The Bowes Museum > Visit > Visitor Information
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Opening Hours & Admission

The Bowes Museum is currently closed due to Covid-19. The Bowes Museum is open daily. Closed only 25 & 26 December & 1 January.

Please prebook your tickets in advance. Due to the Silver Swan being out of action for the past few months she has ceased working.  Maintenance is being scheduled so she can once again entertain by early 2021.​

Galleries & Exhibitions

10.00 – 5.00
Smartify - Download this free app on the App Store or via Google play, then scan, identify and uncover the great stories behind some of your favourite artworks.


Admission Price
Enjoy unlimited entry at The Bowes Museum and temporary exhibitions all year around.

Adult £15.50
Concession (Over 60) £13.50
Family Pass - 2 Adults (Up to 4 Children Under 18) £31.50
Family Pass - 1 Adult (Up to 4 Children Under 18) £17.50
Students (day entry only, on production of student card) £6.00
Young People (under 18 - day entry only) £5.00

Free Entry

National Art Pass (On production of membership card) Free entry
Friends of The Bowes Museum Free entry
Children (under 5) Free entry
Accompanying Carers Free entry

Groups & Coaches

Pre-booked groups of 12+ paying visitors £10.00

Click here for more information about Groups & Coaches

Café Bowes

Open 10.00 – 4.00 Free entry

Click here for more information about Café Bowes

Gift Shop

Open 10.00 - 4.30 Free entry

Click here for more information about our Shop

Reading Room

Operating on a two-week rota, for dates and times click here

Free entry

Anyone wishing to access the new facility is advised to make an appointment, which will also enable them to check that we hold the relevant material they seek.

To book call 01833 690606 ext 208, email libraryandarchives@thebowesmuseum.org.uk or write to The Reference Library and Archives, The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, DL12 8NP.

Click here for more information about the Reading Room

 

Closures

 

2020

 Due to floor space one of the Ceramic Galleries will be closed whilst the current government safety guidelines are in place
11-13 December 

Please note that there will be no access through the rear pedestrian gate due to the Christmas Market. The Christmas Market is outdoors this year to help us protect our visitors from COVID-19. The majority of the stalls will be on the Parterre Garden, where there is limited access to wheelchairs due to the gravelled surface. There is access to the hot food traders on the Museum terrace.  
   

 

Visitor Information Leaflet

Support Us.

Please choose an area of activity where you would most like to direct your support, i.e. supporting the upkeep of the Museum, art for young people or bringing the Museum into the park.



 

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The Bowes Museum grounds are open!

Due to the government announcement on Thursday 17 December, that County Durham is to remain in COVID tier 3 restrictions, The Bowes Museum unfortunately will remain closed to all visitors. However, the grounds remain open to visitors from 10.00 - 4.00 daily, and we are currently hosting a woodland fairy trail, two spring trails and outdoor guided tours are available from 29 March 2021.

As we have already been shut for a number of weeks and there is much uncertainty around possible further restrictions, we have decided to use this period to undertake some work in Café Bowes, alongside performing some much-needed structural repairs to the building, notably to the windows. January and February are usually quieter times for the Museum, often due to severe weather, so we believe that this is the best time to carry out such works with the least amount of disruption to our visitors.

We have therefore decided to remain closed for a period of four weeks following any near-future tier 2 announcement from the government, as this will allow us time to deep clean the Museum prior to reopening our doors once again. We will, of course, keep you updated as the guidelines change.

Your ongoing support during these unprecedented times is hugely appreciated and we very much look forward to welcoming you back into the building as early as possible in 2021.

We hope to be able to offer a few COVID-safe outdoor events over the coming months, about which we shall make further announcements as soon as possible.

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