Things to Do in Durham
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You are here > Home > Things to Do > Attractions > Museums & Galleries
You'll find a range of museums and galleries across the county. From Durham University's Oriental Museum to Beamish - England's largest open air museum and the surprising sight of The Bowes Museum in the Durham Dales - housing internationally significant fine arts.
See more below.
Number of results: 35
, currently showing 1 to 20.
Military
Spennymoor
The Durham Light Infantry Collection has moved to Sevenhills at Spennymoor. Items from the collection are available to view preferably by prior appointment, there is also a dedicated research and study area. The DLI medal collection is available to…
Museum
Ireshopeburn
**Exterior Viewing only until further notice**
Small but fascinating volunteer run folk museum with an amazing collection including the beautiful Weardale Tapestry and the historic and High House Chapel. New display commemorating the lives of…
Arts Centre
Barnard Castle
The Witham is a community venue for theatre, music, art and social events, facilities range from the architecturally award-winning café bar to a fully-renovated Victorian music hall.
Gallery
Bishop Auckland
Bishop Auckland Town Hall is a multi-purpose cultural venue situated in Bishop Auckland market place. It offers regular art exhibitions, live music, theatre and films as well as a café and library with free internet access and local history…
Gallery
Spennymoor
The Gallery houses a permanent collection of art, including paintings by Norman Cornish, as well as being host to at least six exhibitions a year.
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.
Museum
Beamish
Experience a real sense of your past at Beamish, a living, working museum, set in 300 acres of beautiful Durham countryside.
Museum
Shildon
At Locomotion you can see highlights of the national collection of railway vehicles in the world’s first railway town.
Gallery
Bishop Auckland
With three permanent rooms and one temporary exhibition space on the ground floor, the gallery explores working life in the coal mines through original artefacts and artworks by prominent mining artists such as Tom McGuinness and Norman Cornish.
Gallery
Bishop Auckland
No.42 is home to The Auckland Project’s Art, Social History Collection and Future Plans Exhibition. Here you can see some of the intriguing objects and archives that The Auckland Project holds, as well as hearing some of the fascinating oral…
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.
Cathedral / Minister
Durham City
Open Treasure is an award-winning museum for all ages which guides visitors through some of Durham Cathedral’s most spectacular spaces, including the fourteenth-century Monks’ Dormitory and the monastic Great Kitchen.
Museum
Durham
Palace Green Library, in the heart of Durham city, holds Durham University's special collections. Our galleries are open to all and display treasures spanning millennia and the globe.
Museum
Horden
Heritage Centre with themed rooms. Mining Museum going back 100 years with 350 archives, photographs of Horden, lots of history, 1940s rooms.
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…
Museum
Barnard Castle
An iconic building and Museum set in the vibrant market town of Barnard Castle in the midst of Teesdale, housing outstanding collections of European fine and decorative art.
Public Art
NEWTON AYCLIFFE
Designed by artist Joseph Hillier, In Our Image is a landmark designed to represent the industrial heritage of the area.
Sub-Attraction
Beamish
**Following the government announcement that the North East is in COVID-19 Tier 4 from 31st December 2020, the museum has once again had to close. We’ll be keeping you updated on our social media and website as we continue to follow the…
Historic Site
Durham City
The Town Hall has been central to life in Durham city for more than 650 years. A recent makeover complete with new interpretation, interactive information points, short films and audio guides all combine to bring this stunning building, and the…
Heritage / Visitor Centre
Newbiggin
Situated amidst stunning woodland, near to Low and High Force waterfalls and surrounded by rolling fields that boast some of the best hay meadows in England, Bowlees Visitor Centre has all you need to make your visit to the North Pennines Area of…
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