National Slate Museum

Nestled in Llanberis beneath the dramatic mountains of Eryri, the National Slate Museum tells the story of an industry that helped shape both Wales and the wider world. The museum occupies the original Victorian workshops of the vast Dinorwig Quarry, once one of the largest slate quarries on Earth and a place that employed thousands of workers. Today, the site preserves the sights, sounds and traditions of a remarkable industrial heritage. One of the museum’s greatest attractions is the chance to explore authentic quarry worshops that remain much as they were when craftsmen repaired machinery and tools for the quarry. Visitors can wander through the foundry, smithy, saw sheds and the historic Caban, where quarrymen gathered for meals and discussion. Massive industrial equipment, original tools and engineering displays reveal the scale of the operation that once powered the local economy. A highlight for many visitors is the enormous waterwheel, the largest of its kind in minland Britain, which demonstrates the ingenuity of Victorian engineering. The museum has also been famous for its slate-splitting demonstrations, where skilled craftsmen show how blocks of slate were transformed into roofing tiles using traditional techniques passed down through generations.