MuseumsDurham

Britain&8217;s Best Museum Period Living & Traditional Homes &8216;2005 Best of British Awards&8217; and &8216;Living Museum of the Year 2004&8217; Good Britain Guide, Beamish is one of the region&8217;s leading tourist attractions. It vividly recreates life in the North of England in the early 1800s and early…

Killhope winner of the Guardian's Family Friendly Award 2004 is a 'Quality Assured Visitor Attraction,' where you can discover the lives of Lead Mining families. As part of this discovery come and see 'Magnificent Minerals' a temporary exhibition extended for 2005. This eye‐catching display of…

Darlington Railway Centre & Museum is located on the 1825 route of the Stockton & Darlington Railway, the world's first steam‐worked public railway. The site encompasses three significant Stockton & Darlington Railway buildings of the 1830s50s: North Road Passenger Station, the Goods Shed and Hopetown Carriage Works.…

A superb re‐creation of an 18th century seaport, telling the story of life at sea at the time of Nelson, Napoleon and the Battle of Trafalgar which dares you to experience life aboard a real British Naval frigate two centuries ago. Become entranced by the world of fighting…

HMS Trincomalee 1817 is berthed afloat at Hartlepoo's Maritime Experience in North East England, where a major award‐winning restoration and interpretation of the Ship was completed in the early summer of 2001. HMS Trincomalee 1817 represents the pinnacle of the ship restorer's craft and visitors can now savour…

Winner of The Guardian Family Friendly Museum Award 2003, Killhope explores the life of North Pennine lead mining families. Park Level Mine underground experience, Northern England's largest working water wheel and hands‐on activities. Visitor Centre with shop, cafe and World's largest Spar Box exhibition. Woodland…

New attraction planned to open September 2004 ‐ the first ever out‐station for the National Railway Museum and the region's first branch of a national museum. It will feature a revamped Timothy Hackworth Museum together with a new 6,000 square metre single storey collections centre housing NRM…

High Horse founded 1760, one of only four chapels listed in Jenkins Englands Thousand Best Churches, is the world's oldest Methodist chapel still in continuous weekly use. Wesley preached here and the adjoinging small folk museum includes a Wesley room, 1870 Cottage room, local history and mineral…

Bear making demonstrations contact for details from artist in residence. Advice on bear designingmaking. Exhibitions, events and hand made artist bears on sale, plus bear making supplies.Open: Monday ‐ Saturday 10am ‐ 5.30pm, Also Sunday in Dec 11am ‐ 5pm.…

Remains of the commanding officer's house, with the best preserved Roman military bath house in Britain, and a stretch of Dere Street.Open: 9 ‐ 12 Aptil Easter weekend and 26 April ‐ 25 Sept daily 11am ‐ 5pm.…

World's oldest surviving railway bridge built 1725‐1926, standing 80 feet above a wooded gorge. Picnic area with replica 18th Century coal waggon. Tanfield Railway runs between Sunniside, Causey Arch and East Tanfield.Open: Throughout the year ‐ normally locked at dusk.…

The museum at this family friendly attraction features The Durham Light Infantry with emphasis on WW1 and WW2 and looks at Durham Home Front life during WW2. Regiment's archive housed in nearby County Record Office. Durham Art Gallery presents an exciting exhibitionevents programme. Open: …

Local history museum in historic church telling Durham's story from 10th Century. Displays, models, artefacts and hands‐on activities. Changing exhibitions, videos, brass rubbing and shop.Open: April, May & Oct, Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday 2pm ‐ 4.30pm, June daily 2pm ‐ 4.30pm, July, August…

Discover a superb collection of over 3,000 medals awarded to over 1,000 men who served in one of the finest County Regiments The Durham Light Infantry. Here you will find the medals of Durham soldiers who fought in the Regiment from the Peninsular War battles against Napoleon…

Small exhibition with panels and photographs celebrating over 600 years of industrial heritage in the Gaunless Valley.Open: 1 April ‐ 30 Sept daily, Oct ‐ 31 March Saturday and Sunday only, all 11am ‐3pm.…

Giant Screen visitor attraction offering an insight into Durham's fascinating past. Sacred Journey is a specially commissioned film featuring the life of St Cuthbert and the birth place of Durham City.Open: Daily, screening at 11am and 12 noon.…

Remains of East Gate and defences, courtyard building, part of internal road and bridge across.Open: All year round.…

The Bowes was designed and purpose‐built as a public art gallery by the French architect Jules Pellechet. It opened in 1892. The Museum has public galleries on three floors. Ground Floor.Th ground floor is devoted largely to local history and archaeology, together with our popular toy display, the…

The museum is situated in the former home of Timothy Hackworth, Soho House, or Soho Cottage, which was the preferred name of the Hackworth family. Built on the original Stockton & Darlington Railway Shildon Works site, which later, when Timothy Hackworth launched his own engineering works, became Soho…

Remains of 19th Century beehive coke ovens used to convert locally mined coak into coke for use by the railway and local steel industries.Open: At all times.…

Archaeological museum with material from excavations in and around the City. Temporary exhibitions and regular events, including workshops and activity days.Open: Nov ‐ March, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday 11.30am ‐ 3.30pm, April ‐ Oct daily 11am ‐ 4pm.…

Only museum of its kind in the Country devoted entirely to Oriental art and archaeology. Collections range from prehistoric Egypt and China to the work of living artists. Temporary exhibition programmes.Open: Monday ‐ Friday 10am ‐ 5pm, Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday 12 noon ‐…

Founded in 1093, this magnificent Norman cathedral is the shrone of St Cuthbert and one of the great architectural experiences in Europe. Together with the adjacent castle, it is a World Heritage site./pp/ppCathedral Opening Times & Prices/pp/ppMonday - Saturday 9.30am - 6.15pm, Sun 12.30pm - 5pm, extended…

One of England's most impressive Mediaeval castles, built by the Nevills and home to Lord barnards family since 1626. It features fine furniture, impressive artworks and elaborate architecture. Also deer park, walled gardens, coach and carriage collection, woodland adventure playground, picnic area, tearooms and gift shop./pp/ppOpen:/pp/ppEaster:…

New attraction planned to open July 2004. Steam railway running 5 miles beside the River Wear between Wolsingham and Stanhope in the Durham Dales./pp/ppOpen: Planned to open 17 July then open daily until 3 Oct. Also open 4,5,11,12,18,19, 26-31 Dec and 1 and 2 Jan…