Beamish is a world famous open air museum. We tell the story of life in North East England in Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian times.

Much of the restoration and interpretation is specific to 1913, together with portions of countryside under the influence of industrial revolution in 1825.

The museum has received a number of prestigious awards since it opened its present site to visitors in 1972 and has been influential on other “living museums”. It is a significant educational resource, and helps to preserve some traditional north-country and rare livestock breeds.

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Cragside is a country house in the rural village of Rothbury in Northumberland, England. It was the first house in the world to be lit using hydroelectric power. Built into a rocky hillside above a 4 km² forest garden, it was the country home of Lord Armstrong and has been in the care of the National Trust since 1977.

• The first house to be lit by hydro-electricity.
• Marvel at the many ingenious gadgets in the house.
• Escape to the tranquillity of the woodland and lakes.

In 2007, Cragside reopened after undergoing “total refurbishment.”

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Hadrian’s Wall was a defensive fortification in northern England. Begun in AD 122, during the rule of emperor Hadrian, it was the first of two fortifications built across Great Britain, the second being the Antonine Wall, lesser known of the two because its physical remains are less evident today.

The wall was the most heavily fortified border in the Empire. In addition to its role as a military fortification, it is thought that many of the gates through the wall would have served as customs posts to allow trade and levy taxation.

Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail is the long-distance footpath that runs through the World Heritage Site. 84 miles of glorious walking through rugged moorland, rolling fields and dynamic urban landscape.

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Holy Island is a tidal island off the north-east coast of England also known as Lindisfarne.

Holy Island was one of the principle centres of Christianity during the Dark Ages and was given to St Aidan in AD635 by the King of Northumbria.

Even more famous and influential was St Cuthbert, whose life and teaching was a magnet for pilgrims.

He died in AD 687 and was initially buried in the church, but later his remains were moved to Durham Cathedral.

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The Alnwick Garden is a complex of formal gardens adjacent to Alnwick Castle in the town of Alnwick, Northumberland, England.

The first garden was laid down in 1750 by the 1st Duke of Northumberland, who employed Capability Brown, the celebrated gardener, to landscape the parkland adjoining Alnwick Castle.

The 3rd Duke was a plant collector, and led a century of development at Alnwick – he brought seeds from over the world, and pineapples were raised in hothouses. In the middle of the 19th century, the 4th Duke created an Italianate garden featuring a large conservatory, and at the end of the century, the gardens were at their grandest, with yew topiary, avenues of limes and acres of flowers.

The Garden offers programmes of activities and events for all the family. For more information and prices please visit The Alnwick Garden website.

Once home to the kings of ancient Northumbria, Bamburgh Castle is one of Northumberland’s most iconic buildings.

The Bamburgh castle we see today is a relatively recent structure, built by famed industrialist the first Lord Armstrong at vast cost in late Victorian times. Lord Armstrong was also responsible for building Cragside House, Gardens & Estates.

The site of the castle has a history of occupation dating back to the 1st century BC. One of the oldest buildings remaining is a large Norman Keep, probably built by Henry II.

The castle also contains the Armstrong Museum of Victorian Industrial Archaeology.

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