A ‘Proper Cornish’ Day Out At Geevor Tin Mine
Copper and Tin have been found in Cornwall since the Bronze age and both are still very much used in our everyday lives today. Geevor Tin Mine was a real working tin and copper mine, where local people worked and mined here until it closed in 1990.
Now, it is a fantastic and very historic site which brings to life what it would have been like to have a job in the mine and what life was like for the people who worked there, both above and below ground.
Florence (aged 7) and I went and looked around so that we could share the attraction with you and give you, our opinion.
Getting to Geevor Tin Mine
St Ives to Pendeen
If you are starting in St Ives, then head out onto the coastal road towards Zennor. This winding but breathtakingly scenic route will bring you directly to the village of Pendeen. The drive is about 13 miles and will take you around 30 minutes. There is an open top bus service that will also bring you along the same road from the Malakoff station in town.
Geevor is well signposted and is on the seaward side. As you get closer the mine workings and sheave wheel are clearly visible and very obvious. Turn into the drive and head down and you will see the signpost for car parking to the right. The large car park is mainly flat and laid to gravel and from here a sign to the entrance and tarmac path lead you to the ticket office.
The buildings are all clearly signed making it easy to know where you need to go. There are underground tours that run at certain times of day, and we would strongly encourage you to book onto one of these to really make the most out of your day.
Florence and I arrived and parked at about 12.15pm and booked ourselves onto the 1pm tour with ease thanks to the gentleman in the ticket office. He issued us with our hard hats (which are mandatory to walk around the site and go underground) before giving us a map and explaining where we were and where to meet for the tour. We had about 30 minutes before our tour started so, map and quiz in hand, we headed off.
Geevor Tin Mine's main site
We walked through the museum rooms adjoined to the ticket office before heading outside. These rooms had some original artefacts in but, in all honesty, were not the most exciting for a younger child. It was similar to a traditional museum display with items behind protective glass and although I found the information interesting, Florence found it harder to enthuse.
We went into another building next door which Florence found far more engaging, it had the cages which the men working in the mine were lowered up and down in as well as the gears and workings for the person who worked the lifts. There was a recording of a man explaining how the bell was used for signalling levels and for help. Florence loved sitting there and pretending to bring people up and down, dinging the bell and pulling levers. She got a bit embarrassed when someone came in who worked there but the embarrassment was soon forgotten when he told her to get stuck in and carry on and that was exactly why it was there.
Florence lifting the transport cage up and down
Outside we found some of the cart tracks and large workings, across from these Florence was delighted to come across the ‘Mossel,’ a small takeaway food and drinks hatch with outside seating in a nice sunny spot. She ordered herself a sausage roll, chocolate bar and can of drink and I chose a homemade cake, all of which came to less than £10 which I felt was reasonable. Florence said her sausage roll was the best she had ever tasted and ate it all, so we were both happy!
Florence at Geevor Tin Mine
Geevor Tin Mine Tour
Overground
We were just in time to go to the meeting place for the tour where we met with the other people booked in and Grant, our tour guide.
Currently the tour guides are men who used to work down the mines themselves and this made the whole experience much more real and honest. Grant talked about his own experience from the wages and salary he earned to using the drills, the camaraderie and the differences between the people working up top and those underground.
His stories and the way he conducted the tour was both heartwarming and captivating. He led our group through the workings above ground and explained the process of what happened when the rock was brought up and how tin was extracted. He talked about the dangers for those who handled and disposed of the arsenic. The demonstrations of the shaking table and seeing the balls that ground up the rocks with the shuts really brought the whole thing to life.
Once out of the workings above ground, we then took a short walk down the hill towards the sea. Grant pointed out and explained the roles of various derelict buildings that are scattered across the landscape and how they fitted into the picture he had just painted for us about how the mine worked above ground.
It was now time to go underground!
Underground
We headed into Wheal Mexico Mine, it is not something I would suggest for anyone suffering from claustrophobia, back or neck issues or anyone who does not like the dark.
Florence led our group down the mine, it started out with me having to duck a little (I am 5ft 9 for context). We followed the path through the rock, and it got wetter, narrower, lower, and darker as we made our way to 40ft underground. Let us just say I was thankful for the hard hat! If you can go underground, we would recommend it. Florence was shocked that people really went down there to work and for her to see and feel how small and dark it was made it much easier to understand and take in. We both loved the experience and have talked about it a lot since.
Once out of the mine and back up in the sunlight the tour was over, and Grant left us. The walk back up the rest of the building is steep and one of the people from our particular tour found this quite challenging.
Florence in her hard hat going underground
Other attractions of Geevor Tin Mine
There were then lots of other buildings to explore and activities to do. First aid rooms and offices look like they have been left just as they were in 1990, with writing and dates on the boards. We recommend that you have a look in them all.
Panning for gold
Florence’s best part was the panning for gold building where she got to literally pan for gems and gold in big sand and water trays. She was ecstatic when Grant told her that she could keep whatever she found. There was an abundance of treasure, and she came home with a little bag filled with “Real Gems” such as Tigers Eye, Amethyst, and fools’ gold. This was a great activity for going back to the workings with the shaking tables and the washers as the principal was basically the same as panning.
Cinema
The cinema was a great stop, and the interactive activities and exhibits were great for keeping a whizzy Florence busy and engaged throughout. Having a modern exhibit which explains how the metals are used today in everyday things like mobile phones kept the whole trip relatable and current and why it is important history.
The Dry
My Favourite part but also the most emotional was the dry. This massive building where the workers would clock in in the morning and out at the end of the day with the showers and places to dry their clothes was very striking. The scene that is set is one that is creative and staggeringly emotive. Brace yourself for a bit of an emotional kick, it was one I was not prepared for. The lockers, still with kit in and names on doors, well worn pairs of boots and clocking in cards alongside large portrait pictures of the people who worked there, makes it eery and powerful in equal measure.
I perhaps felt it more than some because I personally knew so many of those faces in real life, and too many are no longer with us. However, being able to talk about them to Florence and explain why I had a sad face to her was worth it, I think. Telling her stories about as a little girl riding Dougie Alford’s ponies and how when her Granny and friend ran a marathon that Salvador Cillo and I were chasing them to give them the cup of tea they requested made us giggle.
Explaining to another visitor who another friend was and that they may know his famous brother (they did) helped them to relate to the face on the wall showed that the links are closer than we think.
The Dry
The Counthouse Cafe
I have already mentioned the Mossel, but Geevor has an incredible café on site called The Counthouse Cafe. It has a huge window showcasing the stunning views overlooking the mines and out to sea. Everything is made on site and the team working there are just brilliant at what they do. Personally, our family thinks it is the best breakfast for miles around!
Gift shop
The visit would not be complete without a visit to the gift shop which is stocked with lovely local cards and gifts. Florence loves the range of shiny things (mainly rocks) which are reasonably priced and a good keepsake or gift to take home with you. Florence did show and tell with hers on Monday at school.
Incredible sea views from Geevor Tin Mine
Our summary of Geevor Tine Mine
Both Florence and I would thoroughly recommend a visit to Geevor. If you want to make more of a day of it walking to Levant Beam engine owned and run by The National Trust, it is worth a visit and only a 10-minute walk along the coast path. You and your family (and dog!) can explore all the derelict buildings and chimneys which is also great fun.
Admission fees
These are the admission fees when we visited (March 2025)
ADMISSION PRICES (including Free Parking)
Adult (full admission) £20.50
Adult (museum only) £16.00
Child (4 years and over) £11.60
Child (under 4 years old) Free
Student £11.60
Senior Citizen (60+) £18.00
Family Ticket (2 adults & up to 3 children) £63.00
Visitor’s Personal Assistant Free
Travelling to Geevor Tin Mine on the A3 or 17 Bus and get 10% off
Hillcrest | sleeps 8