Choose a part of County Durham first: Durham city, Shildon, the north of the county, or Barnard Castle. This shortlist mixes free museums and parks with bigger paid days out, so you can decide how much time and budget to set aside.
The places below are published LNE listings marked verified. This guide covers the County Durham council area; Darlington is a separate borough. Check each profile for age tags, maps and practical details, then confirm the venue’s current opening and admission arrangements.
Compare 8 places by town, cost, weather and age
Cost bands are a guide. Free entry can still mean paid parking, exhibitions or activities. Age tags are broad suggestions; check the venue’s exact limits and facilities.
| Place | Town | Entry and extras | Weather | Age guidance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Story Durham | Durham | Free | Indoors | Babies, Toddlers, Children, Teenagers |
| Oriental Museum | Durham | Free | Indoors | Babies, Toddlers, Children, Teenagers |
| Wharton Park | Durham | Free | Outdoors | Babies, Toddlers, Children, Teenagers |
| Locomotion | Shildon | Free | Indoors and outdoors | Babies, Toddlers, Children, Teenagers |
| Hardwick Park | Sedgefield | Free | Outdoors | Babies, Toddlers, Children, Teenagers |
| Beamish Museum | Beamish | High (£££) — guide only; check official prices | Indoors and outdoors | Babies, Toddlers, Children, Teenagers |
| Hall Hill Farm | Lanchester | Medium (££) — guide only; check official prices | Indoors and outdoors | Babies, Toddlers, Children |
| The Bowes Museum | Barnard Castle | Medium (££) — guide only; check official prices | Indoors and outdoors | Toddlers, Children, Teenagers |
Places to build your Durham day around
Durham city: indoor discoveries and a park
Museums & galleriesThe Story Durham
Durham, DH1 3TQ
Opens today at 10:00A free visitor attraction sharing more than 900 years of County Durham's history through displays, objects and interactive digital activities. It also houses archive and research facilities, landscaped grounds and a café. Family activities and under-five sessions run on selected dates. Bank holiday opening may vary.
- Free entry
- Indoor
- Babies
- Toddlers
- Children
- Teens
Free local-history displays at Mount Oswald, south of Durham city centre. Check any family activity separately from general visitor access.
Museums & galleries |Family attractionsOriental Museum
Durham, DH1 3TH
Opens today at 12:00Travel from Ancient Egypt to modern China across four floors of art and archaeology collections. Free entry, family activities and plenty of seating make this a thoughtful indoor visit that can comfortably fill a couple of hours.
- Free entry
- Indoor
- Babies
- Toddlers
- Children
- Teens
A free indoor art and archaeology visit at Elvet Hill. A useful choice for curious children; choose a few objects rather than expecting younger ones to explore every gallery.
Parks & gardens |Walks & trailsWharton Park
Durham, DH1 4FJ
Opens today at 09:00A free hillside park close to Durham railway station with panoramic city views. Facilities include a children's play area, miniature-car track, outdoor gym, amphitheatre, community garden, café and walking routes. Some paths are steep because of the park's hillside setting. Café and community-building hours are shorter than general park access and can vary.
- Free entry
- Outdoor
- Babies
- Toddlers
- Children
- Teens
A free park near Durham railway station. Its hillside setting matters when planning a buggy route or a visit with anyone who finds steep paths difficult.
Shildon and Sedgefield
Museums & galleries |Heritage & castlesLocomotion
Shildon, DL4 2RE
Opens today at 10:00A free railway museum in Shildon with large collections of historic locomotives and railway vehicles across two major halls. Families can explore railway history, follow outdoor rail trails and attend additional school-holiday activities. A café, baby-changing facilities and indoor and outdoor picnic areas are available. The museum closes from 24 to 26 December and operates longer hours during summer.
- Free entry
- Indoor & outdoor
- Babies
- Toddlers
- Children
- Teens
A free railway-museum visit in Shildon. Start with the vehicles and displays; check whether additional experiences or events have separate arrangements.
Parks & gardens |Walks & trails |Nature & wildlifeHardwick Park
Sedgefield, TS21 2DN
OpenA spacious country park with woodland, open grassland, lakeside walks and family-friendly places to explore. It is a good choice for a relaxed outdoor day with space for picnics, play and wildlife spotting.
- Free entry
- Outdoor
- Babies
- Toddlers
- Children
- Teens
A free-entry country park in Sedgefield for an outdoor wander. Allow for parking and check conditions before choosing a longer route.
Beamish and the Lanchester countryside
Parks & gardens |Museums & galleries |Heritage & castlesBeamish Museum
Beamish, DH9 0RG
Opens today at 10:00Step back in time at Beamish, the Living Museum of the North, where historic streets, working trams, farms and costumed staff bring regional history to life. Children can explore hands-on exhibits, meet animals and move between different periods of North East life.
- Higher cost
- Indoor & outdoor
- Babies
- Toddlers
- Children
- Teens
A larger paid living-history day near Stanley, with different areas of North East life to explore. Check the day’s open areas and ticket terms before travelling.
Parks & gardens |Farms & animals |Heritage & castlesHall Hill Farm
Lanchester, DH7 0TA
Hours unavailableMeet and feed farm animals, enjoy tractor rides and explore indoor and outdoor play areas at this family farm attraction near Lanchester. It is designed for a full day out, with seasonal activities and special events adding extra reasons to visit.
- Medium cost
- Indoor & outdoor
- Babies
- Toddlers
- Children
A paid farm visit near Lanchester for families who want animals and play in the same outing. Check the calendar and which activities are included.
Barnard Castle
Museums & galleriesThe Bowes Museum
Barnard Castle, DL12 8NP
Opens today at 10:00Explore the grand museum, galleries and surrounding grounds at The Bowes Museum. Families can discover art, design, local history and changing exhibitions, with plenty of space nearby for a longer day out in Barnard Castle.
- Medium cost
- Indoor & outdoor
- Toddlers
- Children
- Teens
A paid art and museum visit in Barnard Castle. Look at the current family programme when choosing between a general visit and a specific activity.
These are hand-picked suggestions rather than every matching result. Follow each activity for opening times, location and practical details.
Explore all activitiesMore ways to plan your day
Durham city does not mean everything is next door
Wharton Park is near the railway station, while the Oriental Museum is at Elvet Hill and The Story is at Mount Oswald to the south. Check the profile maps before combining them, especially with a buggy or a short window between naps.
A museum can be the main outing on a wet day. Add a park only when the route, weather and everyone’s energy make sense.
Choose a railway, countryside or market-town day
Locomotion in Shildon and Hardwick Park in Sedgefield are separate destinations. Beamish and Hall Hill Farm are larger outings in the north of the county; The Bowes Museum is in Barnard Castle, farther south-west.
These groups help you choose a destination, rather than set out a multi-stop tour. For a paid attraction, allow time to enjoy what your ticket includes instead of fitting in a second admission.
Free museums and paid attractions need different budgets
The Story, the Oriental Museum and Locomotion have free general admission. Wharton and Hardwick are free-entry parks. Transport, parking and special activities may still cost extra.
Beamish, Hall Hill Farm and The Bowes Museum are paid choices. Check current family tickets, age rules, opening dates and included activities directly; an evergreen recommendation does not mean every part opens every day of the year.
Before you head off
- Choose one destination before planning transport across the county.
- Check which galleries, grounds or attraction areas open on your date.
- Ask the venue about access needs and facilities rather than relying on broad age tags.
- Keep separate time and cost allowances for parking, food and optional experiences.
Keep exploring
Free days out across the North East
Compare free-entry options by area, including Darlington.
Rainy-day activities across the region
Find more indoor alternatives at different budgets.
Family days out in Northumberland
Plan a different county day with coast, history and play.
Browse the activity finder
Compare more Durham listings by age, setting and cost.