If you’re looking for things to do this summer, look no further! At Beamish we have a whole Summer of Fun planned for visitors.
What’s more, with a Beamish Unlimited Pass or Friends of Beamish membership, you can pay once and return as many times as you want for 12 months, giving you plenty of opportunities to make sensational summer memories that will last a lifetime.
Why not see how many of our things to do at Beamish Museum you can tick off this summer?
Travel through time
Hop aboard a tram or bus, travel back in time to the 1820s, early 1900s, 1940s and 1950s and find out what life used to be like in the North East.
Enjoy a Summer of Fun!
There are fun-filled activities lined up every day during the summer holidays at Beamish for the Summer of Fun event, which runs daily until 31st August.
Join in with Georgian games such as knurr and spell, nine men’s morris, card games and draughts at 1820s Pockerley Old Hall, enjoy farm-related fun including hobby horses and traditional toys at Spain’s Field Farm (Spain’s Field Farm open weekends and bank holidays), admire period transport in action around the museum during Transport Thursdays and try traditional crafts in The 1900s Pit Village.
The Crown Jewels Mystery teddy bear trail
Have a go at the teddy bear trail, can you spot all the teddies?
The teddy bear trail is based on the real story of Colonel Thomas Blood who tried to steal the Crown Jewels in 1671 along with his friends. Find out all about this fascinating story and follow the clues left by the Beamish Bear Gang to find the nine naughty bears hiding around The 1900s Town!
You can pick up a copy of the teddy bear trail from the Entrance or download a copy of The Crown Jewels Mystery teddy bear trail here (PDF).
Tick off the activities on our 101 Things to Do list
How many of our 101 amazing activities can you tick off during your visits to Beamish Museum this summer? From picking your perfect Beamish home and find the whale bone arch near St Helen’s Church to discovering how much cars cost in the early 1900s to playing hopscotch in the Beamish Board School play yard. See the list of 101 Things to Do here!
Play in the park
Named in honour of Queen Elizabeth II, the new Coronation Park and Recreation Ground includes a 1950s-style playground with swings, an accessible swing seat, a high slide, a wheelchair accessible roundabout, rocking horse, climbing frame and a rota web climber – a nod to the 1950s witches hat. Coronation Park is perfect for the young and young at heart!
Putt your golfing talents to the test
Enjoy a round of miniature golf! Our new, 9-hole mini golf course within Coronation Park features obstacles inspired by locations and things from, in or about the North East including High Force, Sycamore Gap, the Tyne Bridge, and the Blaydon Races. Mini golf costs £2.50 per person (under 5s free).
Practise your football skills
If you’re keen to show off your keepie uppies, want to strengthen your shooting skills or just fancy a kickabout, head down to our football area at Coronation Park in our 1950s Town! You’ll also be able to learn about amateur football in the 1950s in our football shed.
Head to the hairdressers for a 50s “do”
Whether you opt for a timeless chignon, a beautiful bow bun, a fantastic French pleat or perfect pin curls you’re sure to look the part during your next visit to Beamish Museum by getting a 1950s hairstyle in Elizabeth’s Hairdressers on our 1950s Front Street terrace!
Visitors can book an appointment at the salon on the day of their visit on a first come, first served basis, and costs £5.
Discover the story of Spain’s Field Farm
Find out all about the tough conditions faced by families living in rural areas during the 1950s. Spain’s Field Farm, which was moved to the museum stone by stone from Weardale and rebuilt had no electricity, only an outside toilet, and water had to be collected from a nearby spring.
See the traditional rural skills which helped to keep the farm going, as well as taste some of the farm kitchen produce.
Spain’s Field Farm is initially open on weekends and bank holidays only to allow for the ongoing construction of our 1950s Town.
Take a typically Beamish photograph
Have you even been to Beamish if you haven’t taken a photograph of the family by the steam navvy, holding your fish and chips or after having your hair styled?! Snap the day away and don’t forget to share your photos with us on social media – we always love to see what you’ve been up to during your visit!
Enjoy a taste of the past
Tuck into delicious fish and chips, savour scrumptious freshly-baked goods from Herron’s Bakery, enjoy sweets from Jubilee Confectioners and enjoy a fabulous taste of the 50s with macaroni cheese from John’s Café.
Cool down with an ice cream
Ice cream is always a good idea and you’re spoilt for choice at Beamish Museum!
Chose from nine sweet shop flavours including cinder toffee, lemon sherbet and rhubarb and custard at Beamish Delicious Ices in The 1900s Town.
Enjoy a delicious homemade ice cream at John’s Café on our 1950s Front Street terrace or push the boat out and get an ice cream sundae! Because you never know what the Great British summer will throw at us, you can also warm up with hot Vimto, Bovril or a special Italian blend coffee from John’s Café!
Head to the Sinkers’ Bait Cabin in The 1900s Pit Village or stop by one of our ice cream bikes and pick up a tub of coal ice cream, this delicious black vanilla Italian gelato with popping candy is the perfect treat.
Enjoy all the fun of the fair
Take a spin on the gallopers, whizz around the helter skelter, fly around on the chair-o-planes and try your hand at the sideshows at the Fairground (small charge applies for Fairground activities).
Gorgeous Georgian gardens
The terraced gardens at Pockerley are typical of the early 1800s. There are three areas – an ornamental garden with flowers and herbs, a vegetable garden and an orchard. As if the gardens weren’t beautiful enough, they boast stunning views across the Georgian landscape – the perfect place to sit and appreciate your surroundings, especially when the sun is shining!
Indulge in a spot of Edwardian shopping
Stroll down our cobbled 1900s Town street and head to our award-winning Town stalls for a spot of Edwardian retail therapy. From delicious local produce including jams, cheese and honey to Beamish Monopoly, whether you’re looking for a souvenir to remember your day for years to come or need to pick up the perfect gift for a loved one, we’re sure you’ll be able to find something you’ll love.
And so much more!
Discover life in the Georgian period at 1820s Pockerley Old Hall and enjoy a ride on Pockerley Waggonway (Thursday to Sunday). See what’s growing in Francis Street gardens, learn about the three Rs – reading, writing and arithmetic – and master the booler in The 1900s Pit Village. Are you brave enough to visit the dentist of Ravensworth Terrace in The 1900s Town?
Find out about life on the Home Front during the Second World War at The 1940s Farm, experience the excitement and community spirit of the 1950s in the welfare hall and learn about the Spennymoor Settlement in our recreation of Norman Cornish’s home on 1950s Front Street terrace.
As with all daytime events, you can use your Unlimited Pass or Friends of Beamish membership to enjoy our Summer of Fun – pay once and visit free for a year!
For more information about what’s on at Beamish Museum, please visit www.beamish.org.uk/whats-on.