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.

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
Arbeia, South Shields 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
- The West Gate - one of the UK's finest reconstructed Roman buildings
- The Victor and Regina tombstones in Arbeia's small but perfect museum
- The Commanding Officer's House - see how the fort's top soldier lived with his family
- Interesting flowers and herbs in the Roman Garden and across the site
- Free entry for a great value trip out. Dogs welcome on the fort site.
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
- Seeing Turbinia - once the fastest ship in the world
- Getting hands-on in the Science Maze
- Discovering the city's past in the Newcastle Story exhibition
- Learning about world famous inventions in the Tyneside Challenge exhibition
- Open seven days a week with free entry for a great value day out.
Great North Museum: Hancock

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

Modern and contemporary art
Hatton Gallery hosts a changing programme of modern and contemporary art exhibitions. It's based in the Fine Art department at Newcastle University but open to everyone.
Five things you'll love at Hatton Gallery
- Beautiful architectural details around the building
- Seeing the new Sustainable Clay exhibition (until 3 May 2025)
- Kurt Schwitters' iconic Merz Bern Wall, on permanent display
- The gift shop - perfect for art books, cards and souvenirs
- Free entry Monday - Saturday for a great value trip.
Hexham Old Gaol

England's oldest gaol
Hexham Old Gaol is a family friendly 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
- Taking a trip in the glass lift to see the dungeon where petty criminals mixed with hardened criminals.
- Learning about Medieval crime and punishment, including how prisoners had to pay for their own essentials.
- Learning about the Border Reivers, the infamous group of lawless raiders imprisoned in the gaol.
- Having a go in the stocks – if you dare.
- Using your Annual Pass to return again and again.
Laing Art Gallery

British art and world-class temporary exhibitions
Founded in 1901 by businessman Alexander Laing, the Laing Art Gallery houses an internationally significant collection of British paintings, watercolours, ceramics, silver and glassware. It's also known for its temporary exhibitions that bring the biggest names in art to Newcastle upon Tyne.
Five things you'll love at Laing Art Gallery
- Seeing the Laing's best paintings in the 100 Years of Collecting exhibition
- Exploring North East art in the Northern Spirit exhibition
- Seeing the latest temporary exhibition - Romance to Realities
- Enjoying afternoon tea in one of Newcastle's most beautiful cafés
- Open Monday - Saturday with free entry to all permanent exhibitions.
Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum

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
- Visiting the Chantry, a stunning 13th century, Grade One listed building.
- 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.
- Giving our ‘Learn to Play in a Day’ and ‘Meet the Piper’ sessions a go.
- Seeing the oldest window in Morpeth.
- Free entry, open Monday to Saturday, 9.30am-5.30pm
Segedunum Roman Fort

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

The North East's home of decorative arts, crafts and design
Gateshead's Shipley Art Gallery opened in 1917 with 504 paintings from Joseph Shipley's bequest. Today, it is a leading centre for decorative arts, contemporary craft and ceramics – a hidden gem right next to Saltwell Park.
Five things you'll love at Shipley Art Gallery
- Seeing the painting of the famous song, The Blaydon Races
- Exploring quirky objects from the Saltwell Park Museum
- Gazing at Tintoretto's masterpiece, Christ Washing the Disciples' Feet
- Seeing outstanding craft collections in the Designs for Life exhibition
- Open Tuesday - Saturday with free entry for a great value trip.
South Shields Museum & Art Gallery

Enjoy the South Tyneside story
South Shields Museum & Art Gallery is a family-friendly museum that celebrates the rich heritage of South Tyneside. It showcases the Borough's social, industrial and maritime history from 4,000 years ago to today.
Five things you'll love at South Shields Museum & Art Gallery
- Seeing a lion in the Treasures exhibition
- Seeing Spirit of the North East: The art of Richard Hobson, a retrospective (from 12 April)
- Meeting the resident live animals at Creature Corner
- Learning about life in the Borough in the Tales of South Tyneside exhibition
- Open Monday - Saturday with free entry for a great value day out.
Stephenson Steam Railway

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
- Seeing Billy - the world's third oldest steam engine
- Taking a four-mile train ride in vintage 1950s carriages
- Learning about the pioneers of the railways, George and Robert Stephenson
- Seeing the Tyneside Electric Parcel Van - the only surviving vehicle from the Tyneside Suburban Electric Railway
- 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.
Woodhorn Museum

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