I have never... been to the Coal Mining Museum

Family activities most definitely count you know, which is a good thing as there are a few places we haven't been and wanted to try.

On Bank Holiday Monday we went to the National Coal Mining Museum. It's taken a while for me to be confident that my youngest could cope with being underground in the dark for an extended period. Plus I wasn't sure before now that the subject would be very thrilling for them.

But actually it was a lovely day. The underground tour was fascinating and once Phoebe learnt to cope with the dark, really funny. The nature trail was a real hit too, as were the cornish pasties.

It's free to go, although you do have to pay for the mining tour and it really is a must. If only to learn exactly how dark is pitch black and to teach you to thank your lucky stars you are a child of the 1980s.