Inigo Jones Slate Works

Inigo Jones Slate Works is a historic and active slate workshop located in Groeslon, North Wales, roughly 6 miles south of Caernarfon on the main A487 road. Founded in 1861, it originally produced writing slates for schools but has evolved into a functioning production centre for architectural, memorial, and craft slate products.

Current Status and Opening Hours

The attraction is currently open.

Easter to September: Open 7 days a week, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.
October to Easter: Open Monday to Saturday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (Closed Sundays during this period).
Closed: Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day.
Last Tour: The final self-guided tour of the day starts at 3:30 pm.

What to See and Do

Visitors can experience the Great Slate Tour, a self-guided journey through the heart of the industry.

Educational Film: Start with a 10-minute video presentation explaining the history of Welsh slate and how it is mined and blasted.
Workshop Walkthrough: Follow an audio guide (available in multiple languages including English, Welsh, French, German, Spanish, Chinese, and Japanese) through active workshops. You can see craftsmen in action using both traditional and modern machinery.
Interactive Activities: Try your hand at calligraphy and letter cutting on a piece of slate, which you can then take home as a personalized souvenir.
Exhibitions: Explore geological and historical displays, including items made for famous ocean liners like the Queen Mary.
Showroom and Café: Browse the gift shop for locally made slate clocks, wine racks, and plaques, or visit the Gerlan Café and adjacent farm shop for meals and local produce.

Duration of Visit

On average, visitors spend 1 to 2 hours at the site. The self-guided tour itself typically takes about 1 hour to 1.5 hours, but you may want extra time for the hands-on engraving or to browse the showroom and enjoy the café.

Who Will Enjoy the Experience

History and Geology Enthusiasts: Those interested in the industrial heritage of Wales and the formation of 500-million-year-old slate will find the exhibitions highly rewarding.
Families with Children: The site is very family-friendly, featuring a quiz for children with a slate prize at the end to keep younger visitors engaged.
Dog Owners: The entire site, including the tour and the café, is dog-friendly, making it a perfect stop for those travelling with pets.

Suitability and Accessibility

The attraction is generally accessible for most. It is largely on one level, making it suitable for visitors with limited mobility or those using crutches/wheelchairs. However, because it is a working industrial site, some areas may have uneven floors or dust, which might be a consideration for those with severe respiratory issues or specific sensory sensitivities.

Best Time to Visit

For the Full Experience: Visit on a weekday during work hours to see the craftsmen actively working the machines.
For Quietness: Arrive early at 9:00 am or later in the afternoon (before the 3:30 pm final tour) to avoid peak midday crowds.
Weather: As many of the activities are indoors or under cover in the workshops, it is a perfect “rainy day” activity in North Wales.

What Makes It Unique

Unlike larger museum-style attractions like the National Slate Museum in Llanberis, Inigo Jones is a small, independent, and fully operational commercial workshop. The primary difference is the hands-on interaction—specifically the opportunity to carve your own slate memento—and the intimate scale that allows you to talk directly to the workers.

Budget and Cost-Effectiveness

No Entry Fee for Shops: There is no charge to enter the showroom, café, or farm shop, making it a free stop if you just want to browse.
Affordable Tours: The tour fee (historically around £7 per person) is widely cited by visitors as excellent value, especially as it includes a souvenir you make yourself.
Discounts: Groups of 10 or more can receive discounts if they pre-pay. Online booking via certain third-party sites may occasionally offer minor promotional discounts (e.g., 5% off codes).
Memberships: There is no formal annual membership like a large theme park, primarily because the site is small enough that most families visit once or twice a year rather than weekly.

Practical Advice for Visitors

Clothing: Wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes as you are walking through a workshop environment where slate offcuts may be present. While the tour is covered, some sheds are open-sided, so bring a jacket if it’s a cold day.
Parking: There is a large, free car park on-site with easy access from the A487 roundabout.
Public Transport: The site is very accessible; a bus stop is located immediately adjacent to the entrance, served by routes from Caernarfon, Porthmadog, and Bangor.
Food: You don’t need to bring your own food as the on-site café serves everything from light snacks to full meals, and the farm shop offers local treats.