Beamish, the Living Museum of the North
About
Contact Details
- Location
- Beamish Museum, Beamish, County Durham DH9 0RG
- Telephone
- 0191 370 4000
- museum@beamish.org.uk
- URL
- View website
- Facebook URL
- View Facebook page
Ages
For all ages
Opening Times
- All days
Farms
At our 1940s Farm, you’ll discover the stories of wartime life in North East England.
The farmhouse and cottages of our 1940s Farm represent everyday domestic life, featuring objects from the era, ranging from a wireless (radio) to ration books. You may hear 1940s music or news broadcasts and smell cooking, using wartime rations.
Pop into the cosy farmhouse, and find out about wartime family life. You may smell cooking on the Aga or range (using rations, of course), hear 1940s music and news broadcasts on the wireless, and see “make do and mend” in action.
Orchard & Garden Cottages – Open
These old labourers’ cottages have some new tenants – a family of evacuees in Orchard Cottage and Land Girls next door in Garden Cottage.
Orchard Cottage represents the home of a family of evacuees, who have moved from a town or city to the safety of the countryside and are adjusting to rural life. Orchard Cottage also hosts activities for older people and people living with dementia, and their families and carers.
Outdoors – Open
Farms played an important role during the war, with their vital land work helping to save the nation from starvation. In 1939, 70 per cent of Britain’s food was imported from abroad and there were fears that German submarines could create a blockade, cutting off supplies. This meant there had to be a major campaign to produce home-grown food. Look out for tractors, tools, animals, the farmer’s out-of-use car, and the pill box – ready in case of attack.
Cafés
Eating at Beamish
1900s Town
Tea Rooms (takeaway, indoor seating)
The Sun Inn pub (takeaway, indoor seating)
Herron’s Bakery (takeaway)
Jubilee Confectioners Sweet Shop (takeaway)
Ice cream kiosk (closed until 9th April)
1900s Pit Village
Davy’s fish and chip shop (takeaway). Try our famous fish and chips, made in coal-fired ranges using beef dripping! This working exhibit uses traditional cooking methods, which means there may be queues during busy periods. Please note, vegetarian and gluten-free options are not currently available. We apologise for any inconvenience.
Sinkers’ Bait Cabin (takeaway)
1950s Town
Welfare hall (takeaway and indoor seating)
Middleton’s Quality Fish and Chips (closed)
John’s Café (takeaway and indoor seating)
Entrance
Coffee Shop (takeaway, indoor seating)
Reviews (10)
Note: We advise you check these details are up-to-date before planning a visit.
+Add a review or rating
stacy w(36)
Beamish is a great day out. And once u pay u can go for the rest of the year on those tickets. There so much to see and do. Even for my youngest who is almost 3 he loved it especially the animals. And if you don't take a pic-Nik the fish and chips are lovely!
Mod Sharon
We love a day out at Beamish, the special events such as xmas and Halloween are really entertaining. Once you have paid to get in once you can return as many times as you like that year-total bargain! Ride the trams and trolley buses, feed the animals-take a picnic to eat on the green. Sit in the lovely warm cottages if the weather is pants, great days out.
Mod Sharon
A great day out for all the family-too much to see in one day! Ride the trams, trolley buses or steam train. Go down the mine (quite scarey!), explore the lovely houses or the farm. Pockerley Manor house is our favourite-very atmospheric. The guides are very knowledgeable and happy to chat. Once you have visited, your ticket allows you access for free for the rest of the year-total bargain! Haven't been at xmas as it sells out really quickly but it is supposed to be lovely. Went at Halloween last year and had a great time-everyone was dressed up-lots of scarey jumps but quite a giggle-recommended.
Guest
An absolute hit whatever the age! From a visit down the pits, to devouring real fish and chips, eating old fashioned sweets, playing with toys in the school yard, petting animals at the farm or travelling on a tram. So much to do, and miles to walk if you want - your visit could easily span over a few days.
Guest
We visited Beamish last week with our 13 year old son and had a great day. It can be difficult finding a day out that pleases a teenager (!) but we all enjoyed. Lots to see and do in all the different areas. A highlight of my day was seeing a little boy in the farm singing Old Macdonald at the top of his voice for every different animal / tractor he saw :) If you want to ride on the trams don't leave it till the end of the day like we did - we only just managed to get on as they were so busy. I'd also advise booking tickets in advance as it was a much shorter queue than for those buying on the day.
Guest
The museum is fantastic and your children will not even realise they are learning! There are various different areas to visit from the colliery and it's village to a Manor house. A train yard (with replica working Rocket!) to a working farm and a brilliant Town centre too. The museum is vast and is great exercise walking from area to area, however there are regular trams and buses if you do get tired and need a 'lift' to the next part. The unlimited passes are great value for money and we have bought them for family as birthday or Christmas presents.
Guest
we visited Beamish yesterday, myself, partner, two daughters aged 9 and 2 years and my son aged 7. we all had a fantastic time. we went down the mine, the kids had a school lesson, had a ride on an old carousel and walked in and around the old fashioned shops and houses. we had a fantastic day out and i can not rate it highly enough and would recommend it to anyone. we took our own picnic but food and drink is available there if you prefer. the staff were all in old fashioned traditional clothes and very imformative and friendly. you can ride on the old buses, trams and trains too. will definatly be going back soon especially as now that we have paid to go in once the same ticket allows us to go back an unlimited amount of times for a whole year.
Guest
Sweet shop!! This is definitely our favourite place :). If you're planning a trip by public transport you can get the 28 and 28a go northern service which picks up and drops off just outside the main entrance. This is a great day out for the whole family as it has something to interest everyone.
Guest
Beamish is a great place. We have come several times in the year now with our unlimited ticket and as there is so much to see, it has been a different trip every time. My little boy (2 last time we went) loves to ride on the trams, buses go on 'puffing billy' and the steam train! There is often a large carosel there as well and many people dressed in period costume. The houses and shops are really interesting to look around too. Definitely a whole day is needed.
Guest
I took my 3 girls aged 12, 9 and 7 here last saturday and we had a lovely day. They thoroughly enjoyed the tram and bus rides, a visit to the old sweet shop and a lesson in the school. We also went on a tour down the coalmine which the guide made sure was lively and interesting. We finished off with a ride on the carousel and a visit to the old farm house to see the pigs. All in all, we had a great time and you could definately spend the whole day there.
+ Show more