We visited the Beamish Museum near Newcastle upon Tyne in November 2012. I was given complimentary tickets for the attraction. During a very wet couple of days, we were fortunate to have a dry afternoon for our visit. The unmade car park was full of puddles; we were wearing wellies, just as well.  I could see by the number of empty spaces in the car park that it wasn’t going to be too crowded inside. Beamish calls itself a living museum because it’s like a recreation of Georgian, Victorian And Edwardian times, with the staff dressed in period costumes.

 

Tram at Beamish Museum

Once you enter the grounds there’s a tram and bus stop (rides on these are included in the entry ticket price). I was glad that we visited on a quiet day, as I could see that there would be quite a bit of queueing to get on the transport options with more people around. There are paved walkways so you can walk around the site too.

View of colliery from the tram at Beamish Museum

There was a hobby horse carousel which charged £1.50 a ride.

Carousel & chestnut stall at Beamish Museum

Santa’s Grotto was in a train shed with an admission charge of £3 per child which included a small gift.

Entrance to Santa’s Grotto at Beamish Museum

Decorated steam engine in Santa’s Grotto

We were the only people who ventured upstairs on the open top bus. I was able to sit down on the wet seats, as I was wearing my waterproof trousers.

Me on the open top bus at Beamish Museum

Open top bus at Beamish Museum

 

Decorated Co-op store at Beamish Museum

Vintage delivery van outside the Masonic Lodge at Beamish Museum

There was a Christmas Fair in the Masonic Lodge. I thought that some of items were quite expensive, e.g. £4.50 for a small box of mince pies. However, some of the perishable items were being reduced in price in the afternoon.

Stained glass windows in Masonic Lodge at Beamish Museum

Bathroom in dentist’s house at Beamish Museum

Kitchen at dentist’s house at Beamish Museum

Tram at Beamish Museum

Davy’s Fried Fish Shop at Beamish Museum

The steam train only went along a short piece of track, then reversed back to the station. We sat in the Royal Carriage, built for Alexandra Princess of Wales.

Steam engine at Beamish Museum railway station

Steam train at Beamish Museum railway station

Standard Beamish Museum tickets cost £17.50 for adults, £13 for students/seniors and £10 for kids. However, these tickets give you unlimited entry for one year. I think you’d need to live fairly close to Beamish Museum to make the most of that offer. If you visit Tuesday to Thursday in low season, you can buy half price tickets but they are only valid for that day and some parts of the Museum are shut on those days.