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Welcome to the Itinerary Planner. Use this tool to build your own journey or choose from an exciting range of specially selected tours.

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    This is Durham Blog

You are here > Home > History & Heritage > Social Heritage

Social Heritage

Discover an amazing county where the past comes to life.

Beamish Museum gives you the chance to take a tram ride in to the past and explore 300 acres of living history. Taste traditional baking at the Edwardian Bakery, feel the warmth of the Pit Cottage fires, head underground to experience life as a miner, smell the steam as you ride a train through the Georgian landscape and explore the potions and lotions at the chemist in the Edwardian Town.


Head to Locomotion: The National Railway Museum at Shildon and learn about the people of this Victorian town that helped shape the development of the railways, or find your own minerals as you work as a washer-boy at Killhope Museum.

You’ll find award-winning attractions across the county just waiting to give you a glimpse of times gone by.

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Number of results: 16

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  1. Romans on display in the Museum of Archaeology

    Add Museum of Archaeology at Palace Green Library to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 45 reviews45 reviews

    Museum of Archaeology at Palace Green Library

    Type

    Type:

    Museum

    Durham City

    Much of Durham’s history lies beneath our feet. Sometimes we can catch a glimpse of the past through the unique objects that are uncovered as the result of archaeological excavations, or are unearthed by chance by members of the public.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2023to31 Dec 2023Open 10:00 - 17:00
    More info for Museum of Archaeology at Palace Green Library
  2. Image of an information board showing Durham Cathedral and text describing the World Heritage Site at Palace Green Library.

    Add World Heritage Site Visitor Centre at Palace Green Library to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 130 reviews130 reviews

    World Heritage Site Visitor Centre at Palace Green Library

    Type

    Type:

    Heritage / Visitor Centre

    Durham City

    Providing a perfect introduction to the Durham World Heritage Site for all ages, the visitor centre is the gateway to discovering what it is that makes Durham so significant, and what there is to see and do around the peninsula.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2023to31 Dec 2023Open 10:00 - 17:00

    Awards

    • Regional and Miscellaneous TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Award 2020 2020TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Award 2020
    • Regional and Miscellaneous Northern Saints Trails Passport 2021Northern Saints Trails Passport
    More info for World Heritage Site Visitor Centre at Palace Green Library
  3. The 1900s Town Street at Beamish Museum

    Add Beamish - The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 8534 reviews8534 reviews

    Beamish - The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Museum

    Beamish

    Discover an amazing journey through time at Beamish Museum as you travel back in time to the 1820s, early 1900s, 1940s and 1950s and become immersed in real, living history.

    Dates

    Awards

    • Visit England VAQAS 2021VAQAS
    • Regional and Miscellaneous North East England Tourism Awards - Large Visitor Attraction of the Year Award - Highly Commended 2020North East England Tourism Awards - Large Visitor Attraction of the Year Award - Highly Commended
    • Visit England VisitEngland Award for Excellence Bronze 2016VisitEngland Award for Excellence Bronze
    • Regional and Miscellaneous TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Award 2020 2020TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Award 2020
    • Regional and Miscellaneous WTTC Safe Travels 2021WTTC Safe Travels

    Indicative Availability

    Book Beamish - The Living Museum of the North Online (opens in a new window)

    More info for Beamish - The Living Museum of the North
  4. East Durham Heritage and Lifeboat Centre

    Add East Durham Heritage and Lifeboat Centre to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 114 reviews114 reviews

    East Durham Heritage and Lifeboat Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Heritage / Visitor Centre

    Seaham

    The East Durham Heritage and Lifeboat Centre displays the historic lifeboat The George Elmy and gives and insight into the rich heritage of the area.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2023to31 Dec 2023
    More info for East Durham Heritage and Lifeboat Centre
  5. Entrance to Durham University Oriental Museum

    Add Durham University Oriental Museum to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 369 reviews369 reviews

    Durham University Oriental Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Museum

    Durham City

    Explore Ancient Egypt and Western Asia, the Himalayas, China, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia all in one museum.  The Oriental Museum is devoted to the art and archaeology of the great cultures of North Africa and Asia.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2023to31 Dec 2023Various Opening Times

    Awards

    • Visit England VAQAS 2021VAQAS
    • Green Awards Green Tourism Business Scheme - Gold 2015Green Tourism Business Scheme - Gold
    • Visit England Quality Assured Visitor Attraction 2017Quality Assured Visitor Attraction
    • Regional and Miscellaneous North East England Small Visitor Attraction of the Year Highly Commended 2015North East England Small Visitor Attraction of the Year Highly Commended
    • Regional and Miscellaneous Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence 2018Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence
    • Regional and Miscellaneous Northern Saints Trails Passport 2021Northern Saints Trails Passport
    More info for Durham University Oriental Museum
  6. Image of Palace Green Library's exterior on a sunny day.

    Add Historic Libraries & Archives at Palace Green Library to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 371 reviews371 reviews

    Historic Libraries & Archives at Palace Green Library

    Type

    Type:

    Museum

    Durham City

    Over almost two centuries since Durham University was founded, our library and archive collections have been growing and evolving with new books, manuscripts and archives being added every year. 

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2023to31 Dec 2023Open 09:00 - 17:00

    Awards

    • Regional and Miscellaneous Northern Saints Trails Passport 2021Northern Saints Trails Passport
    More info for Historic Libraries & Archives at Palace Green Library
  7. view of the exterior of The Faith Museum.

    Add The Faith Museum - The Auckland Project to your Itinerary

    The Faith Museum - The Auckland Project

    Type

    Type:

    Museum

    Bishop Auckland

    Sitting in the historic Grade 1 listed Scotland Wing of Auckland Castle, The Faith Museum explores the myriad ways in which faith has shaped lives and communities across Britain, inviting visitors to consider how people across history have…

    Dates

    From:
    7 Oct 2023to31 Dec 2023Various Opening Times
    More info for The Faith Museum - The Auckland Project
  8. Steam Engine at Locomotion

    Add Locomotion to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 1161 reviews1161 reviews

    Locomotion

    Type

    Type:

    Museum

    Shildon

    At Locomotion you can see highlights of the national collection of railway vehicles in the world’s first railway town.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2023to31 Dec 2023

    Awards

    • Regional and Miscellaneous North East England Tourism Awards - Tourism Event of the Year - Bronze 2014North East England Tourism Awards - Tourism Event of the Year - Bronze
    • Visit England Quality Assured Visitor Attraction 2017Quality Assured Visitor Attraction
    • Regional and Miscellaneous Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence 2018Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence
    • Regional and Miscellaneous WTTC Safe Travels 2021WTTC Safe Travels
    More info for Locomotion
  9. Weardale Museum and High House Chapel

    Add Weardale Museum to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 36 reviews36 reviews

    Weardale Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Museum

    Ireshopeburn

    Small but fascinating volunteer run folk museum with an amazing collection including the beautiful Weardale Tapestry, displays on mining,a mineral collection and the finds from St Botolph's Chapel, Frosterley.Also a display commemorating the lives…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Apr 2023to31 Oct 2023
    More info for Weardale Museum
  10. Durham Mining Museum

    Add Durham Mining Museum to your Itinerary

    Durham Mining Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Heritage / Visitor Centre

    Spennymoor

    Spennymoor Town Hall has it’s dedicated memorial to the works and lives lost during the mining period across County Durham. Events cover mining in the Northern part of England i.e. County Durham, Northumberland, Cumberland, Westmorland and the…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2023to31 Dec 2023Various Opening Times
    More info for Durham Mining Museum
  11. Exterior view of The Bowes Museum and surrounding gardens

    Add The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 1818 reviews1818 reviews

    The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Museum

    Barnard Castle

    See outstanding collections of art, fashion and design housed in an impressive French-style public Museum set in beautiful parkland. 

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2023to31 Dec 2023Open 10:00 - 17:00

    Awards

    • Visit England VAQAS 2021VAQAS
    • Regional and Miscellaneous TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2016TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence
    • Regional and Miscellaneous WTTC Safe Travels 2021WTTC Safe Travels

    Guaranteed Availability

    Book The Bowes Museum Online

    More info for The Bowes Museum
  12. Bishop Auckland Peoples Museum

    Add Bishop Auckland People's Museum to your Itinerary

    Bishop Auckland People's Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Heritage / Visitor Centre

    Bishop Auckland

    The People’s Museum is situated in the old Hippodrome.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2023to31 Dec 2023
    More info for Bishop Auckland People's Museum
  13. Horden Colliery Heritage Centre

    Add Horden Colliery Heritage Centre to your Itinerary

    Horden Colliery Heritage Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Museum

    Horden

    Heritage Centre with themed rooms. Mining Museum going back 100 years with 350 archives, photographs of Horden, lots of history, 1940s rooms.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Mar 2023to31 Oct 2023Various Opening Times
    More info for Horden Colliery Heritage Centre
  14. Children wearing hard hats in Killhope Lead Mine in dark truck full of rocks

    Add Killhope Lead Mining Museum to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 311 reviews311 reviews

    Killhope Lead Mining Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Museum

    Cowshill

    Killhope is a multi award winning Victorian lead mining museum offering a great day out for the family. Guided mine tours, working water wheel, original machinery, exhibitions, workshops, family events, performances, stunning scenery, shop and cafe.…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Apr 2023to31 Oct 2023Open 10:00 - 16:30

    Awards

    • Visit England VAQAS 2021VAQAS
    • Green Awards Green Tourism Business Scheme - Gold 2017Green Tourism Business Scheme - Gold
    • Visit England Code of Practice 2017
    • Visit England Visitengland Hidden Gem 2016Visitengland Hidden Gem
    • Visit England Best Told Story 2021Best Told Story
    More info for Killhope Lead Mining Museum
  15. Durham Museum and Heritage Centre

    Add Durham Museum to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 112 reviews112 reviews

    Durham Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Museum

    Durham City

    Local history museum housed in historic church near cathedral. Tells the story of Durham from 10thC to present day using displays, models and artefacts. Brass rubbing and shop.

    Dates

    From:
    7 Apr 2023to29 Oct 2023
    More info for Durham Museum
  16. A gold cross pendant with arms inlaid with precious stones.

    Add Durham Cathedral Museum to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 7060 reviews7060 reviews

    Durham Cathedral Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Cathedral / Minister

    Durham City

    Explore 2000 years of the North East’s history, culture and faith at Durham Cathedral Museum. Step into the octagonal Great Kitchen and get up close to iconic symbols of Durham, including the Sanctuary Ring and St Cuthbert’s Pectoral Cross.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2023to31 Dec 2023
    More info for Durham Cathedral Museum
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