From next week visitors to Beamish Museum will be able once again to hop on a period bus, enjoy table service in its tea toom and step back inside the schoolroom.
That's just some of what will be on offer from May 17 when the County Durham museum reopens its indoor attractions.
With the further lifting of restrictions on the leisure and hospitality industry, Beamish visitors - currently confined to its outdoor site and takeaways - will be able to explore inside the likes of its 1900s Terrace and take a seat at The Tearooms for refreshments.
The aim is to reopen as many of its interior spaces as possible, and these include the pit village school and the town's Edwardian dentist, Co-op, chemist and bank, although there is no mention yet as to when the much-loved trams will be back in business.
Visitor slots are already available to book for dates from May 17-20 while the museum is also looking ahead to expanding its attractions even further, as it unveils a whole programme of events including Meet the Georgian days, brewing demonstrations, flower shows and classic car rallies.
Step three of the Government's road map out of lockdown is hugely welcomed by the museum, a charity, which relies upon visitors for 95% of its income.
Deputy director Rhiannon Hiles said: “We are so looking forward to being able to open our indoor exhibits and attractions and run our 1950s buses from May 17.
“We’ve been putting a lot of work into getting everything ready and can’t wait to be able to welcome everyone back."
She added: “Beamish is a charity and having to close our doors three times due to the coronavirus pandemic has been extremely difficult and has had a devastating impact.
"We’re so incredibly grateful for everyone’s ongoing support as we look ahead to our recovery."
So far, she has been glad to see visitors, despite the restrictions, turn out to enjoy its grounds where they have been able buy takeaways from Davy’s fish and chip shop, the Jubilee Confectioners sweet shop, Herron’s Bakery and - non-alcoholic drinks only - from The Sun Inn.
And now, with more opening up on-site, Beamish is also full steam ahead on plans for the year, as long as the road map out of lockdown goes according to plan.
Rhiannon added: “We’ve got lots of exciting plans ahead, including being able to run events again, and we’re pressing ahead with our major Remaking Beamish project, which will include the opening of our 1950s Farm, the next stages of our 1950s Town and expansion of our 1820s Landscape.”
Here's what is coming up at the museum over upcoming months.
2021 events at Beamish
Meet the Georgians - May weekends
Georgian cooking - May 15-16
Pottery demonstration - May 16
Brewing demonstrations and Georgian musician - May 22-23
The Old 68th Durham Light Infantry Society and Display Team plus candle-making demonstrations - May 29-30
Georgian musicians playing traditional tunes - May 31
Model A Ford Club of Great Britain featuring pre-Second World War cars - May 26
Eastern European Car Rally - May 29
Coffee Pot Fridays, showing steam locomotive Coffee Pot No.1, celebrating its 150th birthday year, in action on The Colliery Railway - second Friday of each month
Coronation Celebrations in the 1950s welfare hall to mark the 1953 coronation of Queen Elizabeth II - June 5-6
Classic Car Rally - June 20
Tractor Gathering - July 24-25
Summer of Fun with family activities including cricket, playground games, a summer trail, den-building and toasting marshmallows in the woods - late July and August during school holidays
Dig for Victory featuring Lumberjills, Land Girls, the Home Guard, military vehicles, make-do-and-mend ideas and ration cooking to capture a sense of the Home Front during the Second World War - September 2-5
Leek Show - September 11-12
Flower Show - September 18-19
Classic Car Rally - September 19
Heritage Skills Weekend - October 2-3
Harvest Festival and Harvest Home - October 9-10
To book a time slot ticket for May 17-20 at Beamish, which holds the We’re Good To Go standard for Covid safety, see here.
