National Coal Mining Museum in running for White Rose tourism award

The National Coal Mining Museum in Overton has been shortlisted in the large visitor attraction category of Welcome to Yorkshire’s White Rose Awards for tourism.

The former Caphouse Colliery offers guided underground tours, interactive displays, ponies, a nature trail, galleries, exhibitions, a shop and cafe and soft play area.

Katharine Morley, the museum’s commercial and HR manager, said: “We’re utterly amazed and thrilled to be even shortlisted for this award.

“We’re up against some extremely tough and worthy competition, so to be in the same category as the other attractions and be nominated seems like a win in itself.

“We’re continually striving to help build the growth of the community and Yorkshire and it’s great to be acknowledged for that.”

Other attractions on the shortlist include Lightwater Valley theme park near Ripon, and Cannon Hall and Wentworth Castle Gardens, near Barnsley.

Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “Given the high standard of this year’s entries, just making it to the shortlist is a huge achievement.

“This year the bar has been raised yet again, it’s always a close run thing, but there’s every chance they could go on and win one of these prestigious awards.”

York’s Castle Howard scooped the award last year and the 2014 winner will be announced on November 17 at the Yorkshire Event Centre in Harrogate.

The National Coal Mining Museum is also in the running for the Yorkshire’s Most Magnificent Attraction award, where it’s up against the Yorkshire Sculpture Park and The Hepworth Wakefield, as well as 11 other venues across the county.

Voting for the award, run by Yorkshire’s Magnificent Attractions, closes on Monday, September 1.

To vote visit www.yorkshireattractions.org/vote