The former colliery at Woodhorn Museum

Museums in Northumberland

Museums and history
Enter our museums and step back in time. A visit to one of Northumberland's many museums makes for an interactive and immersive experience. From the smallest museum in the country, to outdoor marvels such as Hadrian's Wall, there's something for everyone.

A collection of our history

Where else would you find one of the smallest museums in the country, a museum dedicated to bagpipes and a legion of Roman museums?

Marvel at fascinating and quirky displays paying tribute to and preserving Northumberland’s history.

What’s more, some of them are free, such as Blyth Battery, the military museum located in unique coastal defence buildings.

If you like your history in bite-size pieces, pop into the Ferryman’s Hut in Alnmouth. Said to be the smallest museum in the country, it displays village photos, trinkets and memorabilia. One of the country’s most unusual museums is the Bagpipe Museum in Morpeth Chantry, a space celebrating the history of Northumbrian bagpipes - very different to the Scottish variety! Aviation enthusiasts should wing it to Bamburgh Castle’s Armstrong and Aviation Museum. The award-winning Woodhorn celebrates Northumberland’s proud mining heritage.

Delve into Roman history at Hadrian’s Wall where alongside museums displaying astonishingly well preserved finds, there are ruins to discover and regular reenactments to join in.

Art lovers can head to the birthplace of Thomas Bewick at Cherryburn, the famous Northumberland artist who revolutionized print art in Georgian England.

With such a cornucopia of museums, going back in time makes for a fun day out in Northumberland. The county has a whole host of historical sites, gardens and hidden gems to explore. Looking for more inspiration? Take a look at our five family days out blog.

Museums in Northumberland

Recommended
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0300 030 3311
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