Royal Mint Experience
The Royal Mint Experience is one of the most unusual attractions in South Wales because you get to see where real coins are produced rather than simply looking at them in museum cases.
A guided tour takes you behind the scenes of coin making, followed by an interactive exhibition covering more than 1,100 years of Royal Mint history.
See How Coins Are Made
The guided tour explains the journey from a blank piece of metal to the finished coins that end up in pockets and tills around the world.
You will see the equipment and processes used by The Royal Mint and learn how modern coins are designed, struck and checked.
Because this is a working production site, what you see can vary depending on what is being made on the day, which adds to the feeling that you are visiting somewhere very different from a normal museum.
Follow More Than 1,100 Years of History
After the factory experience, the exhibition takes you much farther back in time.
The Royal Mint has produced coins for more than 1,100 years, surviving changes of monarch, wars, new technology and several moves before eventually settling in Llantrisant.
Coins, medals and historic objects help tell that story, with displays covering everything from royal portraits to famous designs and major moments in British history.
Strike Your Own Coin
One of the most popular extras is the chance to strike your own commemorative coin.
The design changes during the year, so the coin you can make depends on when you visit.
During August 2026, visitors can currently strike a special 50 Years of Aardman commemorative coin.
This costs extra on top of normal admission, but it gives you a much more memorable souvenir than something picked from the gift shop.
Look Beyond Everyday Coins
The Royal Mint makes far more than the coins you use for shopping.
The exhibition includes commemorative coins, medals, special editions and examples showing how coin design has changed through different reigns.
You also get a better understanding of why tiny details such as lettering, portraits and security features matter so much when millions of identical coins have to be produced.
Bring the Family
The attraction works surprisingly well for children because the tour has moving machinery, large-scale production and plenty of interactive displays rather than relying entirely on reading.
Special family events and workshops also run during school holidays, so it is worth checking the current programme before you visit.
The whole experience is structured enough to keep things moving without becoming a long museum trudge.
Stop for Food and a Browse
There is an on-site café serving hot and cold drinks, snacks and light food, plus a gift shop stocked with coins and souvenirs.
If you are buying a collectable coin, the shop is obviously a dangerous place for the wallet, but it is also interesting just to browse.
A Few Useful Tips
The Royal Mint Experience is at Llantrisant, Pontyclun CF72 8YT.
The visitor centre is currently open daily from around 9.15am to 4.15pm, with guided tours running from approximately 10am to 3pm.
Pre-booking is strongly recommended because the factory section is visited as part of a timed guided tour rather than as a normal walk-in exhibition.
Free visitor parking is available on site, including accessible parking spaces.
The attraction is around four miles from Junction 34 of the M4 and roughly 20 minutes by car from Cardiff.
The guided tour and exhibition normally make this a good half-day attraction. Allow extra time if you plan to eat, browse the shop or add the Strike Your Own Coin experience.
Stay near Cardiff: Find hotels and cottages for visiting The Royal Mint Experience and exploring Cardiff and the surrounding South Wales area.