Woodhorn Museum shortlisted for national Family Friendly Museum Award
Woodhorn Museum shortlisted for national Family Friendly Museum Award
Woodhorn Museum has been shortlisted for the Kids in Museums Family Friendly Museum Award.
Charity Kids in Museums has run a prestigious annual award since 2004, recognising the most family friendly heritage sites in the UK. It is the only museum award to be judged by families.
From February to late April, families across the UK voted for their favourite heritage attraction on the Kids in Museums website. A panel of museum experts, children and young people then whittled down hundreds of nominations to a shortlist of 20 heritage attractions.
Woodhorn Museum has been shortlisted alongside four other museums in the Best Accessible Museum category.
Jo Raw, Northumberland Venues Manager for North East Museums, said:
"We're delighted to have been shortlisted for the Best Accessible Museum award. Accessibility is at the heart of everything we do, and we're committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive and enjoyable experience for every visitor. We'd like to thank everyone who nominated us and we're looking forward to welcoming the judges to Woodhorn over the summer."
Woodhorn Museum offers a wide range of experiences for families to enjoy together, from hands-on activities and trails to outdoor play, events and exhibitions inspired by Northumberland's rich mining heritage. Accessibility is embedded throughout the museum, with sensory spaces across the site, specially designed access guides and social stories, quiet spaces, Sound Down Sundays, an accessible Pit Yard Play Area, Changing Places facilities and a range of resources to support visitors of all needs and abilities. Where possible, the museum also offers relaxed sessions for selected events, helping to ensure every family can explore, learn and make memories together in a welcoming and inclusive environment.
Over the summer holidays, the museum will be visited by undercover family judges who will assess the shortlisted museums against the Kids in Museums Manifesto, a set of guidelines on what makes a great museum visit for all ages. Their experiences will decide a winner for each award category and an overall winner of the Family Friendly Museum Award 2026. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in October.
Follow the Family Friendly Museum Award on social media by following @kidsinmuseums and #FamilyFriendlyMuseum.
The Family Friendly Museum Award has been made possible by funding from Arts Council England.
