About
Our next Home Educators’ Day takes place on Wednesday, 10th December 2025. There are a range of bookable workshops and drop-in activities for you to try during your visit.
Book your place here
Bookable Workshops
Workshops are individually priced, accompanying adult admitted to workshop free of charge. Museum admission fee applies. Parental supervision is required throughout the activities.
The Inside Scoop
Learn about the evolution of ice cream and the impact of Italian immigration to the North East from the 1870s to the 1950s. You will enjoy exploring a variety of our ice cream-related items from our museum collection, before making ice cream to sample and learn about the science that happens.
This activity will take place in the Reece Workshop in The 1950s Town at 10.30am, 11.30am, 1pm, 2pm and 3.30pm (new session added!) and will be approximately 45 minutes long.
£2.50 per child per session, pre-booking essential. Suitable for ages 7+.
Traditions of Christmas
Come and visit a household preparing for Christmas in a time when celebrations were simpler, gifts homemade and children hoped to find an orange and a handful of nuts in their stocking.
Due to the Traditions of Christmas activity at Pockerley being fully booked, we are adding this extra activity at Spain’s Field which follows a very similar plan. Please check your ticket to ensure you arrive at the correct place.
Pockerley – This activity will take place at Pockerley Old Hall in The 1820s Landscape at 10.30am, 12.30pm and 2pm and will be approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes long.
Spain’s Field – This activity will take place at Spain’s Field Farm at 10.30am, 12.30pm and 2pm and will be approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes long.
£2.50 per child per session, pre-booking essential. Suitable for ages 4-7.
Bah Humbug
This enquiry-based activity is linked to the book A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens. You will find out about a death of a pauper in The 1900s Town street, and will then move around the area interviewing five characters about the plight of the poor in the workhouse to persuade them to donate to charity.
This activity will take place at the Masonic Hall in The 1900s Town at 10.30am, 11.30am, 1pm and 2.30pm and will be approximately 1 hour long.
£2.50 per child per session, pre-booking essential. Suitable for ages 12+.
Free drop-in activities
Take part in a number of free activities around the museum (museum admission fee applies).
At times, exhibits may be busy with families participating, so you may wish to pop by again at a different time if it is too busy for you, or speak with a member of staff who can try to accommodate any needs you may have.
Marshmallow Toasting in Birch Woods, alongside the Elf houses near the Winding Engine in The 1900s Pit Village.
Christmas Postcards in the kitchen at The 1940s Farm.
Christmas at Spain’s Field Farm
Christmas Thaumotropes in the school in The 1900s Pit Village
Don’t forget
Indoor Lunch Space
The band hall in The 1900s Pit Village, and the bowling pavilion in The 1950s Town will be available as indoor lunch spaces from 11.30am-1.30pm
Father Christmas
If you would like to see Father Christmas at his Rowley Station Grotto on the Home Educators’ Day, you are welcome to make a booking to add this onto your visit. Book your place here.
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Find out what’s happening this week across the Culture County. From festivals and exhibitions, to sport and theatre, you’re certain to have an eventful time in Durham.
