Back in the 1990’s Pam’s family went a trip to Beamish and all absolutely loved it. 20 years on Pam could only remember the cobbled streets and getting a family portrait photograph taken, so we thought another visit was well overdue. This time in our thirties, we took Shannon’s parents along to get different age perspectives, as the open-air museum is a fun day out for all ages.
Beamish is an open-air museum, located in the North of England, near the town of Stanley in County Durham. The museum is set up as an example of everyday life in urban and rural North East England at the climax of industrialisation in the early 20th century. Most of the restoration and interpretation is specific to the late Victorian and Edwardian eras, together with portions of countryside under the influence of industrial revolution in 1825. On its 350 acres estate it utilises a mixture of translocated, original and replica buildings; a huge collection of artifacts, working vehicles and equipment; as well as livestock and costumed interpreters.
Arriving at Beamish you will be transported into different eras, board the old tram and head to the first stop along the countryside, the tram follows a loop track, hop on and off as you wish. You can walk around the site, but it is much more fun hopping on one of the electric trams or replica Edwardian motor buses or trolley buses.
The first stop is the 1940’s Farm where you will discover how life was on the Home Front during the Second World War. You can enter a house styled in keeping with the era and see animals and perhaps the Land Girls and the Home Guard!
Then walk down to the 1900’s Pit Village and Colliery here you will visit the school where you can play hopscotch and iron hoops in the school yard and join a class. Visit the pit ponies in their stables and try some Fish and Chips. Here you can also visit inside the row of Miners cottages. Nearby is the Colliery, here you can take a guided tour to the drift mine and experience the reality of life underground, in darkness for the miners.
Next up you will arrive at the cobble stone 1900’s Town where you can explore and see how families lived and worked in the years leading up to the First World War. It is here you can enter terraced houses, the bank, Co-op, chemist and 1900’s car and bike garage. You can also stop in for food and drinks at the bakery, pub and sweet shop. There is also a working chemists and fairground. Be sure to get your old-fashioned photograph taken in the photographers too!
You can step on the platform of Rowley Station and see Edwardian signal boxes and waiting rooms as well as a variety of wagons.
Then it is on to 1820’s Pockerley where you can take a steam train ride on the Pockerley Waggonway and wander through the glorious Georgian landscape and old houses and see replica locomotives
Beamish museum has received a number of awards since it opened its present site to visitors in 1972 and has been influential on other "living museums". It is a significant educational resource and helps to preserve some traditional north-country and rare livestock breeds. And you can see why people say it is a museum like no other, you feel as though you have been transported back in time with smells, tastes, sights and interactive displays.
The best part? The staff all dressed up in the eras traditional costumes. If only all the paying visitors could also dress up, that would be some sight to behold! We cannot recommend Beamish enough, it is fun for kids and teenager, insightful for young adults, to see how their distant generations lived, to the older generation visiting, they will be transported back in time- pointing out the same wallpaper and same furniture that their family sported in their own homes, back in the day.
All this fun and excitement costs just £19 per adult, and with any ticket you just pay once and can visit Beamish unlimited times during the year! A family of 2 adults and 1 child is just £43.50
We would recommend at least 3-4 hours to see the whole of Beamish.
Opening times:
24th March 2018 to 28th October 2018
Open daily, 10am to 5pm.
29th October 2018 to 5th April 2019
Open daily, 10am to 4pm. Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and Mondays & Fridays from 8th Jan to 15th Feb.
Last admission 3pm.
Address:
Beamish Museum Beamish County Durham DH9 0RG
Located:
25 minutes drive south of Newcastle Upon Tyne
*This post is sponsored by Beamish. We only ever work with companies we genuinely want to be a part of. All thoughts are our own. Thank you to everyone at Beamish for making this trip possible
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