Beamish Museum

Beamish is an open-air museum organised as a 19th-20th century village in north-east England, including farmland, a coal mining settlement, a coal mine, a town, a railway station and the estate of a wealthy tenant farmer. In this article, we will tell you in detail about its history, ticket prices, and available transfer options.

What is the Beamish Museum?

The museum's founder, Frank Atkinson, visited Scandinavia, saw the prototype there, and decided to establish something similar in his homeland. He was concerned about the gradual disappearance of England's industrial traditions and the arrival of numerous innovations. He approached the Northumberland County Council with the aim of creating an open-air museum that would narrate and vividly demonstrate the everyday life and working conditions of the region's people in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Frank Aston devoted his life to realising this idea. The museum opened in 1972, which was an event not only for the region but for the whole country. It was located on an area of more than 300 acres. It included:

• A Victorian town.
• An old farm.
• A coal mine.
• A railway station.

In the Victorian town, you could visit the homes of a lawyer and a music teacher, visit a dentist's office, admire the surroundings typical of that period, visit a Barclays bank branch, and buy sweets at a candy store. In addition, there is a pharmacy, a bakery, and a Masonic hall.

On the farm, visitors could observe animals and poultry. In the mining town, they could learn about the way of life of representatives of this profession.

What to do at Beamish Museum?

Beamish is considered one of the most interesting museums in England, vividly demonstrating how hard mining work is. It introduces visitors to the history of the north-east of the country and recreates historical sites such as a coal mining village and a 1940s farm.

Visitors to the open-air museum can ride on vintage vehicles, such as trams and buses, to gain an understanding of how people travelled in the first half of the 20th century.

Other activities available include:

• descending into a coal mine as part of a tour group, where you will learn about the work of miners;
• visiting a farm with chickens, pigs, horses and cows;
• visiting the urban part of the museum with traditional shops, cafes and a small park area;
• participating in seasonal events: a fair, an exhibition dedicated to electric transport.

Halloween at Beamish Museum

At the end of October, Beamish Museum hosts Halloween celebrations. During this time, the museum is transformed into a venue with themed entertainment and appropriate decorations.

In 2024, the event took place on 28, 29 and 31 October, with most activities taking place in the evening.

Christmas at Beamish Museum

Christmas is celebrated in style at the Beamish Museum. Visitors to the museum are immersed in a festive atmosphere. Traditional Christmas decorations appear on the premises: you can see how miners' wives decorated their homes. Pockerley Old Hall 1820s has a collection of classic Christmas decorations and tells the story of the Yule log.

Museum visitors have the opportunity to watch master classes on baking bread, cakes and biscuits according to traditional Edwardian recipes. They can also purchase Christmas gifts such as mugs and gingerbread cookies.

Games are held at the museum to celebrate the holiday.

Where is Beamish Museum located?

Beamish Museum is located in the north of England, in the historic county of Durham, near the town of Stanley. It covers an area of 350 acres (140 hectares) and consists of a valley with varied terrain, including steep slopes, woodlands and a river.

Part of the museum is a central town street with pubs and shops, depicting life in England before the First World War. Old trams and buses from the 19th century run around the perimeter.

Visitors note the museum's well-developed infrastructure.

Address: Beamish, Nr Stanley, Co. Durham, DH9 0RG.

Coordinates: 54°52′55″N, 1°39′30″W.

Beamish Museum map

An interactive map of the museum is available on the official website. It simplifies navigation around the museum grounds. If necessary, the map can be zoomed in or out.

Beamish Museum: how to get there

People planning a trip to Beamish Museum are interested in the easiest way to get there. There are several options – choose the most convenient one.

By train

Trains run daily on the King's Cross – Durham route. The approximate journey time is 2 hours 56 minutes.

The closest railway station to the museum is Chester-le-Street in County Durham. Regular direct trains run to it from Newcastle, Durham, and Darlington.

By bus

Several buses depart from Victoria Coach Station London to Beamish Museum. The journey from Victoria Coach Station to Eldon Square Bus Station to Station Road to Beamish Museum takes just over 8 hours with transfers. Ticket prices range from £22 to £35.

The closest stop in the county itself is Main Entrance.

By car

London and Beamish Museum are 278 miles apart, which can be covered in 4 hours and 40 minutes.

Parking

All museum visitors who have paid for admission can use the car park free of charge. It is located right at the entrance. The car park is spacious, with enough spaces for everyone, even when there is a large influx of visitors.

There are special parking areas for buses and people with disabilities.

The distance from the car park to the museum entrance can be covered on foot in 1-3 minutes.

Where to stay at Beamish Museum

The museum is an independent charitable organisation, and all money raised through the Beamish Business Friends programme goes towards its upkeep.

Upon arrival at Beamish Museum, you can stay in one of the available cottages with a private kitchen. Guests are transported back in time to the ‘1820s Landscape’ museum and stay in original restored buildings.

You can also stay at the Beamish Hall Hotel. It is a 4-star hotel offering excellent service, located 1.6 km from the museum. It has 44 individually decorated and furnished rooms. Hotel guests enjoy peace and quiet in the well-kept grounds.

The Beamish Hall Hotel has a bar and restaurant, Stables, which serves traditional English dishes in a cosy atmosphere. Don't miss the opportunity to try the local food; every guest is guaranteed a warm welcome.

It is cheaper to book accommodation directly on the official website.

Hotels near Beamish Museum

There are many good hotels near Beamish Museum.

Embassy Newcastle is located 4.53 km away. Guests can enjoy free internet, parking and dining at the restaurant.

New Kent Hotel is 8.38 km from the museum. In addition to free internet and parking, other advantages include a restaurant and bar.

You can also consider staying at campsites.

Stampley Moss Farm is a motorhome site with no electricity.

Tyne View Camping is a grassy site for tents (no electricity).

Information for visitors

When planning a visit to Beamish Museum, check ticket prices in advance and find out about food, shopping and discounts.

Food and shopping

There is a café for museum visitors, serving traditional British fish and chips. If you wish, you can enjoy tea with sweets or order a light meal. In the large kitchen of a wealthy tenant farmer's estate, girls dressed as maids prepare hearty English dishes from a bygone era and offer them for tasting.

There are also shopping opportunities when visiting the museum. There are several shops in the urban area where you can buy sweets made according to old recipes. Along the street, there are shops selling desserts, household goods, food, a bakery, and pubs.

Opening hours

From 31 March to 24 October 2025, the Beamish Museum is open daily from 10:00 to 17:00.

During the winter, the museum is open from 10:00 to 14:00.

Tickets

Visitors are offered annual passes that provide unlimited visits to the museum during the specified period.

The rates are as follows:

Adults — £33.00.

Seniors (over 60) — £25.00.

Students — £25.00.

Children (aged 5 to 16) — £20.00.

Family (2 adults and 1 child) — £71.00.

Family (2 adults and 2 children) — £82.00.

Family (2 adults and 3 children) — £92.00.

Gift vouchers are also available for purchase.

Discounts

To receive discounts when visiting the Beamish Museum, you must become a member of the Friends of Beamish group. In this case, the discount will apply to the guidebook, entitling you to a regular subscription to Beamish magazine and exclusive offers.

Contact details and postcode

Postcode: DH9 0RG

Telephone: 0191 370 4000

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