Nestled in the countryside of County Durham, England lies the Beamish Museum, an open-air and living museum that recreates life in the North East of England during the 1820s, 1900s, 1940s and 1950s. The museum is a must-see destination for history buffs specific to the late Victorian and Edwardian eras. It offers visitors a unique experience of the North East England’s history, heritage and culture, with its carefully reconstructed buildings, costumed staff and immersive exhibitions. We did a day trip to the museum from Newcastle and in this post, we outline our travel experience, transportation tips as well as attractions found in this living museum.
Transport from Newcastle
Tourists can rent a car and drive from Newcastle to the Beamish Museum. The museum is located off the A693, around 10 miles from Newcastle city center. The journey time is around 30 minutes, depending on traffic. There is ample parking available at the museum.
Alternatively, the next best option would be via Go North East bus service no 28. The bus operates from Newcastle city centre to the museum. The journey takes around 50 minutes, and buses run frequently throughout the day. You can catch the bus from Eldon Square Bus Station in the city centre. The bus fare will cost around £3.50 for a single ticket and you can buy tickets on the bus.
Accommodation Near the Museum
We did not stay at Beamish as it was a day trip from Newcastle but travelers can look at the follow accommodation options near the museum:
Travellers can also read our previous Newcastle blogpost to find out accommodation options in the city centre.
The Museum
Tickets to the Beamish Museum can be bought online or at the entrance. Ticketing system is similar to the one used at Alnwick Castle, i.e. annual passes (Beamish adult annual pass costs GBP 22.50). The following describes some of the top attractions at Beamish Museum.
The Transport: Beamish Museum features a range of transport options, including trams, buses and steam engines (at Rowley Station). Visitors can take a ride on the trams (Beamish Tramway) or buses and learn about the history of transport in the North East.
The 1900s Town: The town is a bustling recreation of a typical North East town from the early 1900s. Visitors can explore the shops, bank, school and pub as well as take a ride on the town’s horse-drawn omnibus. Costumed staff bring the town to life and visitors can learn about daily life in the town and the region’s industrial heritage.
The 1900s Colliery: The Colliery is a recreation of a coal mine from the early 1900s. Visitors can see the winding engine, the pit head baths and the colliery offices. The colliery also features a drift mine where visitors can experience what it was like to work underground.
The 1900s Pit Village: The Pit Village recreates life in a mining community in the early 1900s. Visitors can explore the colliery, the miners’ cottages and the chapel. The village also features a drift mine, where visitors can experience what it was like to work underground.
The 1940s Farm: The 1940s Farm is a recreation of life on a farm during World War II. Visitors can see how the war affected farming and learn about rationing and food production. The farm also features a range of workshops, including a blacksmith’s, a wheelwright’s and a potter’s.
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