Visit North East Museums and discover the things you love

Plan your visit to North East Museums. Explore fascinating exhibitions and events across our unique museums and galleries in North East England, showcasing art, history, science and culture for all ages.

Discover the things you love

12 museums and art galleries

Now's a great time to visit North East Museums. There's so much to explore across our 12 museums and art galleries:

Arbeia, South Shields Roman Fort 
Discovery Museum
Great North Museum: Hancock
Hatton Gallery
Hexham Old Gaol
Laing Art Gallery 
Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum 
Segedunum Roman Fort
Shipley Art Gallery
South Shields Museum & Art Gallery
Stephenson Steam Railway
Woodhorn Museum

Easter holidays

Check our Ways to Play page for fun, low-cost events for families during school holidays.

Arbeia, South Shields Roman Fort

Reconstructed stone gate at a Roman Fort.

Roman buildings reconstructed

Arbeia, South Shields Roman Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage site in South Shields. You can step into reconstructed Roman buildings on the fort site and explore fascinating archaeological finds from Arbeia in the museum.

Five things you'll love at Arbeia, South Shields Roman Fort

  1. The West Gate - one of the UK's finest reconstructed Roman buildings
  2. The Victor and Regina tombstones in Arbeia's small but perfect museum
  3. The Commanding Officer's House - see how the fort's top soldier lived with his family
  4. Interesting flowers and herbs in the Roman Garden and across the site
  5. Free entry for a great value trip out. Dogs welcome on the fort site. 

Plan your visit to Arbeia, South Shields Roman Fort

Discovery Museum

A family in front of Turbinia at Discovery Museum

Newcastle's story through the ages

Discovery Museum is a family-friendly museum in Newcastle city centre showcasing Tyneside's rich maritime, scientific, military and industrial heritage. 

Five things you'll love at Discovery Museum

  1. Seeing Turbinia - once the fastest ship in the world
  2. Getting hands-on in the Science Maze
  3. Discovering the city's past in the Newcastle Story exhibition
  4. Learning about world famous inventions in the Tyneside Challenge exhibition
  5. Open seven days a week with free entry for a great value day out.

Plan your visit to Discovery Museum

Great North Museum: Hancock

Family in the Planetarium at the Great North Museum

A natural history and archaeology adventure 

Great North Museum: Hancock is a family-friendly museum in Newcastle city centre exploring natural history, archaeology and human cultures. It was founded in 1884 by the brothers John and Albany Hancock.

Five things you'll love at Great North Museum: Hancock

  1. Seeing a replica T. rex skeleton in the Fossil Stories exhibition
  2. Blasting off to space in the Planetarium
  3. Meeting the Pharaohs in the Ancient Egypt exhibition
  4. Playing in the Mouse House space for under 5s
  5. Open seven days a week with free entry for a great value day out.

Plan your visit to Great North Museum: Hancock

Hexham Old Gaol

Exterior view of Hexham Old Gaol

England's oldest gaol

Hexham Old Gaol is a family0friendly museum in Hexham, Northumberland. You can delve into the history of what life was really like for prisoners from the 1300s to the 1820s. 

Five things you'll love at Hexham Old Gaol

  1. Taking a trip in the glass lift to see the dungeon where petty criminals mixed with hardened criminals.  
  2. Learning about Medieval crime and punishment, including how prisoners had to pay for their own essentials.  
  3. Learning about the Border Reivers, the infamous group of lawless raiders imprisoned in the gaol.  
  4. Having a go in the stocks – if you dare.  
  5. Using your Annual Pass to return again and again.

Plan your visit to Hexham Old Gaol

Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum

Close up of Northumbrian bagpipes

The very first bagpipe museum in the UK

Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum is a must for all music lovers – alive with iconic regional instruments and live music. 

Five things you’ll love at Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum 

  1. Visiting the Chantry, a stunning 13th century, Grade One listed building.  
  2. Exploring our extensive collection of over 120 pipes, including those belonging to William Alfred Cocks, King Louis XIV of France and a miniature set for Queen Mary’s dollhouse.  
  3. Giving our ‘Learn to Play in a Day’ and ‘Meet the Piper’ sessions a go.  
  4. Seeing the oldest window in Morpeth.  
  5. Free entry, open Monday to Saturday, 9.30am-5.30pm  

Plan your visit to Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum

Segedunum Roman Fort

Child enjoying dressing up as a Roman at Segedunum

Where Hadrian's Wall begins and ends

Segedunum Roman Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Wallsend, North Tyneside. Built in AD 122 to guard the eastern end of Hadrian's Wall, Segedunum housed 600 Roman soldiers and stood as a symbol of Roman rule for nearly 300 years.

Five things you'll love at Segedunum Roman Fort

  1. Seeing the Fort site from the 35-metre-high Viewing Tower
  2. Learning about the life of a Roman solider in the Roman Gallery
  3. Standing atop a reconstructed section of Hadrian's Wall
  4. Getting a photo with Sentius Tectonicus - a huge statue of a Roman Centurion
  5. Open Monday - Saturday. Under 22s and NE28 residents go free!

Plan your visit to Segedunum Roman Fort

Stephenson Steam Railway

Steam train passing a man on a grass bank

Heritage train rides and a museum to enjoy

Stephenson Steam Railway offers a family-friendly journey into the coal-powered past, with heritage train rides and exhibits of historic rail vehicles in the museum. It's located near Silverlink retail park in North Tyneside.

Five things you'll love at Stephenson Steam Railway

  1. Seeing Billy - the world's third oldest steam engine
  2. Taking a four-mile train ride in vintage 1950s carriages
  3. Learning about the pioneers of the railways, George and Robert Stephenson
  4. Seeing the Tyneside Electric Parcel Van - the only surviving vehicle from the Tyneside Suburban Electric Railway
  5. Free entry to the museum. Pay once, ride all day for train rides.

Stephenson Steam Railway has special opening hours - make sure to check the website before visiting.

Plan your visit to Stephenson Steam Railway

Woodhorn Museum

Exterior view of Woodhorn Museum with wheel in foreground and colliery buildings in background

Celebrating Northumberland’s proud mining heritage

Woodhorn is a family-friendly museum in Ashington, Nothumberland. It tells the story of what daily life was really like for miners in Northumberland, alongside an ever-changing contemporary arts and events programme. 

Five things you’ll love at Woodhorn Museum  

  1. Exploring the original historic buildings of the former Victorian coal mine.
  2. Visiting the Coal Town exhibition to hear the true story of coal mining in Northumberland through the experiences of the Ashington community.  
  3. Experiencing the work of the Pitmen Painters in Ashington Group gallery and taking part in a free spotlight tour. 
  4. Taking a trip to the annual Northumberland Open Exhibition – the largest exhibition of its type in Northumberland (until 1 June).  
  5. Using your Annual Pass to return again and again. 

Plan your visit to Woodhorn Museum