Beamish North England Open Air Museum
Beamish is a world famous open air museum telling the story of the people of North East England at two important points in their history – 1825 and 1913.
In 1825, the region was rural and thinly populated. The Industrial Revolution, particularly the coming of the railways, accelerated change. By 1913 the heavy industries of the region were at their peak.
Beamish stands in 300 acres of beautiful County Durham countryside, eight miles south west of Newcastle upon Tyne, twelve miles north west of Durham city. It is not a traditional museum. Most of the houses, shops and other buildings have been dismantled, brought to Beamish and rebuilt here. Some - Home Farm, Pockerley Old Hall and the Drift Mine - were here already. All of the buildings are filled with furniture, machinery and objects, real artefacts from our designated collections.
What sets Beamish apart from glass case museums is that the story is told not by labels but by costumed staff who are proud of their heritage and happy to share their knowledge with visitors.
HOME FARM:
Home Farm, once the ‘model farm’ of the Beamish estate, shows a prosperous managed farm of 1913.
The heart of the farmhouse kitchen is an imposing locally built range, a fire crackles merrily in the grate and the farmer’s wife goes about her daily chores.
VISITORS INFORMATION:
ADMISSION CHARGES 2010/11
| |
Summer |
Christmas |
Winter |
| Adults |
£16.00 |
£10.00 |
£7.50 |
| Child (5-16 years) |
£10.00 |
£8.00 |
£6.00 |
| Sixty Plus |
£13.00 |
£10.00 |
£7.50 |
| Student** |
£13.00 |
£10.00 |
£7.50 |
| Family(2 adults & 2 children) |
£46.00 |
£29.00 |
N/A |
| Family(1 adult & 2 children) |
£32.00 |
£19.00 |
N/A |
The Beamish Unlimited Pass allows you to visit again and again after paying just once.
** Students should be in full-time education and will be required to bring proof of student status.
Children under 17 years must be accompanied by an adult.
Children under 5 years are admitted free of charge.
OPENING TIMES 2010/11
SUMMER
27th March 2010 to 31st October 2010. Open 7 days a week, 10am to 5pm.
WINTER
4th January 2010 to 26th March 2010 and 1st November 2010 to 19th November 2010 and 4th January 2011 to 1st April 2011. Open Tuesdays -Thursdays and weekends, 10am to 4pm. Closed Mondays and Fridays.
CHRISTMAS
20th November 2010 to 2nd January 2011. Open Tuesdays - Thursdays and weekends, 10am to 4pm. Closed Mondays and Fridays and Christmas Day.
LAST ADMISSION ALWAYS 3PM.
A visit to Beamish in the winter season is centred on The Town, Pit Village and tramway only. Other areas of the Museum are closed and admission charges are, consequently, reduced.