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  • Writer's pictureKelly

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


Washington Old Hall

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/




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Our morning at the re opening of Locomotion National Railway Museum - Shildon

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