ONE of the region's best known attractions will welcome visitors through its gates again from April 12.

Beamish, The Living Museum of the North will be able to reopen its grounds only under step two of the Government’s Covid-19 roadmap, subject to the timeline for the easing of lockdown restrictions.

Visitors will be able to take a stroll around the open air museum grounds, near Chester-le-Street, County Durham, and enjoy takeaway food and drink.

The museum will give further updates, including timeslot booking information, in the coming weeks as it continues to monitor government guidance.

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Under Step 2 rules, Beamish is not yet able to open its indoor attractions and exhibits and run transport - excluding the wheelchair accessible bus which will operate on an on-call basis.

The museum, which was due to celebrate its 50th anniversary during 2020, has been closed since December under Covid-19 restrictions.

During lockdown, the museum has kept in touch with visitors, including with its Beamish at Home activities, afternoon tea home deliveries and online shop.

But officials at Beamish, which is a charity, say 95 per cent of its income comes from visitors and the closures due to the Covid-19 pandemic continue to have a devastating effect on the museum, which continues its vital fundraising.

The Northern Echo:

Rhiannon Hiles, Beamish’s deputy director, said: “We’re very pleased to say that, as an open air museum, we will be able to open our outdoor areas only under Step 2 of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown restrictions.

“We’re really looking forward to being able to welcome our visitors back to Beamish, we’re really missing seeing everyone enjoying the museum.

“Beamish is a charity and 95 per cent of our income is from our visitors, including ticket sales, retail and catering, so being closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic is continuing to have a major impact.

“We’re extremely grateful for everyone’s ongoing support, it means so much, and we can’t wait to be able to open our doors again.

“Until then, we are continuing to keep in touch online and we’ll be keeping everyone updated about our reopening plans.”

Beamish has introduced a range of Covid-19 Secure health and hygiene measures.

It holds the “We’re Good To Go” standard, for organisations that are following government and industry guidelines, have a Covid-19 risk assessment and have a process to maintain cleanliness and aid social distancing.

Beamish has come up with innovative new ways to help people enjoy a bit of Beamish from home during lockdown, reaching families as far away as Uganda, America, Australia, New Zealand, France and Germany.

Activities have included live Victorian lessons, Father Christmas Zoom calls, Baked by Beamish afternoon tea deliveries, family craft activities, traditional recipes and the seasonally-changing online shop.

Rhiannon added: “We have been overwhelmed by the popularity of our new digital approaches, some of which are just the beginning of new ways for us to reach out to and broaden our audience range.

"veryone has been really supportive of the museum through this tricky time, from purchasing items from our online shop and making donations to taking part in learning experiences and sending us lovely messages of support.”

The Northern Echo:

Beamish also developed a range of remote interactive learning activities for schools and youth groups, such as Brownies, Guides and Scouts.

These include Lost Toys, which explores traditional toys and The 1900s Town, a remote evacuee session to investigate a missing evacuee, and even an explosive Just One Spark science-based activity that explores the history of coalmining.

The museum’s new Baked by Beamish Home Deliveries are also proving very popular. Afternoon tea boxes and other treats made at Herron’s Bakery, in the museum’s 1900s Town, are delivered within 15 miles of the museum by a costumed Beamish staff member.

Beamish’s online shop features products inspired by the museum’s exhibits and collections, from Jubilee Confectioners’ sweets and Herron’s Bakery treats to Beamish Monopoly, W Smith’s Chemist cold creams and cards printed on the museum’s presses.

Find out more about visiting Beamish at beamish.org.uk