Whether you have a group who is serious about steam, crazy about cars or fascinated by farming, there’s something for everyone to enjoy at Beamish Museum this year.
The County Durham open-air museum has a packed programme planned, with some brand new events and the return of some firm favourites. The museum will also be opening several new exhibits in its 1950s Town and 1820s Landscape making 2023 an exciting year for visitors.
Prepare for a steam spectacular as a selection of road steam, locomotives and internal combustion engines visit the museum for the Beamish Steam Gala (1 & 2April).
Enjoy a cracking day out at Beamish this Easter (7 to 10 April) with lots of egg-citing activities. Take part in an Easter egg trail, see and taste traditional Easter baking, and try your hand at Easter crafts and egg-cellent activities.
Marvel at a Napoleonic Muster display in the Georgian Landscape (15 & 16 April), see the Sunderland & District Classic Vehicle Society display (16 April) and take part in traditional May Day Celebrations (1May).
Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Beamish Tramway during Fares Please (6 to 8May), along with Coronation Celebrations. The museum’s Tramway opened in 1973 to re-create the experience and atmosphere of tramway operation while allowing visitors to travel back in time.
Trot along to the museum for Horses in Harness (10 & 11 June), enjoy the Classic Car Day, organised by North of England Classic & Pre-War Automobiles Club (18 June) and see the start and finish of the 50th Reliability Run, a 150-mile run through Durham and Yorkshire for cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles registered before 1956 (18 June). Brass at Beamish is also taking place this weekend.
The museum will be hosting the World Quoits Championship (1 & 2July), see members of the National Quoits Association battle it out across this two-day event, and unleash your inner inventor with amazing science, technology, engineering and maths activities during Crank It Up! (1 & 2July).
Visitors can learn more about the fascinating story of upland farming during the Farming in the 1950s weekend (8 & 9 July) and admire traditional tractors on display at the museum during the Beamish Tractor Show (22 & 23July).
Green-fingered folk can take their home-grown produce along to Beamish Allotment, Garden and Flower Show (26& 27 August), learn about life on the Home Front during the Second World War during Dig for Victory (31August to 3 September) and see a whole host of cars, lorries, vans and bikes at the Autumn Transport Gala (9 & 10 September).
There are plenty of autumn and winter activities planned too, including the magical Christmas at Beamish celebrations, with the dates to be confirmed.
There’ll also be regular musical performances by brass bands in the bandstand in The 1900s Town, choirs in The 1900s Pit Village chapel and 1950s musical acts taking to the welfare hall stage.
Paul Foster, Events Manager at Beamish Museum, said: “From firm favourites including the Beamish Steam Gala, a traditional Easter and Dig For Victory to the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Beamish Tramway, there’s plenty to look forward to this year.”
As if exciting events weren’t enough, the museum will open several new exhibits in its 1950s Town and 1820s landscape.
New exhibits opening in The 1950s Town later this year include a pair of police houses and their associated single-storey office, semi-detached houses, a terrace of aged miners’ homes and a bowling green and pavilion.
In the 1820s Landscape, the museum is due to open a Georgian pottery and Drover’s Tavern where visitors can enjoy Georgian-inspired food and drink.
For more information, including events and opening times, visit www.beamish.org.uk.
Reasons to Book a Group Visit to Beamish Museum
No visit to the North of England is complete without a trip to Beamish, The Living Museum of the North.
Groups can take a tram ride back in time and be immersed in real, living history as they discover what life was like in the 1820s, early 1900s, 1940s and 1950s.
Groups can enjoy:
- Discounted day admission for pre-booked groups of 15 or more paying visitors.
- Free admission for coach driver and group organiser.
- Free coach parking on hardstanding.
- Free access to special daytime events throughout the year.
- Coach driver hospitality.
Open year-round. For the latest visit information, full opening times and admission charges, visit www.beamish.org.uk.
To book a group visit to Beamish, The Living Museum of the North, please email bookings@beamish.org.uk.
