Beamish, The Living Museum of The North

Beamish, The Living Museum of The North is an open-air museum in Urpeth, Stanley, County Durham, England, covering around 350 acres. The site features reconstructed streets, workshops, farms, and homes that recreate different periods from the 1820s through the 1950s.

Frank Atkinson founded the museum in 1970 after visiting Scandinavian folk museums, starting with objects from regional industry and agriculture. The collections grew through donations and purchases, with entire buildings relocated here and rebuilt true to their original form.

The name recalls a medieval settlement that once stood in this area. Visitors see staff in period clothing performing tasks that people of each era carried out daily, from baking and printing to blacksmithing.

The museum grounds are large, so comfortable footwear and plenty of time for the visit are advisable. Trams link the different historical areas, letting visitors move easily between the various periods.

The tramway route of around 1.5 miles serves not only as an exhibit but also as transport, carrying visitors through the different historical zones. Some carriages date from the early 20th century and run on tracks laid to historical standards.

Location: Urpeth

Location: Stanley

Inception: 1970

Address: Beamish Museum, Regional Resource Centre, Beamish, County Durham, DH9 0RG

Phone: +441913704000

Website: http://beamish.org.uk

GPS coordinates: 54.88194,-1.65833

Latest update: December 5, 2025 16:34