- Watch real sweets being made at the 1900's Town Sweet Shop, and maybe even try some!
- Ride the famous Beamish Tramway down to Pockery or the Colliery.
- Grab a spam sandwich at the '40s themed British Kitchen.
- Learn about how local miners lived in the 1900's Pit Village and take a trip down the Mahogany Pit Mine.
As anyone who lives in the North East will tell you, a trip to County Durham is not complete without a visit to Beamish Open Air Museum.
This unique location, known as a 'living museum', was created in 1970 to let ordinary people experience what life was like for those living in both rural and urban areas of the North East at the turn of the 20th century when industry was booming.
Beamish was started by Frank Atkinson, who was the director of the Bowes Museum at Barnard Castle at the time.
He felt there was a need to preserve traditional customs, dialect and lifestyle of the North East, since so much of the local industry was diminishing. In particular, the mining communities who lived in the 'Pit villages' were becoming displaced due to the closing down of mines.
This is where the idea for Beamish Museum came about.
The concept of collecting objects has been a longstanding practise within human history as a means of preserving our way of life, so Atkinson's idea was to collect and exhibit items in a way that would help future generations to understand what life was like for their predecessors.
At its inception, Beamish began life as a collection of objects displayed in Beamish town hall.
Over time, the museum has expanded to become a small town of its own, with shops (including a local sweet shop! ), a school, chapel and even a farm.
However, Beamish is nothing like any other museum you've visited before. This 'museum' is in many ways a functioning town, with themed areas dedicated to specific decades, ranging from the 1820's to the 1950's.
Beamish Museum covers 300 acres for you to wander and explore, and is split into six locations; the 1900's Town, the 1900's Pit Village, the 1940's Farm, the 1900's Colliery, and 1820's Pockerley.
You can even hop on a short return steam train ride at the Edwardian themed Rowley Station, which existed in the 1860's, close to the nearby town of Consett. There are several fields and open areas to wander too, as well as areas still being built.
When you first arrive at Beamish in County Durham, you are met with a vast red steam hammer that forms the entrance, a testament to the North East's industrial past.
Then, once inside your adventure begins! If you're planning on exploring Beamish in its entirety, you will find that it is roughly a three mile walk in total.
This means, depending on how much time you spend looking around each area, you could easily spend all day here, or if you're pressed for time, have certain areas you'd rather see or are a fast walker, you can still have a great time at Beamish with just a free morning or afternoon.
One of our favourite things about Beamish is that because it is a working town, you can walk around at your leisure with no time pressure. Maps are available at the entrance building, so you can choose where you'd like to go first.
And, if you enjoy learning extra tidbits about the history of Beamish and County Durham, you can buy an official guide book at the Beamish Gift Shop which will help you spot all the hidden gems you might otherwise miss at the museum site.
When you leave the entrance building you will find the Colliery straight ahead, the 1900's Pit Village to your left and 1820's Pockerley to your right.
The Colliery is Beamish's very own coal mine and reflects the long history of mining in the North East.
Many generations of families worked down the mines, which was a dangerous and challenging job.
Pit villages (like the 1900's Pit Village at Beamish) formed around the areas that coal was mined, and so communities developed that are still going strong today.
The first annual Durham Miners' Gala took place in 1871 and is an important day for many in the area since it celebrates the heritage of mine workers and their fight to keep their jobs and legacy.
At the 1900's Colliery at Beamish, you can learn more about the local area's mining history, and visit Mahogany Drift Mine, a real mine that has existed here since 1855.
There are guided tours throughout the day, and if you dare you can take a trip down the mine itself, to see the dark and damp conditions the miners had to work in.
At the Colliery, you will also be able to learn about the safety lamps in the mine, visit the Heapstead where people, horses and coal tubs were lowered down, and see the last surviving winding engine that was once hugely common in the area.
While the peak of coal production was in the early 20th century, the last existing colliery in the Durham Coalfield area wasn't closed until 1994, meaning the realities of life as a miner are very much within living memory.
Once you've visited the Colliery and the kids have seen what life was like for the miners, you'll probably be keen to see how the rest of their families lived.
Right next to the Colliery you will find the 1900s Pit Village, which is complete with a terrace of real 19th century miner's cottages that were transported from Hetton-le-Hole in Wearside in 1976.
Kids can test their handwriting skills and have a go at traditional playground games at the school building, and can even meet some ponies at the Pit Pony Stables.
There is also a chapel open to visit and is home to many community and Beamish museum events.
The 1900's Pit Village is also a great place to stop if you've got grumbling tummies in your group. Davy's Fried Fish Shop is the perfect spot, where you can tuck into some coal-fired fish and chips, sizzled in beef dripping (sorry vegetarians!).
Or, grab a hot snack from the Sinker's Bait Cabin, where the men who created new mine shafts would eat and warm up.
Across from the 1900's Pit Village, you'll be transported to the 1940's Farm! Here, kids and grown-ups can learn what life was like for rural farm workers during wartime.
Check out the farmhouse itself to hear some '40's tunes and see what's cooking on the Aga, and then head to the labourer's cottages (which are now occupied by Land Girls and evacuees).
Here you can learn about the significance of farms during the war when rationing was in full force, and the British Isles couldn't rely on imported food as much.
Outside the farmhouse, kids can spot tractors, tools, and the resident animals. There is also something to eat here too, where you can enjoy refreshments at the British Kitchen.
Continuing clockwise around Beamish, you'll next come to the Regional Resource Centre.
Here you can have a look 'behind the scenes' at the objects in the Beamish collections. There is also a 1950's Farm on the right-hand side, that although still in progress, is aimed to focus on farm family life in the '50's.
With no bathroom or running water, visitors will be able to see the difficult conditions people lived in back then.
The farm itself is being moved stone for stone, much like the miner's cottages in the 1900's Pit Village, from nearby Weardale. Spain’s Field Farm dates back to the 1300's, but has been rebuilt multiple times.
To transport the entire farm in this way, Beamish uses detailed documentation and 3D laser technology to map out the building, and painstakingly rebuild it at the museum site using original techniques that would have been used back when it was built.
Next, you'll come across Rowley Station, along with the regional museum store. One of our favourite attractions at Beamish for families, here you can experience a real Edwardian train station, and of course, have a go on the train!
The station is named after Rowley, the town it was originally built in, in 1867.
Like many other buildings within Beamish, Rowley Station was also relocated from its original destination and was unveiled in 1976.
The steam train here, like everything at Beamish, is real and working, and young kids especially will have the time of their lives on this exciting, albeit short, return steam train trip.
You can then take a footbridge over to the 1900s town, keeping an eye out for the fairground, where kids (and adults) can have a go on the carousel.
The 1900's town is probably the most famous part of Beamish, with many shops, offices and even a local inn to explore.
Here, you can hop on a vintage British bus or tram, and tour Beamish as people would have back in the day.
Along the main street of the 1900's town, you are taken back to pre-war North East England and can experience what a trip into town would look like in the Edwardian times. Pop into the Co-op store, which looks a little different to the ones we know today.
This Co-op, in particular, is originally from Annfield Plain in County Durham and still has its original departments.
The Bank is a great place to check out the 20th century currency, and we certainly suggest a visit to W Smith's Chemist and JR & D Edis Photographers, where you can look at old medicines, and get photos taken in costume!
Design lovers will be keen to visit the Printer's shop, where you can find the old printing presses and even buy a souvenir that was printed using traditional methods and materials. Here, you can also learn how newspapers were originally printed, with each letter being arranged on the press individually.
For a taste of everyday Edwardian life, head over to Ravensworth Terrace, where you can peep into people's houses and view what a day at the office would have been like.
If you have a keen driver or car enthusiast in the family, the Beamish recreation of a 1900's garage features bikes and cars from Beamish Motor & Cycle Works.
All that walking can be thirsty work, so grab a drink at the nearby Sun Inn, again a real pub that was transported, this time from Bishop Auckland.
For hot drinks, check out the tea rooms where there are lots of delicious drinks and snacks available, as well as hot meals.
Alternatively, you can visit Herron's Bakery to watch how traditional Edwardian recipes were baked, and you can even buy some to take home. And, for the ultimate favourite with the kids, round off the experience with a trip to the Sweet Shop, where kids will be amazed to see how their favourite traditional treats were made.
Plus, like everything at Beamish, this is a real sweet shop, so you can get some to take home!
If you're looking for a picnic spot or place for a sit down on your way around Beamish, Redman Park opposite the street is an idyllic haven and the perfect place to go on a sunny day. If you're lucky, you might catch the brass band giving one of their regular performances on the bandstand.
For the final, and oldest location on your trip around Beamish, head to 1820's Pockerley, which is located back near the entrance.
This Georgian-era town includes any relocated historic gems and is perhaps one of the most fascinating areas of Beamish for those interested in history, architecture and archaeology.
Among the buildings you'll find at Pockerley is a real medieval church, St Helen's, which was saved from demolition and transported to Beamish Museum.
Joe the Quilter's Cottage is also definitely worth a visit, and includes stones from the original home of Joseph Hedley, a Georgian quilt maker whose murder rattled the community, and nation. The story of this cottage is an interesting one, being uncovered during an archaeological dig, and existing for over 200 years.
As you walk around the rest of Pockerley, you'll see the Old Hall, parts of which date back to the 15th century, and a terraced garden with popular Georgian herbs, vegetables and fruits that are used by Beamish staff to cook meals in the Hall.
Here at Pockerley, there is another chance for a ride at Pockerley Waggonway, with a steam train and lots of information about how the railways developed in the North East.
There is also an 1820's landscape at Pockerley, which sets the scene for you to step back in time to the Georgian era.
If you've fallen in love with this corner of County Durham and are looking for more ways to explore this beautiful area before you go home, there are lots of walking trails nearby that are filled with nature and historic stopping points.
The Beamish Woods Circular Walk is a roughly three-mile walk that starts near the entrance of Beamish Museum, and meanders around local roads and countryside, taking you to old mine sites, as well as lots of places to stop for refreshment.
Or, if you want to explore further afield, why not visit Durham?
Only a 20 minute drive from Beamish, the city of Durham is a great place to eat and is home to a castle, as well as lots of great museums.
In terms of events at the living museum of the north, if you choose to visit County Durham in the festive season, Beamish at Christmas is definitely worth the visit.
From additional attractions such as an ice rink, sideshow and Father Christmas grotto, to the focus on Georgian Christmas activities and chance to sample traditional Christmas food, a trip to Beamish is the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit.
Kids can even make their very own festive crafts to take home with them. There are also lots of great events on at Beamish throughout the year, including cricketing in the summer, murder mystery activities, and suffragette protests.
No matter when you visit, Beamish makes sure to use every opportunity to impress.
If your family had a great time learning all about the past, why not take a trip to Locomotion in Shildon, County Durham and find out all about the history of rail travel? Or, to spend some time outdoors, check out Raby Castle near the picturesque village of Staindrop.
