Newcastle’s Discovery Museum smashes pre-covid visitor figures this August
Discovery Museum has seen its busiest August since before the Covid pandemic, with more than 28,000 people visiting the museum
Newcastle’s Discovery Museum has seen its busiest August since before the Covid pandemic, with more than 28,000 people visiting the museum.
The new transport themed Things That Go exhibition for families with young children, in the freshly developed Special Exhibitions Gallery has been one of the big draws.
Things That Go! is a free exhibition sponsored by Lumo Travel, Stagecoach and Tyne and Wear Metro. The The Wolfson Foundation and National Lottery Heritage Fund supported the costs of the new Special Exhibitions Gallery.
"Exhibitions for the future include Colourful Discoveries celebrating the museum collections through colour in 2027"
Keith Merrin, Director of North East Museums said:
“August has been a tremendous month for Discovery Museum. It’s been great seeing the museum packed with happy families.
“The Things That Go exhibition in the new gallery has been a big boost and occupies a new space which will house more exciting exhibitions to come, to showcase our world-class regional heritage and collections.
"Family friendly exhibitions for the future include Colourful Discoveries celebrating the museum collections through colour in 2027, an exhibition commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Tyne Bridge in 2028, and an exhibition about Joseph Swan's invention of the lightbulb in 2029."
Other North East Museums’ venues have aso recorded strong footfall over the summer.
Other North East Museums’ venues including the Great North Museum: Hancock, the Laing Art Gallery and Shipley Art Gallery, South Shields Museum & Art Gallery, Arbeia South Shields’ Roman Fort and Hexham Old Gaol have also recorded strong footfall over the summer.
Discovery Museum has had an eventful year so far – as well as beginning a £3.9 million refurbishment of the building’s roof and windows, the museum recently acquired the Union flag flown from HMS Royal Sovereign the flagship of Newcastle-born Vice-Admiral Collingwood at the Battle of Trafalgar.
The flag which is thought to be hand-stitched by the crew nicknamed ‘the Tars of the Tyne’, will go on temporary display from 17 October – 1 November 2026 before being carefully stored as work begins to create a permanent space in the museum for the flag and the story of Vice Admiral Collingwood.
