Every September, Heritage Open Days take place all across England, with amazing sites and volunteers organising thousands of FREE events and experiences celebrating our history and culture. Heritage Open Days will be held 8th-17th September 2023, and give a ‘chance to see hidden places and try new experiences.’
We’ve rounded up some of our top picks for family-friendly events in the North East. You can browse the A-Z below andΒ can find a calendar view here, or to see the full range of venues and activities visit www.heritageopendays.org.uk.
Details are subject to change and activities may be subject to availability. Please check for the latest updates using the links below – itβs also advisable to check again on the day in case of last minute changes. Parking charges may apply.
BALTIC
π Gateshead, NE8 3BA
π Behind the Scenes Tour: 9th-10th Sep & 16th-17th Sep 2023
π Quayside Tour: 14th Sep 2023
π Explore areas of the BALTIC which are normally out of bounds in the Building History and Behind the Scenes Tour. Discover the local history of the NewcastleGateshead Quayside on a relaxed tour over the Millennium Bridge, under the Tyne Bridge and over the Swing Bridge, ending at BALTIC.
π Booking required: Behind the Scenes / Quayside
Tours are suitable for all ages and content will adapted depending on visitors.
Bessie Surtees House
π Newcastle, NE1 3JF
π Sat 16th Sep 2023
π The Jacobean mansion house will be open to visitors 10am-4pm, with a dressing-up box, colouring sheets and a trail for children. Drop in to view the public rooms, or join guided tours through some of the private rooms (booking required).
π More info here.
Cragside
π Morpeth, Northumberland, NE65 7PX
π Fri 15th Sep 2023, 10am-4pm
π Free entry to the National Trust site, with Britain’s original smart home filled with Victorian gadgets, mountain landscape, man-made lakes, waterfalls, gardens, woodland and adventure play area.
π No booking needed, more info here.
Dunston Staiths
π Dunston, Gateshead, NE8 2GS
π Sat 16th Sep 2023, 10am – 2pm
π Enjoy river views from the iconic, Grade ll listed, scheduled monument on the River Tyne.
π No booking required, more info here.
Durham Castle
π Durham, DH1 3RL
π Sun 10th Sep 2023, 11am – 3pm
π A self-guided visit to Durham Castle to enjoy the historic and beautiful surroundings at your own pace. Activities for children, games and dressing available.
π No booking required, more info here.
Durham Oriental Museum
π Elvet Hill, Durham, DH1 3TH
π Sat 9th Sep 2023, 1 – 2.30pm
π Family-Friendly Touch Tour – get hands on with museum objects and hear the fascinating stories behind them from Ancient Egypt to modern China.
π Places are limited, booking essential here.
Suitable for children aged 7+
Farrell Centre
π Newcastle, NE1 7RD
π 8th – 10th Sep & 13th – 17th Sep 2023
π Tours and trails around the newly refurbished Grade-II Listed building, with spotlight tour (booking recommended), self-led campus and building trails suitable for all ages, and hands-on creative activities.
π More info here.
Gala Theatre
π Millennium Place, Durham, DH1 1WA
π Sat 16th Sep 2023, 10am – 3pm
π ‘Stories of a Soldier’s Kitchen’ – immerse yourself in a Victorian Soldier’s Field Kitchen, with storytelling, dressing up, and more!
π No booking required, more info here.
Gibside
π Gibside, Burnopfield, Co Durham, NE16 6BG
π Sat 16th – Sun 17th Sep 2023, 10am – 6pm (car park closes 6pm)
π Free entry to the National Trust site Gibside, with historical ruins, Georgian landscape gardens, woodland, outdoor play and Explorer Trail with low ropes course. There is a rare opportunity to enter the Banqueting House (booking required here).
π More info here.
St Nicholas Church
π Gosforth, Newcastle, NE3 1BJ
π Sat 9th Sep 2023, 10.30am – 4pm
π ‘Stories from St Nicholas’ including family explorer trail, explorer box and activities, family story walk (weather permitting), guided tour and drop-in archive handling sessions.
π Places on guided tours to be booked on arrival, more info here.
North & South Marine Parks
π South Shields, NE33 2LF
π Sat 16th Sep 2023, 1 – 4pm
π ‘A Victorian Day In The Parks – Bowlers, Boaters and Bands.’ Experience a day of living Victorian history, including guided walk, live music, games of Petanque, hopscotch, hoop-la and more.
π No booking required, more info here.
North East Land Sea & Air Museum
π Sunderland, SR5 3HZ
π Sat 9th – Sun 10th Sep, 10am – 4pm
π Free entry to the NELSAM transport museum, displaying military vehicles, historic vehicles and trams, locally produced car collections, and aircraft from early aviation to retired RAF jets.
π No booking required, more info here.
The Old Rectory
π Houghton Le Spring, DH4 4BB
π Sat 9th Sep 2023, 12 – 4pm
π Discover Sunderland’s dark past during the cholera outbreaks in the 19th Century, with an exhibition, local craft stalls and children’s trails and activities.
π No booking required, more info here.
Ryhope Engines Museum
π Ryhope Pumping Station, Sunderland, SR2 0ND
π Sat 9th & Sun 10th Sep, 11am-4pm
π A unique opportunity to see the Victorian beam engines working under steam power. Visit the galleries and a working blacksmith’s shop where the blacksmith might make you a special memento. Gatehouse tearooms for cakes and snacks.
π No booking required, more info here.
Segedunum Roman Fort
π Wallsend, North Tyneside, NE28 6HR
π Sat 9th – Sun 10th Sep 2023, 10am – 5pm
π Free entry to the ancient site of Segedunum, the most excavated fort along Hadrian’s Wall with many surviving foundations, interactive museum and 35m high Viewing Tower for spectacular views across the city and river Tyne.
π No booking required, more info here.
17Nineteen
π Holy Trinity Church, Sunderland, SR1 2BB
π Sat 16th Sep 2023
π Stained Glass Workshop – transform a recycled jar into a stunning work of art in a 2 hour workshop, involving copper foiling techniques, glass cutting, foiling and soldering. No prior experience required, ages 5 and above. 10am – 12pm.
π Silent Disco Litter Pick – helping clean up the area while boogying along to a silent disco. Hot and cold drinks available before and after your walk. From 1pm.
π Booking required here.
Sunderland Vintage Bus Tour
π Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens, SR1 1PP
π Sat 9th Sep, 10am – 4.30pm.
π Join a Vintage Bus Tour starting at Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens and visiting Hylton Castle, Washington F Pit Museum, Bowes Railway Museum and Ryhope Engines Museum, with expert guided tours led by volunteers at each location.
π Booking required here.
Not suitable for under 5s.
St. Maryβs Lighthouse
π Whitley Bay, NE26 4RS
π 14th – 17th Sep 2023
π Free admission to St. Mary’s Lighthouse. Climb the 137 steps to the top of the tower on the miniature, part-time island.
π No booking required, more info here.
Stephenson Steam Railway
π North Shields, NE29 8DX
π Sat 9th Sep 2023
π Workshop Tours – behind-the-scenes look at Stephenson Steam Railway, ask anything you ever wanted to know about maintaining vintage engines and trains. Tours at 11:30am, 1pm & 2pm.
π Sun 10th Sep 2023
π Train Trip – take a four mile return trip with the vintage locomotive and 1950s passenger carriages. No need to book, turn up on the day. Train departure times tbc, updates here.
π Tour places are limited, book here.
Wallington
π Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 4AR
π Sun 10th & Mon 11th Sep 2023, 10am – 5pm
π Free entry to the National Trust site, including the historical house once home to the unconventional Trevelyan family. Explore the walled garden, courtyard, woodland and the four outdoor playparks, with the Clocktower cafΓ© for hot and cold refreshments.
π No booking required, more info here.
Washington Old Hall
π Washington, NE38 7LE
π Sat 9th Sep, 10am – 5pm
π Free entry to the 17th Century National Trust manor house to explore the Great Hall and gardens, which were the ancestral home of America’s first president George Washington.
π No booking required, more info here.
Thereβs plenty on Gateshead Mumbler to help keep little ones (and big ones!) busy, checkΒ hereΒ for more ideas and info for playgroups, classes and fun days out from tots to teens!
If youβd like to keep up to date when new resources are added, please click here and like theΒ Gateshead Mumbler Facebook page