Grandchildren returned home after half term – so tidy up the chaos left by them, or go away for the weekend to recover! Chose the latter, and went to the Beamish Museum, near Newcastle on Tynne. Stayed at the premier Inn, Washington, which I would recommend. The staff were very friendly, and printed us money off vouchers for entrance to the Beamish museum. (Their breakfasts were excellent too – cooked to order, not self service, so hot) We had fine weather, and so were able to explore the museum all day. The museum occupies a large area, and is really four museums in one – the town, the miners village, the farm and the old hall. Lots of buildings to go into, with staffs in costume showing how life would have been lived. You could go down a drift mine, eat fish and chips from newspaper, ride on a duplicate 1820s train and much more! Although the site is big, old fashioned buses and trams run regularly round so there is not too much walking. (it would be difficult to get on one if you were disabled though). Plenty of eating places, with home cooked food – scones and soup recommended. An excellent venue for a day out, if you are in that part of the world.
