Accessibility
Beamish is a large open air museum with many historic buildings, some of which are not always completely accessible to visitors.
Beamish is a large open air museum with many historic buildings, some of which are not always completely accessible to visitors. To create an authentic feel, there are a variety of ground surfaces, some of which are uneven by nature. There are steep slopes in places, and some buildings and exhibits have stepped access.
If a disabled visitor requires another person, as their companion or carer to enable them to access the museum, then this person is admitted free of charge. If a parent is visiting the museum with a disabled child under 5 then the parent and child under 5 do not have to pay admission. If there are several adults accompanying the disabled child under 5, then only one adult can be admitted for free. All other adults and children need to pay full admission or show their annual pass.
Useful tips
Access Bus
We operate a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle with a tail lift every day that the museum is open. An assistance bus,with a tail lift transports visitors around the site. Please note, the bus is not able to transport motorised scooters
Wheelchair Hire
Visitors can hire wheelchairs for a refundable £10 deposit. Subject to availability.
Motorised Scooter Hire
Visitors can hire motorised scooters for a £12 charge and a refundable £25 deposit. Subject to availability.
Assistance Dogs
Assistance dogs are welcome throughout the museum.
Accessible Parking
Free accessible parking is at the lowest level of our car park to the left of the Entrance Building.
At a glance
There are accessible toilets and baby changing facilities in the following areas:
- Entrance Building – Accessible toilets with Invacare Reliant 350 Stand Assist*, baby and adult changing facilities also available.
- 1900s Pit Village – Toilets and accessible toilets at the band hall.
- 1900s Colliery Yard – Gender neutral toilets, accessible toilets and baby changing facilities in the lamp cabin.
- 1940s Farm – Toilets and accessible toilets.
- 1900s Town – Toilets in the Masonic Hall. Accessible toilets and baby changing facilities in tram shelter. Accessible toilets and baby changing facilities in the Tea Rooms.
- Fairground – Gender neutral toilets, accessible toilets and baby changing facilities.
- Pockerley Old Hall – Toilets and accessible toilets.
- 1820s Pockerley Waggonway – Toilets and accessible toilets.
- Regional Resource Centre – Toilets and accessible toilets.
- 1950s Welfare Hall – Changing Places Facilities, accessible toilets, accessible baby change and feeding facilities.
- 1950s Town – Accessible toilets and baby changing facilities are available in John’s Café. An accessible toilet is available at Spain’s Field Farm.
*Â The Invacare Reliant 350 Stand Assist is a compact and manoeuvrable mobile lifter that provides safe and comfortable assisted transfers for those with limited mobility or rehabilitation needs. The Invacare Reliant 350 can be used to transfer a client that cannot transfer unaided, but has some level of weight bearing ability, from one seated position to another.
Our 1950s welfare hall features Changing Places accessible facilities. These include:
- A wash and dry toilet.
- Overhead room coverage hoist system.
- Height-adjustable changing bench with a shower.
- Height-adjustable basin.
- Privacy screen.
- Non-slip flooring.
For Health and Safety reasons we do not provide slings. Customers are asked to bring their own which should be compatible with the loop system.
We have sensory bags available to use during your visit, guided by our Access Panel and designed to support visitors with sensory needs. The bags include; headphones, sensory book, lavender bag, football rattle, Beamish top trumps and Jacobs ladder.
The bags can be collected from our Entrance gift shop and requires a £10 refundable deposit.
A quiet space is available in our 1950s welfare hall for any visitor who needs to use it. The room is sensory-friendly and is equipped with a washbasin, chair, sensory-friendly lights and toys and books.
Access to the quiet space is on a first come, first served basis. Please speak to a member of staff in the 1950s welfare hall for access to the room.
Max Card holders are entitled to 25 per cent discount on individual Beamish Unlimited Passes, maximum of two adults and two children (this is not available on passes bought online and not available on family passes). Please note, the Max Card discount can only be applied on presentation of a valid Max Card.
Find your way around our museum.
Explore Beamish with our very own mapBeamish is a large open-air museum set on a 350-acre site.
Enhance your visit
Our South Shields
From interactive flower painting and creative movement workshops to live dance performances, Beamish Museum creates space for creativity rooted in lived experience.
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Framing It Differently Exhibition
‘Framing it Differently’ has been a collaboration project between Beamish Museum and Exeter University’s Enliven Project. Over the past 12 weeks this group has explored the natural environment which makes Beamish Museum such a unique and beautifulplace.
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Access Guide
This guide will give you helpful information to use during your visit. If you need any further assistance or have any questions, please ask a member of the Beamish team
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