Beamish Museum goes back in time

Beamish - for magical days out in a bygone era

BBC Newcastle's effervescent Sue Sweeney paid a visit to one of County Durham's old time friends - the Beamish Museum - a place for all the family.

Beamish Museum is certainly a north-east of England tourist attraction we should be proud of.

It is a place where the visitor can experience the smells, sights and sounds of a by-gone era.

Sue not only sampled her favourite sweets, but experienced a mode of transport that may be on its way back.

Just as it was

Right on my doorstep of County Durham and very easy to find from Chester-le-Street, heading towards Stanley - it's very well signposted.

I was impressed by the vast, beautiful countryside and the clean well kempt museum - the total area is huge. Also, the informative passion of the staff, who wear period costumes, which I thought brought my visit back in time, totally to life.

I was amazed by the authentic shops, bank and dentist's surgery which were exactly as they would have been all those years ago, even down to the tiniest detail.

Sweeties - oh what temptation for poor Sue Sweeney!

The school, where there is a teacher who will tell you off if you're noisy, was like being on a film set and you were the lead roll, I loved it - you could even buy sweeties and watch them being made - the smells were gorgeous.

Right on track

I particularly enjoyed the tram ride which took me to the town. There is also a real steam train too, a working pub, a mine shaft, the colliery village… the list is endless.

It's our heritage which has been lovingly salvaged and put on show for the world to see.

You need to spend the whole day at Beamish - it's an experience you won't forget. In fact, the whole family will enjoy this attraction.

I saw all ages on my visit and everyone having a great time.

And to think that trams like these may be on their way back!

Nostalgia

There seems to be a hunger for nostalgia these days and Beamish is one place in which it really comes alive. There are so many places within the museum in which you can drift away and just imagine what it must have been like all those years ago.

Beamish Museum is one place where the past really meets the present. I, for one, can't wait to visit again.