There is already a comprehensive review of the museum by PamWNorth from 2014, which gives much detail about what there is to see and do here. Four years later, I can confirm that the visit is still as interesting as ever, with new attractions being added all the time, and by the look of the work going on, more still to come with a 1950s town!
We particularly enjoyed the tea rooms in the 1900s town, next door to the reconstructed Annfield Plain Co-op store where I remember shopping as a child. The Sun Inn serves a nice pint of Beamish ale, but if you prefer sweets, there is often a long queue outside the old-fashioned shop! We also discovered queues at Davy’s Fish & Chip Shop, but the wait was well worthwhile. Our son-in-law likes vintage machinery, so was in his element on the steam railway and the Pockerley Waggonway. When I asked the driver of the Puffing Billy engine when it was built, he replied “about 10 years ago!”. He then realised that I meant the original engine, which was a predecessor of the Rocket in the early 1800s. Unfortunately, even the recent model broke down during our ride, and had to ‘steam-up’ again before being able to resume the trip!
There is so much to see it can take more than a day, which is why it is useful that a ticket lasts for a whole year. During that time, there will be even more new attractions to enjoy!
“Beamish website”:http://www.beamish.org.uk/
