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Woodhorn Museum Archives & Country Park

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Contact Details

QEII Country Park
Ashington
Northumberland
NE63 9YF

Tel: +44 01670 528080

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Tourism For All

Description

Type: Museum

To get a taste of Northumberland's mining heritage try a visit to Woodhorn Museum, Archive and Country Park, near Ashington.

Woodhorn is housed in a stunning new building, inspired by the monster cutting machines that were once used deep underground. The museum is full of interactive displays that give a flavour of pit life in the county.

You can take an emotional journey through Coal Town and learn about the life and loves, tears and tragedies of a proud mining community.

You can also explore the colliery buildings, hum along to a brass band, see the colourful miners' banner and even design your own banner. There are regular visiting exhibitions that have included Cars of the Stars and Wallace and Gromit's Animated Adventures.

Woodhorn is home to The Ashington Group Collection - a unique collection of paintings by the artists more affectionately known as the Pitmen Painters whose story has been celebrated in the play of the same name by Billy Elliot writer Lee Hall.

If you want more history you can visit Woodhorn's archives which house everything from old maps and photographs to church records. Just the thing if you're researching that family tree.

Touch screens will show you how to get started if you want to delve into the past and Woodhorn's study centre welcomes visitors all year round.

The separate Workshop Galleries offers visitors some great, large scale exhibitions too. Past exhibitions have included Wallace & Gromit and famous cars of TV and film. Visitors can also explore the grade 2 listed colliery buildings, enjoy lunch in the cafe or wander around the country park in which it is all located. Free admission. (Occasionally some big exhibitions have charges.)

Information

Woodhorn Website

Downloads

Woodhorn 2010 Leaflet: 2.8 Mb; download the Woodhorn 2010 leaflet

Click here to download Adobe Acrobat Reader

Pricing

Ticket Information

Ticket Type	Ticket Tariff
Free admission unless special event	Free

Note: Prices are a guide only and may change on a daily basis.

Location

Road Directions

Take the A189 from Newcastle upon Tyne or the A197 from Morpeth. Please take care with satnav as it may lead you astray. Once you reach the A189 or A197, watch for the brown and white signs instead.

Public Transport Directions

From Ashington bus station, follow A197 towards Newbiggin. Pedestrian access through country park 15 minutes walk from bus station.
Nearest mainline railway station - Morpeth. Bus from Morpeth to Ashington.

Facilities

Provider Features

In countryside - Set in award winning country park
Indoor Attraction
No Smoking Attraction - Smoking is not permitted anywhere within the fenced area. It is allowed within the car park.
Outdoor Attraction - The special listed buildings are part of the Woodhorn experience and need to be explored on foot.

Accessibility

Facilities for Hearing Impaired Visitors - Printed version of audio tracks available at locations around site.
Facilities for Visually Impaired Visitors - Tactile map of Cutter Building available at main welcome desk. Audio tracks at selected locations within buildings.
Guide Dogs Permitted
Parking Areas for Disabled Visitors - Parking adjacent to new building. Please indicate need on arrival.
Ramp / Level Access - Some minor restriction for listed buildings. Cutter Building fully accessible with ramp to upper level.
Toilets for Disabled Visitors - Accessible toilet available at each location within site.

Parking & Transport

Coach Parking Onsite - Free parking in coach park.
On site parking
Parking (charge) - £2.50

Catering

Groups: Coach Group Coffee/Meal Stop - To suit your requirements.
On-Site café/restaurant
Picnic Site

Payment Methods

Approx length of visit - 2.5-3 hours with lunch or guided tour
Blue Badge Guides admitted free
Groups Accepted - Prior booking advisable.
Groups: Concessions for Driver and GTO - Free tea/coffee in cafe.
Maestro accepted
MasterCard accepted
Max group size - 100
Min group size - 10
Open by appointment outside normal opening times
Special group rates - For guided tours and special exhibitions
TIC Staff Admitted Free
Visa accepted

Provider Facilities

Conference facilities
Event Venue
Groups: Meet and Greet Services - By special arrangement.
Toilets - At various locations.

Target Markets

Family Fun - Additional activities ususally available during school holidays.
Marketed Towards Children - Core education offering plus extra workshops to tie in with exhibition programme.
Marketed Towards Families
Marketed Towards Senior Citizens - Easy access and free use of Woodhorn wheelchairs/scooter.

Tours and Demonstrations

Demonstrations Given - mat making
Educational Visits Accepted - 3 meeting rooms
Groups: Average Length of Visit (Coach Groups) - 2 - 2.5 hours.
Guided Tours Available for Groups

Events

Related Events

Saturday, 12th June 2010 - Sunday, 19th September 2010

An Art History of British Surfing Exhibition: more info

Special Offers

Also of interest

Hexham Old Gaol

Hexham Old Gaol, built in 1330, was the first purpose-built jail in England. Discover what life was like as a Border Reiver, the lawless ancestors of Northumberland.