FAQs

Purchase your ticket online via DigiTickets here, or when you arrive at the Entrance Building.

• Each person aged five and over needs a valid Beamish Unlimited Pass/Friends of Beamish membership.
• Adult, child, senior/student and family passes are available.
• Under 5s do not need a pass/membership.

If a disabled visitor requires another person as their carer to allow them to visit the museum, then this carer visits free of charge (and does not need to purchase an Unlimited Pass or Friends of Beamish membership).

For more information about accessibility, please visit our Accessibility page www.beamish.org.uk/accessibility.

You will be able to redeem your gift voucher at our Entrance when you arrive.

If you have a query about gift vouchers, please email entranceteam@beamish.org.uk.

If you lose your Pass, please bring some form of ID with you on the date of your next visit and we will be able to print you a new one.

Well-behaved dogs are welcome in the outdoor areas of the museum, but there are restrictions on the indoor spaces they can access. Please see our full information for visiting with your dog here.

Please note, other animals are not permitted at the museum.

No animals, including dogs, are allowed at evening events, except for assistance dogs.

Capacity of car park/layout (we get a lot of questions on what’s the maximum the car park holds and what’s the policy when its full)

Motor Homes / Overnight parking

Electric Car Charging

Yes, we have a number of our transport exhibits in operation. Our trams and vintage buses are operating throughout the day on a circular route around the museum, calling at the Entrance, Pockerley, 1900s Town and Foulbridge.

Our wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) will also be available and will be limited to its seated capacity. It will not be operating in general service and is solely available for those who require its adaptations, including the wheelchair lift at the rear of the vehicle.

Please note, folded-down pushchairs can be accommodated on most vehicles, space permitting and at the conductor’s discretion.

Bus or Tram service in operation.

Last trams/Buses in areas when closing

Estimated walking times to each area from entrance

We have sit-in and takeaway options available. See our visitor map here.

• The 1900s Town: The Tea Rooms (sit-in and takeaway), The Sun Inn pub (sit-in and takeaway), Herron’s Bakery (takeaway), Beamish Delicious Ices (takeaway).
• The 1950s Town: John’s Café (sit-in and takeaway), Middleton’s Quality Fish and Chips (takeaway. A vegetarian chip offer is available on request), bowling pavilion (takeaway).
• The 1900s Pit Village: Davy’s fish and chip shop (sit-in and takeaway), Sinkers’ Bait Cabin (takeaway).
• The 1820s Landscape: Drovers Tavern (sit-in and takeaway)
• Entrance: Coffee Shop (sit-in and takeaway).

We accept cash at the museum, though we do ask if payments can be made by card if possible.

Unfortunately we do not have facilities available to store bags for visitors and are unable to accept items from the public. Please note, that if visitors are taking large bags and suitcases onto site, there are also restrictions on the size of luggage the museum transport can carry.

Yes, we have a number of bike racks outside the Entrance building and are well-connected by local cycle routes, including the C2C cycle route. Please be aware, bikes are left at the Entrance at visitors’ own risk.

We’ve got exciting events and activities coming up, see our What’s On page and social media for more information CLICK HERE.

Beamish Unlimited Pass holders and Friends of Beamish members can gain free entry to Beamish during normal daytime opening hours (last admission one hour before closing) for 12 months from the date of purchase. There are a small number of days and events when the Beamish Unlimited Pass is not valid, including special evening events such as Halloween Evenings or Christmas Evenings. Admission information will be included in the event details, however please telephone the museum or visit our website for details if you are unsure.

Remaking Beamish is the biggest development in Beamish’s history. The exciting project includes over 25 new exhibits and attractions and is bringing a new era to the museum in the form of a 1950s Town and 1950s farm. The project will also see the expansion of our 1820s area.

Find out more about the Remaking Beamish project here.

Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, the Remaking Beamish project was awarded £11.8m by The National Lottery Heritage Fund – a major milestone in Beamish’s history and the largest investment ever seen at the museum.

Beamish is a self-reliant charity and 95% of our income comes from our much-valued visitors. Your donations help to maintain the museum, develop new and exciting exhibits and support our work to preserve North East heritage for future generations, while supporting today’s communities, including through our health and wellbeing and education work. Thank you!

Donations can be made by clicking here – we really appreciate your support!

You can also help us by becoming a Friends of Beamish member, buying or renewing a Beamish Unlimited Pass or giving a gift voucher. To find out more please click here.

You can also make a purchase from our online shop, with unique Beamish items, inspired by our exhibits and collection – click here to find out more.

Your donations and purchases are supporting the museum and helping to secure our future, thank you!

Beamish welcomes photography for personal, non-commercial use. We love to see photographs of you, your family, friends and colleagues enjoying their day at the museum, so why not share your snaps with us on Facebook, Instagram and X.

Please be considerate of other visitors when taking photographs, be aware of your surroundings and don’t block access to footpaths or exhibits while taking photographs.

It is your responsibility to ensure copyright and other laws are not infringed.

The use of tripods, monopods or supplementary lighting is not permitted, this is to ensure the safety of visitors, staff and volunteers and prevent damage to our exhibits and collections.

Drones are not permitted. This is to ensure the safety and security of our staff, visitors and residents, our exhibits, collections, and private areas, to prevent disturbance for our livestock and to protect our overhead Tramway wires, and service.

Photographs can be taken for domestic use only. Should you wish to use any of the photographs for commercial purpose (such as wedding, engagement and/or occasion photography, including where a fee has been paid) you will require further permissions from the communications team. 

Commercial or larger scale filming or photography is not permitted without prior agreement and arrangement with the museum’s Communications Team. For enquiries, email media@beamish.org.uk

Photographers are asked to make sure they have specific permission from anyone they’re photographing, including groups and schools.

Please do not photograph children who are not part of your party or group. If in the judgement of Beamish staff, behaviour of a visitor shows reluctance to comply then this will be reported to the identified safeguarding lead or a senior member of staff.

We reserve the right to refuse entry to the museum, or ask someone to leave, if photography is deemed inappropriate by Beamish staff.

If you have any questions please email media@beamish.org.uk

Smoking, including e-cigarettes, is not permitted within the 1820s areas, any exhibit areas, buildings, tram shelters, museum transport or queuing areas. Please do be considerate of other visitors if you do wish to smoke whilst in the museum.