It’s already firmly cemented as the North East’s favourite daytime attraction, and now, for the first time, visitors can spend the night at Beamish Museum.
The County Durham venue has launched its self-catering holiday cottages as part of the major Remaking Beamish project, which has seen a number of new attractions at the outdoor museum.
Now, two former agricultural buildings, which were already part of the Pockerley Manor estate, have been turned into Potter’s Cottage and Drover’s Rest, which each sleep two people.
Located in the 1820s landscape at the museum, the cottages give you the chance to travel all the way back to Georgian times.
However, you don’t have to fully live like a Georgian - there are some modern conveniences including electricity, indoor bathrooms (the bed pans aren’t for actual use), wifi, telephones and 21st century amenities such as ovens, fridges and TVs, which have been hidden away.
“This is Beamish as you’ve never seen it before,” said Samantha Shotton, chief operating officer at Beamish, as bookings go live for the cottages.
She added: “What’s really interesting is that there was a building here, an original Georgian building, and we’ve raised it up, and saved it, and put it back in a way that visitors can come down and have a new experience at Beamish and see it in a whole new light.”
5. Room with a view
Set within the 1820s landscape, the cottages are accessed via a private side road so you're not driving through the museum itself. There's private car parking adjacent to the cottages. | Sunderland Echo
6. How to book
Bookings are now live for the cottages through North East-based holiday let management agency, Host & Stay. It's priced £130 a night per cottage for a minimum stay of two nights off peak. During peak season from mid July it would be a minimum three night stay. More at www.beamish.org.uk/accommodation. | Sunderland Echo
7. Added perks
Stays in the accommodation will include admission to the museum during its opening hours. | Sunderland Echo
8. No need to use the bed pan
Indoor bathrooms wouldn't be in many homes until the later Victorian period, with the bathrooms in the cottages including roll top baths and Delft tiles more similar to that period. | Sunderland Echo
