Heritage Open Days 2023 - Free Entry Days Out - North East
This post has been updated for 2023
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Every September thousands of volunteers across England organise events to celebrate our fantastic history and culture. It's your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – all of which are FREE to explore.
We tend to visit as many of these events as we can over these days and we plan to do the same again this year.
Whether it's free entry to some well known attractions, behind the scenes tours or discovering a hidden gem, there is something for everyone as part of England's biggest festival of history and culture, running from 8th - 17th September.
There are hundreds of options to choose from, right here in the North East, but here is just a small selection of what we consider to be best for families.
Please note: Some events/activities require pre-booking and numbers are limited and any of these events could be cancelled at short notice. We have not organised any of these events and are not responsible for them and have no control over visitor numbers. Please direct any queries to the venue/organiser. For more details including accessibility and any required booking details, please click the links below.
**Please note that some of these events may already be sold out**
To book any of the events please go HERE
Gibside, Near Gateshead
Free entry for all on 16th/17th September. No booking required.
Also Take a look inside the Banqueting House. 16th/17th September - Booking is required
Segedunum Roman Fort, Wallsend
Free entry for all on 9th/10th September. No booking required.
Land of Oak & Iron, Gateshead
Various guided heritage and nature walks Pre-booking required
North East Land, Sea and Air Museum, Sunderland
Free entry for all 9th/10th September No booking required
Tanfield Railway, Near Stanley
Guided Tours 9th,10th,14th,16th,17th September
Pre-booking preferred
Ormesby Hall, Middlesbrough
Free entry for all 15th 16th & 17th September For guided tours you can book free on the day
Stephenson Railway, North Shields
Workshop tours 9th September Pre-booking required
Free train rides 10th September No booking required
Free entry for all 9th September Booking preferred
St. Marys Lighthouse, Whitley Bay
Free entry for all 16th, September No booking required
Derwentcote Steel Furnace, Rowlands Gill
Open Days 16th September No booking required
Victoria Tunnel, Newcastle
Taster tours 14th September No booking required
Brancepeth Castle, Durham
Guided tours 10th,14th,15th September Pre-booking required
North Yorkshire Moors Railway, Pickering
Stables tours 8th, 15th, 16th September Pre-booking required
Baltic Gateshead
Behind the scenes tour - 9th,10th,16th,17th September Booking is required
Quayside Tour - 14th September Booking is required
Little Theatre, Gateshead
Tour 9th September No Booking needed
Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade Museum
Open Day 9th September
No Booking Needed
South & North Marine Park Shields
Living History Day - A Victorian day out 16th September
No Booking Needed
South Shields Town Hall Tour
14th September
Booking is required
Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens
Behind the scenes Tour - 9th September - No booking needed
Creativity Unwrapped tour - 12th, 14th September Booking is required
Proggy Pride Party - 13th - Booking is required
Vintage Bus Tour leaving from Sunderland Museum - 9th September No booking required
Sunderland Minster
Geology Walk - 16th September Booking is required
Ryhope Engines Museum
Free entry - 9th, 10th No booking needed
Glenda Young will be signing her new book - 9th September
Roker Pier
Tunnel & Lighthouse presentation with Adventure Sunderland
12th September No Booking
17 Nineteen - Sunderland
Stained Glass Art Jars 17th, 19th September
No booking
TT2
Tyne Tunnel Tour
9th,16th,17th September
Booking is required
Washington Arts Centre
A talk on dragons
9th September
No Booking
The Bowes Museum
Free entry
16th September
No Booking
Escomb Saxon Church
Tour
9th September
No Booking
Weardale Museum
Free entry
11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th
No booking
Killhope museum
Free Entry
Throughout
No booking but you must have wellies to go down the mine.
Durham Castle
Tour - Guided 17th September or self led 10th September
No booking
Durham Cathedral
Chapter House & Prison Cell - 11th, 13th, 15th Booking required
Fields of fire - 12th,13th September Booking required
Museum - 9th September Booking required
Durham Town Hall
Open day
8th, 9th No booking
Oriental Museum - Durham
Family Friendly Touch Tour
9th September
Booking required
Allen Banks
Free family fun event
16th, 17th September
No booking
Coniston
Steam Yacht Gondola
12th, 14th September
No Booking
Guisborough Priory
Family Activities
10th September
No Booking
Aln Valley Railway
Tours & Train Rides
16th September
No booking needed
Bailiffgate Museum
Free Entry
9th September
No booking
Berwick Town Hall
Bell Ringing
10th,13th,17th September
Booking required
Berwick Barracks
Free Entry
16th, 17th September
No booking
Lindisfarne Castle
Free Entry
16th September
Booking required
Heatherslaw Cornmill
Free Entry
9th, 10th September
No booking
Hexham Old Gaol
Free Entry
9th,10th,16th,17th September
No booking
Cragside
Free Entry
15th September
No Booking
Wallington
Free Entry
10th, 11th September
No Booking
Cherry burn
Free Entry
14th, 15th September
Booking required
Seaton Delaval
Free Entry
15th, 16th
No booking
George Stephenson Birthplace
Free Entry
9th,10th,16th,17th
Booking Required
Woodhorn Museum
Free Entry
9th,10th
no booking
Belford Hall
Free Entry
16th, 17th
No booking unless its for 6+ppl
This is just a small selection of the hundreds of options available during the Heritage Open Days. For even more options, check out their website, https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/
Check out these other posts
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9 Train Themed Days Out in the North East and North Yorkshire.
Our morning at the re opening of Locomotion National Railway Museum - Shildon