FAQs

Purchase your ticket online via DigiTickets here, or when you arrive at the Entrance Building. Book online for faster entry and a smoother start to your visit.

• 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 companion or carer to enable them to access the museum, then this person is admitted free of charge. Please let a member of our Entrance team know when you arrive.

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.

For more information about accessibility, please visit our Accessibility page anvilledger.cfd/accessibility.

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 issue you with a replacement QR code/receipt once we have found you on the system.

Max Card holders are entitled to 25% 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).

To receive this discount you will need to show your Max Card and purchase your passes when you arrive at our Entrance Building.

Please note, the Max Card discount can only be applied on presentation of a valid Max Card.

There is free parking at the Main Entrance Car Park. Our main car park consist of 7 levels, divided by a central access road used for both entry and exit from the car park.

The main car park also includes 2 levels of accessible parking closer to the admissions building, which are reserved for those with additional access requirements at the time of their visit, please speak to our parking attendant when you arrive.

There is also a larger dedicated level for coach and motorhome parking.

The terrain in all bays is dolomite gravel. We ask all visitors to please park close to other vehicles when arriving to allow us to maximise parking space.

At busier times we may make use of our overflow car park, you will be directed by a member of our parking team should this be required.

Visitors do not require a timeslot to visit the museum.

Please note, last admission is one hour before closing.

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.

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. Find out more about Transport at Beamish here. 

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.

We have sit-in and takeaway options available. Find out more on our Food & Drink page 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).

See our visitor map here.

Please note, with the exception of the Coffee Pot Café at our Entrance Building, museum admission applies to visit our catering outlets.

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.

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.

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.

You can also make a purchase from our online shop, with unique Beamish items, inspired by our exhibits and collection.

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

Find the visitor Photography policy here.

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 [email protected]

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.

Refill your bottle at any of our free water points, located at:

• Tea Rooms (The 1900s Town)
• W Smith’s Chemist (The 1900s Town)
• Bowling Pavilion (The 1950s Town)
• Coffee Pot Café (Entrance Building)
• Sinkers’ Bait Cabin (The 1900s Pit Village)
• British Kitchen (The 1940s Farm)
• John’s Café (The 1950s Town)