List of museums in Northumberland facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Welcome to Northumberland! This amazing county in England is full of cool places to visit. One of the best ways to learn about history, art, and science is by visiting a museum. Museums are special places that collect and take care of interesting objects. They show these collections to the public so everyone can learn and explore. This list will tell you all about the fantastic museums you can find in Northumberland!

Awesome Museums in Northumberland
Defunct Museums
See also

Awesome Museums in Northumberland

Alnwick Castle

Alnwick Castle is a grand historic home.

Located in Alnwick, this famous castle offers tours of its beautiful state rooms. You can also explore a military museum about the Napoleonic Wars and the Fusiliers Museum of Northumberland. The castle also has collections of ancient British and Irish items, plus old vehicles from the 1800s.

Armstrong's Household and Farming Museum

Found in North Charlton, this museum shows you what life was like in the past. It has old household items and farming tools set up in different rooms. You can see a nursery with old toys, items from World War II, a milking area, and even local needlework.

Aydon Castle

Aydon Castle is a well-preserved medieval manor house.

This historic house in Aydon is managed by English Heritage. It's a 13th-century manor house that looks like a castle. It's a great place to imagine life long ago!

Bailiffgate Museum

The Bailiffgate Museum in Alnwick.

In Alnwick, the Bailiffgate Museum tells the story of local history and culture. You can learn about fishing, farming, railways, and mining. They also have interesting art exhibits.

Bamburgh Castle

Bamburgh Castle stands proudly by the sea.

This amazing castle in Bamburgh has been lived in since Norman times! It includes a museum that shows off engines, technology, and the history of the famous industrialist William Armstrong, 1st Baron Armstrong.

Bellingham Heritage Centre

The Bellingham Heritage Centre.

The Bellingham Heritage Centre shares local history. You can discover stories about the Border Counties Railway, the Border Reivers (old border families), mining, and farming. There's even a recreated smithy and old photos of rural life.

Belsay Castle

Belsay Castle, a medieval fortress.

Operated by English Heritage, this 14th-century medieval castle in Belsay is a fascinating ruin to explore.

Belsay Hall

Belsay Hall, a grand country mansion.

Also in Belsay and run by English Heritage, this is a large 19th-century country mansion. It's unfurnished, letting you imagine how it once looked, and has beautiful gardens and a park.

Berwick Gymnasium Gallery

Located in Berwick Barracks in Berwick-upon-Tweed, this gallery shows modern art. It features cool art installations by Berwick Visual Arts.

Berwick Museum & Art Gallery

Berwick Barracks, home to several museums.

Also in Berwick-upon-Tweed and found within Berwick Barracks, this museum has a mix of collections. You can see fine art, beautiful Asian porcelain, and old glass. It also covers medieval Berwick, the castle, local history, old trades, mining, and fishing.

Blyth Battery

In Blyth, this museum focuses on military history. It features coastal defence buildings from World War I and II, along with exhibits about military and local history.

Cherryburn

Cherryburn, the birthplace of Thomas Bewick.

This historic house in Mickley is managed by the National Trust. It's the birthplace of the famous artist and bird expert Thomas Bewick. You can learn all about his life and amazing engravings here.

Chillingham Castle

Chillingham Castle, a medieval fortress with a rich history.

This medieval castle in Chillingham has impressive state rooms to explore.

Chesters Roman Fort

The preserved bathhouse at Chesters Roman Fort.

Operated by English Heritage in Walwick, this is a well-preserved Roman fort right on Hadrian's Wall. It has a museum filled with ancient Roman artifacts.

Corbridge Roman Site

The remains of the Roman fort at Corbridge.

Also run by English Heritage, this site in Corbridge is a preserved Roman fort located south of Hadrian's Wall. It includes a museum with many Roman artifacts.

Cragside

Cragside, a Victorian marvel of technology.

In Rothbury, this 19th-century country home is managed by the National Trust. It was the home of Lord Armstrong and is famous for its many early technological inventions and innovations.

Fusiliers Museum of Northumberland

The entrance to the Fusiliers Museum, located within Alnwick Castle.

This military museum is located inside Alnwick Castle and tells the story of the Fusiliers regiment.

George Stephenson's Birthplace

The humble cottage where George Stephenson was born.

Managed by the National Trust in Wylam, this 18th-century stone cottage was the home of railway pioneer George Stephenson. It has exhibits about railways.

Grace Darling Museum

The Grace Darling Museum in Bamburgh.

In Bamburgh, this museum is run by the RNLI. It tells the amazing story of Grace Darling, a Victorian heroine who, with her father, bravely rescued 13 people from a shipwreck in 1838.

Heatherslaw Mill

Heatherslaw Mill, a working water-driven corn mill.

Located in Etal, this is a 19th-century corn mill that is powered by water. You can see how grain was milled long ago.

Hexham Old Gaol

Hexham Old Gaol, a medieval prison.

This medieval prison in Hexham explores crimes and punishments from the past, including stories of the Border Reivers.

Housesteads Roman Fort

The ancient granaries at Housesteads Roman Fort.

Operated by English Heritage in Housesteads, this is an excavated Roman fort right on Hadrian's Wall. It has a museum with many artifacts from Roman times.

Kielder Castle Visitor Centre

Kielder Castle, now a visitor centre.

In Kielder, this centre teaches you about the management of Kielder Forest, its wildlife like red squirrels, and the history of Kielder Castle. It also has an art gallery.

Kielder Salmon Centre

Also in Kielder, this centre is a fish hatchery for salmon. It's a great place to learn about the life cycle of salmon.

King’s Own Scottish Borderers Regimental Museum

Berwick Barracks, where the King's Own Scottish Borderers Regimental Museum is located.

Located in Berwick Barracks in Berwick-upon-Tweed, this military museum tells the history of the King's Own Scottish Borderers regiment and displays their memorabilia.

Lady Waterford Hall

Lady Waterford Hall in Ford Village.

In Ford, this hall has a collection of beautiful 19th-century watercolour murals. These biblical scenes were painted by Louisa Beresford, Marchioness of Waterford. You can also learn about her life.

Lindisfarne Castle

Lindisfarne Castle on Holy Island.

On Holy Island and run by the National Trust, this 16th-century castle has interiors designed in the early 1900s by Edwin Lutyens. It also has a walled garden designed by Gertrude Jekyll.

Lindisfarne Centre

On Holy Island, this centre explores the island's history and culture. It has a copy of the famous Lindisfarne Gospels and information about the Vikings who visited the island.

Lindisfarne Priory

The ruins of Lindisfarne Priory.

Also on Holy Island and managed by English Heritage, you can see the ruins of a 7th-century monastery here. There's also a museum about its important history as a centre of early Christianity in Anglo-Saxon England.

Longstone Lighthouse

Longstone Lighthouse, famous for Grace Darling's rescue.

Located in the Farne Islands, this lighthouse is a museum you can visit by boat. It's famous for its connection to Grace Darling.

Museum of Classic Sci-Fi

The Museum of Classic Sci-Fi in Allendale.

In Allendale, this museum has a cool collection of items from classic science fiction shows and movies. You might see things from Doctor Who, Blake's 7, Star Trek, Flash Gordon, Thunderbirds, and the Marvel universe!

Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum

The Morpeth Chantry, home to the Bagpipe Museum.

This unique museum in Morpeth is all about historic bagpipes.

Preston Tower

Preston Tower, a medieval pele tower.

In Chathill, this medieval pele tower has a period guard room and even a prison to explore.

Seaton Delaval Hall

Seaton Delaval Hall, a grand 18th-century house.

Operated by the National Trust in Seaton Sluice, this is a grand 18th-century house with beautiful gardens.

Vindolanda

The Roman fort of Vindolanda.

In Hexham, this is a Roman fort located south of Hadrian's Wall. It has a museum full of artifacts and information about the Roman army.

Wallington Hall

Wallington Hall, a beautiful Palladian house.

In Cambo and run by the National Trust, this is a lovely Palladian house with beautiful furniture. It also has a special collection of dollhouses!

Warkworth Castle

The impressive keep of Warkworth Castle.

Operated by English Heritage in Warkworth, you can explore the remains of this medieval castle. Some rooms are still preserved, and in summer, you can even visit the nearby Warkworth Hermitage.

Watch House Museum

In Seaton Sluice, this local museum shares the history of the area.

Wylam Railway Museum

Located in Wylam, this museum tells the story of railway development in the area. You can learn about local railway pioneers like George Stephenson, Timothy Hackworth, and William Hedley.

Woodhorn Museum

Woodhorn Museum, a former colliery.

In Ashington, this museum is a former colliery (coal mine). You can see original mining equipment and buildings, and learn about the mine and the life of a miner. It also has art created by miners and changing exhibits on art, science, and history. There's even a small railway!

Defunct Museums

These museums are no longer open to the public:

Dilston Castle, Corbridge
Norham Station Museum, Norham (closed in 2010)