List of museums in Tyne and Wear facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

This list of museums in Tyne and Wear, England helps you discover amazing places! Museums are special buildings where cool objects are collected and looked after. These objects can be about history, art, science, or culture. Museums let everyone see these collections and learn from them. This list also includes art galleries that are open to the public.

Museums to Explore
Museums That Are No Longer Open
See also

Museums to Explore

Arbeia Roman Fort and Museum

The reconstructed gateway at Arbeia Roman Fort.

Town/City: South Shields
Type: Archaeology
What you'll find: Step back in time at this amazing Roman fort! You can see parts of the fort that have been dug up and even some rebuilt sections. The museum shows you what life was like for a Roman soldier and has lots of ancient objects.

Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art

The Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art building.

Town/City: Gateshead
Type: Art
What you'll find: This is a huge art gallery that used to be a flour mill! It shows modern and exciting art from today's artists. There's always something new and interesting to see here.

Bessie Surtees House

Bessie Surtees House in Newcastle.

Town/City: Newcastle upon Tyne
Type: Historic house
What you'll find: Explore two old merchant houses from the 1500s and 1600s. They are looked after by Historic England. You can imagine what life was like for people living here centuries ago.

Bowes Railway

Town/City: Springwell
Type: Railway
What you'll find: See a preserved railway system built by the famous George Stephenson in 1826. It was used to move coal to ships. You can learn how these old trains worked!

Castle Keep

The historic Castle Keep in Newcastle.

Town/City: Newcastle upon Tyne
Type: Historic house
What you'll find: Discover the remains of a medieval castle right in the city! The Castle Keep is the main tower. It's a great place to learn about knights and old battles.

Centre for Life

The Centre for Life building.

Town/City: Newcastle upon Tyne
Type: Science
What you'll find: This museum has cool exhibits all about human life. You can explore how our bodies work, learn about DNA, and discover amazing facts about living things.

Customs House

Town/City: South Shields
Type: Art
What you'll find: This is an arts centre with an art gallery, a theatre, and a cinema. You can see different art exhibits here.

Discovery Museum

The Discovery Museum building.

Town/City: Newcastle upon Tyne
Type: Multiple
What you'll find: Get ready to explore! This museum covers science, local history, and how ships were built. You can even see the Turbinia, the first ship powered by a steam turbine. It also has exhibits on soldiers, costumes, and art.

Fulwell Windmill

Town/City: Fulwell
Type: Mill
What you'll find: Visit a restored windmill from the early 1800s. Learn how wind power was used to grind grain a long time ago.

Gateshead Heritage @ St Mary`s

Town/City: Gateshead
Type: Local
What you'll find: This place tells the story of Gateshead's local history and culture. It's a great way to learn about the area's past.

Globe Gallery

Town/City: North Shields
Type: Art
What you'll find: This gallery focuses on modern art. You can see exciting and new artworks from different artists.

Great North Museum: Hancock

The Great North Museum: Hancock.

Town/City: Newcastle upon Tyne
Type: Multiple
What you'll find: This museum is packed with amazing things! See dinosaurs and fossils, learn about Ancient Rome and Egypt, and explore natural history. There are also exhibits about different cultures from around the world.

Hatton Gallery

The Fine Art Building, home to the Hatton Gallery.

Town/City: Newcastle upon Tyne
Type: Art
What you'll find: This art gallery is part of Newcastle University. It often shows interesting and thought-provoking art exhibitions.

Holy Jesus Hospital

The front of the Holy Jesus Hospital.

Town/City: Newcastle upon Tyne
Type: History
What you'll find: This historic building has been used for over 700 years! It was once a monastery, then a home for poor people, and even a soup kitchen. You can learn about its long and varied history.

Jarrow Hall

A reconstructed Anglo-Saxon building at Jarrow Hall.

Town/City: Jarrow
Type: Multiple
What you'll find: Explore the life of the famous monk and scholar, Venerable Bede. See ancient objects from the nearby medieval church. There's even an Anglo-Saxon farm with old types of animals!

Laing Art Gallery

Town/City: Newcastle upon Tyne
Type: Art
What you'll find: This gallery has beautiful paintings and sculptures from the 1700s and 1800s. You can also see watercolours, ceramics, silver, glass, and art from the 1900s.

Monkwearmouth Station Museum

Monkwearmouth Station Museum.

Town/City: Monkwearmouth
Type: Railway
What you'll find: This museum used to be a railway station! It now has a collection of football souvenirs and tells the story of transportation.

National Glass Centre

The National Glass Centre building.

Town/City: Sunderland
Type: Art
What you'll find: Discover the amazing world of glass! See beautiful old and new glass art. Learn all about how glass is made.

Newburn Hall Motor Museum

Town/City: Newburn
Type: Automotive
What you'll find: If you love cars, this is the place for you! It has a collection of historic vehicles.

North East Land, Sea and Air Museums

Aircraft on display at the North East Land, Sea and Air Museums.

Town/City: Sunderland
Type: Aviation
What you'll find: See historic aircraft, military vehicles, and old emergency service vehicles. Learn all about the history of flying and transport in the North East.

Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art

Town/City: Sunderland
Type: Art
What you'll find: This gallery shows modern and exciting art from today's artists. It's a great place to see new ideas in art.

Northumbria University Gallery

Town/City: Newcastle upon Tyne
Type: Art
What you'll find: This gallery is part of Northumbria University. It often features interesting art exhibitions.

Old Low Light

The Old Low Light in North Shields.

Town/City: North Shields
Type: Maritime heritage
What you'll find: This museum is in an old lighthouse! Learn about the sea history of the area. It has exhibits, activities, and a great view.

Path Head Watermill

Town/City: Blaydon
Type: Industry
What you'll find: See a restored water wheel and a joiner's shop. Learn how water power was used in old industries.

Reg Vardy Gallery

Town/City: Sunderland
Type: Art
What you'll find: This is a modern art gallery belonging to the University of Sunderland. It showcases contemporary art.

Ryhope Engines Museum

The Ryhope Pumping Station.

Town/City: Ryhope
Type: Technology
What you'll find: Explore a Victorian pumping station! See huge steam engines, boilers, and a blacksmith's forge. It's like stepping back in time to see old machinery.

Segedunum Roman Fort, Baths and Museum

Segedunum Roman Fort and Baths.

Town/City: Wallsend
Type: Archaeology
What you'll find: This Roman fort is right on Hadrian's Wall! You can see excavated parts of the fort and reconstructed Roman baths. The museum has objects from Roman times and tells you about shipbuilding and coal mining in the area.

Seven Stories

Town/City: Newcastle upon Tyne
Type: Art
What you'll find: This unique place celebrates British children's books! See original artwork, manuscripts, and learn about your favourite authors and illustrators.

Shipley Art Gallery

The Shipley Art Gallery.

Town/City: Gateshead
Type: Art
What you'll find: This gallery has a great collection of modern crafts and design, as well as fine art.

South Shields Museum & Art Gallery

Town/City: South Shields
Type: Local
What you'll find: Learn all about the local history and culture of South Shields. It also has an art collection.

Souter Lighthouse

Souter Lighthouse.

Town/City: Marsden
Type: Maritime
What you'll find: This lighthouse is looked after by the National Trust. You can explore the engine room, climb the light tower, and see where the lighthouse keepers lived.

St. Mary's Lighthouse

Town/City: St Mary's Island
Type: Maritime
What you'll find: Visit this lighthouse on an island! You can tour the lighthouse and learn about the island's wildlife.

Stephenson Railway Museum

Town/City: North Shields
Type: Railway
What you'll find: See old steam, electric, and diesel trains. Learn about the history of electric transport in the North East. You can even ride a steam train on certain days!

Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens

Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens.

Town/City: Sunderland
Type: Multiple
What you'll find: This museum has a huge variety of collections! See art, textiles, pottery, and glass. Learn about coal mining, local history, and natural history. Don't miss the beautiful Winter Gardens!

Tynemouth Castle and Priory

Tynemouth Castle and Priory.

Town/City: Tynemouth
Type: Historic house
What you'll find: Explore the remains of an ancient settlement, a monastery, a royal castle, and a fort! It's looked after by English Heritage. Learn about its long history of defending the coast.

Tynemouth Life Brigade Watch House Museum

The Tynemouth Watchtower Museum.

Town/City: Tynemouth
Type: Maritime
What you'll find: Discover the history of sea rescues and lifesaving in the area. See objects from shipwrecks and learn about brave rescuers.

Tynemouth Toy Museum

Town/City: Tynemouth
Type: Toy
What you'll find: A fun museum filled with old toys, dolls, prams, puzzles, and games. It's a trip down memory lane for adults and a fun discovery for kids!

Washington 'F' Pit

The F Pit Museum.

Town/City: Washington
Type: Technology
What you'll find: See a Victorian steam engine and the engine house of an old coal mine. Learn how coal was mined in the past.

Washington Old Hall

Washington Old Hall.

Town/City: Washington
Type: Historic house
What you'll find: This 16th-century manor house is the old home of the family of George Washington, the first President of the United States! It's looked after by the National Trust.

Museums That Are No Longer Open

Memorabilia from one of Tyne & Wear's defunct museums. This guide of about 1980 is now at Discovery Museum.

Sometimes, museums close down or their collections move to other places. Here are some museums that used to be open in Tyne and Wear:

Dial Cottage, West Moor, Killingworth: This was one of the homes of George Stephenson, who built famous railways.
Military Vehicle Museum, Exhibition Park, Newcastle: This museum closed in 2006.
Municipal Museum of Science and Industry, Exhibition Park, Newcastle: Its collections are now part of the Discovery Museum.
Museum of Antiquities: Its collections are now part of the Great North Museum: Hancock.
Shefton Museum: Its collections are also now part of the Great North Museum: Hancock.