Celebrations & Special Occasions

Beamish Museum

Beamish provides a perfect setting for celebrations, dinners, family days, meetings and small conferences. The Museum offer truly unique period locations and tailored packages to make any event, whether large or small, a real success. 



The Bowes Museum

The Bowes Museum is the perfect venue to mark your special occasion. 

Whether you are celebrating a birthday, anniversary or simply a get together of friends, we can create a unique and memorable day for you. 

How about a scrumptious afternoon tea part or lunch in the privacy of one of our opulent reception rooms? Or perhaps a private tour with one of our curators to bring our collections to life?

For very special events, our picture galleries are available for evening hire. Imagine your guests being enthralled by the unique setting and delicious food, from canapes to four course dinners, created by our award winning chef. 

We are also the perfect place to celebrate the most special day of your life. We love creating weddings for all party sizes in either our picture galleries or function room suite. We are fully licensed for civil ceremonies, and with wedding suite hire prices starting from £850.00. The Bowes Museum is a very affordable way to hold your special day in a unique, historic setting. 

Please call Rosie, our dedicated Group Bookings Officer, on 01833 694614 or Verity, our Weddings Co-ordinator, on 01833 694614 to talk about how we can create your unique events, and make your celebration as special as our collections.     

Locomotion NRM, Shildon

Choice 1 - Full Steam Ahead! Steam Train Driving Experience

For just £250, you can enjoy an exclusive 'one to one' half day session, spending a morning behind the scenes of a working steam train. Treat yourself, or purchase it as an ideal gift. 

Come in bright and early with the locomotive team to 'fire up' the engine, and prepare for the day ahead. Learn about the site operations and crossing signalling, then under the guidance of our experienced team - drive a steam locomotive with passenger coach for approximately one kilometre along our track. 

You can invite up to four guests and join them in the brake van for a journey on the train. At the end of your half day session, you'll be issued with a commemorative certificate. 

Full Steam Ahead! Is held all year by arrangement. For insurance purposes, you must be aged from 21 - 70. 

Choice 2 - Exclusive Hire of Steam Locomotive

Enhance your visit to Locomotion and enjoy exclusive steam or footplate rides for your party as part of your visit to see the vehicles from the National Collection on display. 

Enjoy and exclusive steam ride on the museum's onsite track and members of your party can choose to take a ride on the Locomotive footplate. 

Please note a standard one way journey lasts approximately 5 minutes but the engine can be hired for a set period of time, packages from £500. For insurance purposes you must be aged from 21 - 70 to ride on the footplate. Footplate rides are limited to two persons per journey. All activities must be booked in advance and would be subject to availability.

For further information contact Pam Porter on 01388 771 445. 


Raby Castle

Raby Castle is one of England's finest medieval castles. This magnificent fortress in the heart of Teesdale near Darlington has been home to Lord Barnard's family since 1626. 

If your group are looking for something a little bit special, then Raby Castle can provide a private VIP guided tour of the castle, which includes refreshments in the impressive Entrance Hall, which was created into its present dramatic form by John Carr for the 2nd Earl of Darlington, to celebrate the coming of age of his heir in 1787. The roof was raised to enable carriages to pass through the Hall and the result is a stunning interior in the Gothic Revival style. This is then followed by private tour taking in all main highlights including the vast Barons' Hall is where it reputed against Elizabeth 1. The splendid Victorian drawing room displays one of the most striking interiors from the 19th Century and the medieval kitchen, which was in full use until 1954. 

Please call 01833 660 202 to discuss your requirements.