We’ve officially been in the UK for over a week, and today—Day 8—might just be my favorite yet. It began on the right note: I slept a whole night and didn’t have to wake up until 8:10 AM. A rare luxury on this packed itinerary! By 8:45, we were on the bus and headed to the Black Country Living Museum, an open-air historical site I’d been looking forward to visiting. Despite my full seven hours of sleep, I still took a much-needed nap on the bus ride there.
Once we arrived, we kicked things off with a tour of a real coal mine. After a short video introduction, we put on hard hats, were split into small groups, and were handed a single “flashlight,” a candle replica that mimicked the dim light real miners used. The mine was dark, damp, and narrow, with low ceilings and a chill in the air. It made me think about the manual labor people had to do in the mines.
We learned about the young boys—some as young as 10—who once worked in those very tunnels, earning around six pence a day. Their first job was opening and closing doors for horses transporting coal. The working conditions were brutal: 12-hour shifts, 6 AM to 6 PM, in near-total darkness. Women weren’t allowed in the mines, so they prepared food and sent it to the workers in marked baskets. After a tragic flood that killed 24 children, new laws finally restricted mining work to boys over 10. The whole tour left a lasting impression—it was sobering and unforgettable.
After resurfacing, it was time for lunch. I chose the British classic: a jacket potato with cheese and baked beans. It was simple, comforting, and absolutely delicious, or I was starving.
From there, we explored the rest of the museum, which felt more like a movie set than a historical site. Unlike traditional museums, this one was entirely outdoors and brimming with activities. Adding to the magic was a surprise 1960s-themed event happening that day. There was vintage fashion, dancing in the streets, thrift shops, and a mini carnival in the historic buildings.
The carnival rides were the absolute highlight. We couldn’t resist the carousel, which was beautifully painted with portraits of the British Royals hanging from the ceiling, and classic organ music playing. It felt like I was at Disney World. To continue this Disney-feel, we jumped on these flying rocket ships that were comparable to the Dumbo ride at Disney. You could control the height with a lever, and I had a surprisingly good time as we soared up and down in circles. Finally, we ended with a swing ride that lifted us into the air and spun us around. That ride has always been my favorite, so I was excited to see it as part of the carnival. It brought out everyone’s inner kid.
We wrapped up around 2:30 and caught the bus back to Birmingham. I napped most of the hour-long ride, completely content and full of new memories.
When we got back at 4:00, I went shopping with my friends. However, we started with a lunch/dinner break at McDonald’s, and by the time we finished, it was already 4:30. Because it was Sunday, all of the stores closed at 5:00, so we did not actually get to shop. The McDonald’s was still much needed, and after the day’s festivities, I needed a Big Mac.
When we returned, we had a study session at the hotel, where we worked on our presentations. Although I was tired from the day, it was nice to get it done and ready for tomorrow. After that, my friends and I had a reservation at The Malt House, which was good, but I thought it would be more like a restaurant rather than a pub.
Tomorrow, we have presentations, and then we’re off to London!