List of museums in Tyne and Wear facts for kids
Tyne and Wear is a cool place in England with lots of awesome museums! These museums are special places where you can explore amazing collections of art, science, history, and culture. They collect and look after interesting objects, then share them with everyone through fun exhibits. You'll also find art galleries here, including ones at universities. This list will help you discover all the exciting museums in the area!
Contents
Awesome Museums to Explore
Here's a list of fantastic museums in Tyne and Wear, perfect for a day out with family or friends!
Archaeology and History Museums
Step back in time at this amazing Roman fort in South Shields. You can see parts of the fort that have been dug up and even some reconstructed buildings. The museum shows you what life was like for a Roman soldier with cool artifacts.
Explore the ancient Newcastle upon Tyne Castle Keep, which is the main tower of a medieval castle. It's a great place to imagine knights and kings from long ago.
This medieval building in Newcastle upon Tyne has been used for 700 years! It was once a monastery, then a home for people in need, and even a soup kitchen. You can learn about its long history here.
- Jarrow Hall
Discover the life of the famous monk and scholar, Venerable Bede, at Jarrow Hall. This museum has artifacts from the nearby medieval church and even an Anglo-Saxon farm with special animals!
Visit this Roman fort in Wallsend right on Hadrian's Wall. You can see the excavated fort, reconstructed Roman baths, and learn about Roman soldiers' lives. The museum also covers local shipbuilding and coal mining history.
Operated by English Heritage, this site in Tynemouth has remains of an Anglo-Saxon settlement, a monastery, a royal castle, and an artillery fort. It's packed with history!
Art and Culture Museums
- Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art
Located in Gateshead, the Baltic is a huge art gallery that shows exciting modern art from around the world. It's a great place to see new and different kinds of art.
- Customs House
This arts centre in South Shields has an exhibit gallery, a theatre, and a cinema. You can enjoy art, plays, and movies all in one place.
Part of Newcastle University, this gallery in Newcastle upon Tyne features a variety of art exhibits.
This gallery in Newcastle upon Tyne has beautiful collections of British paintings and sculptures from the 18th and 19th centuries. You can also see watercolors, ceramics, silver, glass, and 20th-century art.
- National Glass Centre
In Sunderland, this centre explores the history of glass-making and showcases amazing historic and modern glass art. You can often see glass-blowing demonstrations!
- Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art
This gallery in Sunderland focuses on modern art, showing new and interesting works.
- Northumbria University Gallery
Part of Northumbria University in Newcastle upon Tyne, this gallery hosts various art exhibitions.
- Reg Vardy Gallery
This is the contemporary art gallery of the University of Sunderland, located in Sunderland. It features exciting modern art.
This unique museum in Newcastle upon Tyne celebrates the art of British children’s books. It's a magical place for anyone who loves stories and illustrations!
- Shipley Art Gallery
Located in Gateshead, this gallery has a fantastic collection of modern crafts and design, as well as fine art.
- South Shields Museum & Art Gallery
This museum in South Shields explores local history, culture, and art from the area.
In Sunderland, this museum has a wide range of collections including art, textiles, pottery, glass, and exhibits on coal mining, local history, and natural history. The Winter Gardens are also a beautiful place to visit.
Science and Technology Museums
This exciting science centre in Newcastle upon Tyne has permanent exhibits all about human life. It's a fun and interactive way to learn about biology and science.
The Discovery Museum in Newcastle upon Tyne is packed with amazing things! You can learn about science, local history, shipbuilding, and industrial heritage. It's home to the Turbinia, the first steam turbine-powered ship! It also has military history, costumes, and art.
This huge museum in Newcastle upon Tyne covers natural history, archaeology, and Roman Britain. You can see dinosaurs, fossils, and learn about Ancient Rome and Egypt.
Visit this Victorian pumping station in Ryhope to see two huge beam engines, steam engines, and pumps. It's a fascinating look at old technology.
- Washington 'F' Pit
In Washington, you can see a Victorian steam engine, engine house, and headgear from a coal mine. It shows how coal was mined long ago.
Transportation Museums
This preserved railway system in Springwell was built by George Stephenson in 1826 to transport coal. You can see how it worked!
- Monkwearmouth Station Museum
Located in Monkwearmouth, this museum used to focus on railway history. Now, it has a cool collection of football memorabilia!
- Newburn Hall Motor Museum
This museum in Newburn is all about cars and other vehicles.
In Sunderland, this museum has historic aircraft, military vehicles, old emergency services vehicles, buses, and trams. It's a great place for anyone who loves transport!
- Stephenson Railway Museum
This museum in North Shields has steam, electric, and diesel engines. It tells the story of electric transport in the area and is the northern end of the North Tyneside Steam Railway.
Other Interesting Museums
Operated by Historic England in Newcastle upon Tyne, these are two beautiful 16th and 17th-century merchants' houses.
- Fulwell Windmill
This restored early 19th-century windmill in Fulwell is a fascinating look at old milling technology.
- Gateshead Heritage @ St Mary`s
This museum in Gateshead focuses on local history and culture.
- Globe Gallery
This gallery in North Shields showcases contemporary art.
- Old Low Light
Housed in a former lighthouse in North Shields, this museum explores maritime heritage with galleries, exhibits, and a viewing platform.
- Path Head Watermill
In Blaydon, you can see a restored water wheel and a joiner's shop, showing how things were made in the past.
Operated by the National Trust in Marsden, you can explore the lighthouse's engine room, light tower, and the keeper's living quarters.
This lighthouse on St Mary's Island offers tours and exhibits about the lighthouse and the island's wildlife.
- Tynemouth Life Brigade Watch House Museum
In Tynemouth, this museum tells the story of local lifesaving efforts and has artifacts from shipwrecks.
- Tynemouth Toy Museum
This fun museum in Tynemouth has collections of toys, dolls, prams, puzzles, and games from different times.
Operated by the National Trust in Washington, this 16th-century manor house was the ancestral home of George Washington's family, the first President of the United States.
Museums That Are No Longer Open
Some museums in Tyne and Wear have closed over time, but their collections often find new homes in other museums.
- Dial Cottage, in West Moor, Killingworth, was one of the homes of George Stephenson, a famous engineer.
- The Military Vehicle Museum in Exhibition Park, Newcastle closed in 2006.
- The Municipal Museum of Science and Industry, also in Exhibition Park, Newcastle, had its collections moved to the Discovery Museum.
- The Museum of Antiquities and the Shefton Museum had their collections moved to the Great North Museum: Hancock.
See also
- Category:Tourist attractions in Tyne and Wear
