. The shop near the entrance stocks a wide range of gifts, books, minerals, and locally made products.
Visiting Geevor with kids
Geevor is well set up for families, with baby changing facilities, hands-on exhibits and plenty of activities for all ages—most of which are included in the entry fee.
For younger children, there’s a colouring-in corner and gem panning area where you can keep anything you find.
Pushchairs can’t access every building, so a baby carrier is recommended for visitors with toddlers. Children need to be able to walk independently to access the underground tunnels.
Is Geevor dog-friendly?
Dogs are welcome throughout the site (excluding the underground mine), and water bowls are placed around the grounds. Assistance dogs are allowed everywhere.
Accessibility at Geevor
Wheelchair users can access many of the main buildings, including the shop, café, museum and several surface-level exhibitions. While the underground mine isn’t accessible to all, there’s an accessibility guide available online and staff on hand to assist where possible.
What to wear to visit Geevor
The site sits high above the Atlantic on Cornwall’s Tin Coast.
Weather can change quickly, so layers and closed-toe shoes are strongly recommended!
How long to spend at Geevor Tin Mine
You can explore the buildings and exhibits at your own pace, and during busy times, staff and former miners are stationed around the site to answer questions and share stories from their working days at Geevor.
Some visitors stay for just a couple of hours, but many spend half a day or more!
