The young and the young-at-heart can explore The Bowes Museum through the provision of interactive games and activities throughout the Museum.

Grab yourselves a family guidebook from the Reception Desk and explore the collections to your hearts' content!

Events, including our ever-popular family fun days and art and craft workshops take place throughout the year at weekends and during the school holidays.

The new Story Garden is also open regularly for tales of adventure and feats of daring do!

The beautiful park and gardens, featuring the newly restored fountains, are an endless source of pleasure for family visitors.

The recent addition of an orienteering trail complements our 'Bags of Fun' which have been filled with games and activities and can be enjoyed in the grounds.

Both are available from the Museum's Reception Desk.

From the famous Silver Swan to the infamous two-headed calf, The Bowes Museum has lots to offer on a fun filled family day out!

Cafe Bowes is situated on the ground floor and offers a variety of hot and cold locally sourced food and drink for all visitors.

The shop sells a range of snacks and goodies while the beautiful park and gardens provide the ideal environment for a relaxed picnic.

Café Bowes offers lunch boxes, special dishes and portion sizes to suit all ages and appetites.

Dietary needs can be catered for and high chairs are available.

Our shop presents a wide range of gifts, books, cards, confectionery and mementoes including many exclusive items inspired by the collections and exhibition programme.

The Museum has public toilets on the first floor. An accessible toilet can be found on the ground floor along to the East side of Reception. A radar key is used to lock this toilet and is available from the Reception Desk. In addition, there are public toilets outside at the rear of the building which are available from 8 am – 4pm in the summer months.

Baby changing facilities are located on the ground floor.

Milk warming facilities are available in Cafe Bowes.

If travelling on the A1, turn off at the A66 Scotch Corner junction and head west towards Barnard Castle. On approaching the village of Greta Bridge, Brown Signs indicate the turning for The Bowes Museum, which is approximately 1 mile further on.

From Cumbria on the A66 eastbound, Brown Signs direct you through the town of Barnard Castle to the Museum.

From Durham take the A167 and follow signs for Bishop Auckland. At Bishop Auckland follow signs for Barnard Castle via the A688. On entering the town, Brown Signs direct visitors to the location of the Museum.

The nearest railway station to The Bowes Museum is Darlington (17 miles).

Situated on the East Coast Main Line.

From the station, Barnard Castle is approximately 30 minutes by taxi (obtainable at the station) or 1 hour by bus from Tubwell Row, Darlington.

The Arriva number 75 and 76 buses and the Compass Royston number 70 bus all operate from this location.

Buses can also be obtained from Richmond - Hodgsons number 79, and from Bishop Auckland - number 8.

These journeys take approximately 50 minutes.

An attendant operated large lift can give access to all floors and galleries for wheel chair users and push chairs.

If you've had fun on your family day out to The Bowes Museum, tell us about it your visit, so other people will know it's a great place to go as well.