About Beamish Museum

Costumed staff member smiling.

Guiding Principles

Beamish’s purpose and guiding principles.

Meet the Board

Meet Beamish’s Board of Trustees. The Board is made up of volunteers who give their expertise, experience and their valuable time to the museum.

Sustainability

Our Beamish Sustainability Strategy has four key environmental priorities which have been identified as areas where the museum can make the most impact towards the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, and spans a 22-year period, by which point we will reach Net Zero.

Code of Conduct: Social Media

Beamish, The Living Museum of the North encourages storytelling and inclusive, lively debate. Our social media platforms help visitors find out more, discuss, engage and connect. We love hearing from our fans and followers, and want to ensure that everyone has a positive experience in our online community.

Beamish Unlimited Pass

Our Beamish Unlimited Pass allows you to visit again and again after paying just once. So if you’re worried that you won’t be able to fit everything into one day, now you can come back as many times as you like for a whole year!
Three staff members on 1900s Town street

Donate

Beamish is a charity and we rely on income from our ticket sales, catering and retail outlets, Friends and supporters. Your support means so much to us during this difficult time and any donations are gratefully received.

Frank Atkinson

Beamish is a world famous open air museum which brings the history of North East England to life at its 1820s Pockerley, 1900s Town, 1900s Pit Village, 1940s Farm, 1950s Town and 1950s Spain’s Field Farm exhibit areas.

Visitors to the museum meet costumed folk and discover fascinating stories of everyday life in the region through time.

Beamish was the vision of Dr Frank Atkinson, the Museum’s founder and first director.

Frank had visited Scandinavian folk museums in the early 1950s and was inspired to create an open air museum for the North East. He realised the dramatically-changing region was losing its industrial heritage. Coal mining, ship building and iron and steel manufacturing were disappearing, along with the communities that served them.

Frank wanted the new museum to “illustrate vividly” the way of life of “ordinary people” and bring the region’s history alive.
Beamish remains true to his principles today and brings history to life for hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

Frank passed away on 30th December 2014.

Figure holding two chairs.

Timeline

Frank with objects from the museum's collections.

1958

Frank Atkinson, then director at the Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle, presented a report to Durham County Council, recommending items of everyday history were collected to eventually form part of an open air museum. A policy of “unselective collecting” – “you offer it and we will collect it”- saw an army camp of 22 huts rapidly filled with objects ranging from steam engines to sewing machines.

Beamish founding Director Frank Atkinson in front of the steam navvy.

1970

Frank took up his post as Director, along with our first staff, at Beamish Hall and the museum was born.

1971

“Museum in the Making”, an introductory exhibition opened in Beamish Hall

1973

The first Beamish tram, Gateshead 10, went into service on a short demonstration line.

The queen mother talking with other figures.

1975

HM Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, visited the museum.

Figure with arm waved in the air, stood next to steam train.

1976

Poet Laureate Sir John Betjeman opened Rowley Station

Figure holding bowl and plaque.

1978

We welcomed our millionth visitor and Francis Street cottages were officially opened.

1979

Mahogany drift mine was opened.

1983

Home Farm welcomed its first visitors.

1984

The Co-op store, from Annfield Plain, opened its doors to visitors.

Horse and cart with barrels outside of The Sun Inn.

1985

Press launch of Sun Inn pub with Brewery dray in foreground, 3rd April, 1985.

Figure holding trophy.

1987

Beamish was named European Museum of the Year. Frank Atkinson retired this year.

1990

The Pit Hill Methodist Chapel, which originally stood in Beamish Village, opened in our Pit Village.

Two figures sat on school bench, with teacher at blackboard behind.

1992

The rebuilt Board School opened in The Pit Village.

Line of trams covered in flowers on the Town Street, with drivers and conductors stood around.

1993

The Beamish Tramway, circling the entire site, began operating.

MP stood in the middle of two staff members, with multiple jars of sweets surrounding them.

1994

Jubilee Sweet Shop was opened by MP Mo Mowlam and The Town garage was unveiled by Lord Montagu of Beaulieu.

1995

Our Silver Jubilee year saw the opening of Pockerley Old Hall, showing life in the early 1800s.

Figures in suits holding Barclays Bank sign.

1999

Pockerley Waggonway opens in the Georgian Landscape and Barclay and Co Bank opened in The Town.

HRH Princess Ann with engager holding Pit Pony.

2002

HRH Princess Anne, Princess Royal, opened The Town’s carriage house. The replica of 1815 built Steam Elephant was completed for Pockerley Waggonway.

Main figure wearing chain laying foundation stone, surrounded by others.

2006

HRH The Duke of Kent opened the Masonic Hall in The Town in a ceremony supported by 2,000 Freemasons in full regalia. The replica of 1813 built Puffing Billy first ran at Pockerley Waggonway.

2009

The Colliery lamp cabin was opened.

2010

Beamish’s 40th anniversary year saw the arrival of the steam gallopers and the refurbishment of the Entrance building and Tea Rooms.

2011

Davy’s Fried Fish Shop served up its first fish and chips.

2013

Herron’s Bakery, in The Town, and Hetton Silver Band Hall, in The Pit Village, opened.

2014

Wartime arrived with the launch of the The 1940s Farm, and the Pit Pony Stables welcomed their first equine inhabitants.

2015

St Helen’s Church, which was saved from demolition and moved stone by stone to the museum, was completed in The 1820s Landscape. Beamish Rural District Council Depot, a base for active steam roller demonstrations, opened in the Station Yard.

2016

W Smith Chemist and JR & D Edis Photographers opened in The 1900s Town.

2018

The Georgian quilter’s cottage opened in The 1820s Landscape – the first exhibit in the Remaking Beamish project, which is the biggest development in the museum’s history and is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

2019

A replica of Leasingthorne Colliery Welfare Hall and Community Centre (now known as Coundon and Leeholme Community Centre) opened at the museum – the first building in our 1950s Town. The Northern General Transport Bus Depot also opened its doors, preserving transport heritage.

2020

Beamish celebrated its Golden Jubilee year and announced record visitor numbers of 803,148 for 2019/20. Work progressed on the Remaking Beamish project, which includes The 1950s Town, a 1950s Farm and expansion of the Georgian area, including self-catered overnight accommodation.

2020/21

The museum had to shut its doors three times in 2020/21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Beamish is a charity that relies on visitors for 95 per cent of its income, so the closures had a huge impact. The museum introduced innovative ways to stay in touch with visitors, from live online learning activities to afternoon tea home deliveries, which led to us receiving national awards for our efforts.

2022

A busy year for our Remaking Beamish project, with our 1950s Front Street terrace, Spain’s Field Farm and Coronation Park and Recreation Ground all opening their doors!

2023

The 1950s Town grew as we opened replicas of semi-detached council houses from Red House in Sunderland, police houses and office from Leam Lane in Gateshead, and a bowling green and pavilion from Billingham in The 1950s Town. Replicas of Marsden Road Aged Mineworkers’ Homes also opened in 2023. As well as showing visitors what life was like for retired miners in the 1950s, two of the cottages provide a dedicated space for the inspirational work of the museum’s Health and Wellbeing Team.

2024

The museum enjoyed a sensational summer with the opening of new exhibits in The 1950s Town and 1820s Landscape. The new exhibits, which include a 1950s cinema, toy shop and electrical shop as well as a Drover’s Tavern, are part of The National Lottery Heritage Fund supported Remaking Beamish project.

Staff members celebrating win.

2025

Beamish opened their self-catering accommodation houses, and won Art Fund’s Museum of the Year 2025.

Beamish shortlisted for Art Fund #MuseumOfTheYear 2025

Figure holding award with pit pony.

Explore more

Things to see

Explore everything Beamish has to offer, from bustling historic towns and working farms to heritage transport, live demonstrations, and hands-on activities.

100 Things to Do at Beamish

Can you complete our list of 101 exciting things to do at Beamish? Experience good old-fashioned family fun, from playing traditional games and spotting items from our collections to sampling tasty treats and taking a ride on our vintage transport.

Beamish Unlimited Pass

Our Beamish Unlimited Pass allows you to visit again and again after paying just once. So if you’re worried that you won’t be able to fit everything into one day, now you can come back as many times as you like for a whole year!

Plan Visit

Find everything you need to know to plan your visit to Beamish Museum, from practical information to exciting inspiration for your trip.

What’s on

Discover what events we have coming soon!

Food & Drink

Beamish offers a range of food and drink options in each time period of the museum.

Access

Beamish is a large open air museum with many historic buildings, some of which are not always completely accessible to visitors.

Dogs

Well-behaved dogs are welcome in the outdoor areas of the museum, but there are restrictions on the indoor spaces they can access.
Costumed staff in front of Georgian accommodation.

Places to Stay

There are numerous places to stay near Beamish, with options that cater to every preference, from charming and cosy retreats to more luxurious getaways.
Three staff members on 1900s Town street

Donate

Beamish is a charity and we rely on income from our ticket sales, catering and retail outlets, Friends and supporters. Your support means so much to us during this difficult time and any donations are gratefully received.

Extreme Weather Policy

Beamish Museum is an open air museum spanning over 350 acres. We aim to be open rain or shine but, as we are an open air museum, that does mean the weather can play a big part in your visit.

Festival of Transport 2026

23rd May – 31st May
Costumed staff member smiling.

About Beamish

Beamish is a world famous open air museum which brings the history of North East England to life at its 1820s Pockerley, 1900s Town, 1900s Pit Village, 1940s Farm, 1950s Town and 1950s Spain’s Field Farm exhibit areas.

Mothering Sunday 2026

15th Mar

Horses in Harness 2026

25th Apr – 26th Apr

Pay once and visit for a whole year FREE of charge, including daytime events so if you’re worried that you won’t be able to fit everything into one day, now you can come back as many times as you like for a whole year!

Buy your Unlimited Pass