Coalville brings together mining history, theatre and countryside. The Century Theatre stands right next to Snibston Colliery Park, placing two of the town’s defining features side by side. In the park, historic buildings and machinery sit alongside a variety of habitats and paths. You can therefore choose what to focus on during your stay in Coalville: theatre, mining heritage or nature.
Theatre history alongside the colliery buildings
The Century Theatre was designed and built between 1948 and 1952. It is considered Britain’s oldest surviving touring theatre. It was later renovated and rebuilt on a purpose-built site next to the historic colliery buildings of the former Snibston Colliery in Coalville. This brings together two distinct chapters: the history of a touring theatre and the legacy of coal mining.
Today, the Century Theatre hosts theatrical performances, stand-up comedy and live music. Its programme adds contemporary stage offerings to the venue’s historical significance. If you want to plan your visit around a particular performance, check the dates before travelling. That way, you can explore the theatre’s history whether or not a performance fits your stay.
Industrial history at Snibston
Snibston Colliery Park is on Ashby Road in Coalville, right next to the Century Theatre. The site covers more than 40 hectares and includes a variety of habitats. To explore its industrial history, the Snibston Heritage Trail takes in several historic buildings and machines. There is also a year-round programme of colliery tours led by former miners and re-enactors. The “Into the Dark” mine simulation recreates a coal face at Snibston.
These experiences each offer a different perspective: the Heritage Trail leads to buildings and machinery, the tours are led by people with a connection to mining, and “Into the Dark” focuses on a coal face. If you are interested in the colliery’s history, you can consider which way of exploring it you would like to include in your plans. It is worth checking the specific dates for tours.
Paths, spoil heap and nature reserve
The landscape also tells the story of the site’s former use. The former spoil heap at Snibston Colliery has been reclaimed as woodland and open, rough grassland. A network of paths runs through the park and includes viewpoints. If you would rather combine your visit with a mountain bike ride, there is a dedicated four-kilometre blue-grade trail. It loops around the original spoil heap and passes through woodland and natural vegetation; features include jumps, bumps and berms.
Grange Nature Reserve offers a different kind of natural setting, with a Victorian arboretum, wetland, boardwalk, wildflower meadow and two fishing lakes. This combination differs from the reclaimed spoil heap at Snibston: here, the focus is on different natural areas and their distinctive landscape features. Together with the paths and viewpoints in the Colliery Park, this gives you a choice between the nature reserve, walking routes and a specifically described mountain bike trail.
Planning your journey and visit
There are two specific reference points for finding your way by bus. Local bus stops are right outside the entrance to Snibston Colliery Park. Coalville’s main bus stop, Memorial Square, is a ten-minute walk from the Century Theatre. If you use Memorial Square as your arrival point, you can factor the stated walk to the theatre into your plans. The park and theatre are right next to each other; however, the bus stop information refers to different destinations. If you are planning to attend a performance or tour, check the relevant dates before booking your accommodation in Coalville.
Discover more destinations: Great Easton, Market Bosworth, Quorn, Melton Mowbray, Knipton, Swannington, Croxton Kerrial, Earl Shilton.
For the broader travel overview: Leicestershire.
