Enjoy good old fashioned fun at Beamish, The Living Museum of the North this summer with den building, ice cream making, teddy bear trail and traditional live music.
There are fun-filled activities happening every day during the local school holidays at our open air museum for the Summer of Fun event, which runs from 17th July to 31st August.
Paul Foster, Historic Events Officer, said: “Beamish is the perfect place for days out with friends and family this summer. From ice cream making and adventurous play to Georgian games and croquet in the park, there’s lots for everyone to see and do.
“Our theme is ‘girls and boys come out to play’, following the difficult time everyone has had due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“We’re really excited to welcome more families and friends back to the museum. We have a range of COVID-19 Secure health and hygiene measures in place across the museum, including pre-booked timeslot entry tickets. We have also been awarded the ‘We’re Good To Go’ standard, so you can really make the most of the summer holidays and enjoy our fantastic events and activities in the safe and scenic surroundings of Beamish.”
On Mondays during Summer of Fun, join in with Georgian games at Pockerley Old Hall, on Tuesdays enjoy croquet in The 1900s Town park, get creative with chalk drawing on Wednesdays in The 1900s Pit Village school yard and on Thursdays have a go at adventurous play by the 1950s welfare hall.
Ice cream making in the welfare hall is Friday’s fun activity, plus we’re offering the chance to help us design a scrumptious sundae. The selection of sundaes will be put to a vote and we will sell the winning creation, as voted for by the public, in John’s Cafe when it opens in The 1950s Town as part of the Remaking Beamish project. For more information on the project click here.
Den building rounds off the jam-packed week, can you build the best den? The activity takes place by Hetton Silver Band Hall in The 1900s Pit Village on Saturdays and Sundays.
Plus, summer is here and the Beamish teddy bears have come out to play! Every day during the local school holidays you can follow the paw prints on the map to find all 16 teddy bears. Click here to download the trail.
Be sure to also take a look at our bumper Beamish to do list! How many of our 100 Things to See and Do have you completed… and how many can you do this summer? Click here to find out more.
There’s a fascinating Second World War encampment set up at The 1940s Farm.
There are also traditional live music performances happening including by band Hop, Skiffle and Jump on Sunday, 25th July outside the 1950s welfare hall and our popular Singaround Sunday session takes place on Sunday, 8th August outside in The 1900s Pit Village with The Cloth Cap Temperance Band.
Plus, be sure to visit us for the Tractor Gathering event on Saturday, 24th and Sunday, 25th July. Visitors will be able to admire traditional tractors as they travel around the museum during this special weekend.
From 2nd to 5th September, the Dig for Victory event takes place, where you can learn about lumberjills, Land Girls, make do and mend, the Home Guard and ration cooking, as you discover life on the Home Front during the Second World War.
There is lots to see and do during a visit the Beamish. Take a walk down an Edwardian cobbled street, try tasty treats from times gone by and chat to cheerful costumed engagers – who knows who you’ll meet?! Find out fascinating facts, explore the history of the museum across its 50 fantastic years, and discover the various stories the museum tells in its exhibits, most of which have been moved brick by brick from around the region to Beamish.
In The 1900s Town visit exhibits including the bank, bakery, chemist’s, Co-op, Ravensworth Terrace, park, garage, sweet shop, Sun Inn pub and enjoy refreshments in the Tea Rooms.
Plus, follow in the footsteps of the Downton Abbey stars! Beamish featured in the Downton Abbey movie and TV show, which was a huge hit worldwide. Filming took place in The 1900s Town and involved our staff, exhibits and vehicles.
Pop over to The Fairground by The 1900s Town and have a go on the gallopers, helter skelter, chair-o-planes and sideshow (charge applies to Fairground activities).
In The 1900s Pit Village see what’s growing in Francis Street gardens, visit the band hall, school, chapel and enjoy traditional fish and chips from Davy’s fish and chip shop.
In The 1900s Colliery visit the lamp cabin, engine shed, heapstead and winding engine house.
Visit The 1820s Landscape and see Pockerley gardens (be sure to admire the stunning views!), see downstairs in the new house and pop over to St Helen’s Church. Plus, take a ride through the Georgian landscape on Pockerley Waggonway.
Take a walk around the cottages at The 1940s Farm, visit Garden Cottage and the farmhouse during weekends and local school holidays. The 1950s welfare hall is also open weekends and local school holidays.
Our buses are running and the wheelchair accessible vehicle continues to operate on an on-call basis.
We have a range of COVID-19 Secure health and hygiene measures in place across the museum, with the safety of our visitors, staff and volunteers as the top priority and in line with industry best practice and guidance issued by the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions. These include pre-booked timeslot entry tickets, use of face masks, reduced capacity to manage the number of visitors and allow space, enhanced cleaning, hand sanitiser stations, one-way systems and contactless card payments. We have been awarded the “We’re Good To Go” standard.
All visitors must book a timeslot entry ticket online in advance, click here.
The museum is continuing to follow government and public health COVID-19 safety guidance and reserves the right to alter events, activities, facilities, operations and opening times without prior notice.