North East Museums

Call Directions Website Contact the organisation

North East Museums is a group of 12 visitor attractions. You can enjoy museums, art galleries, Roman forts, a steam railway and even an old gaol.

We post about art and heritage at the heart of North East England.

30/10/2026

*Last chance to see* (for now).

📍 Discovery Museum, Blandford Square, Newcastle, NE1 4JA
📅 Until Sunday 1 November (open Friday 10am - 4pm; Saturday and Sunday open 11am - 4pm)
🆓Free, no booking, just come in.

The Trafalgar Flag, flown on the battle ship of Newcastle’s Admiral Lord Collingwood at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, is on display until this Sunday, 1 November.

This is Daniel, our assistant keeper of history, who has been a big part of the effort to bring the flag home. He shares what’s special about this amazing object.

When Admiral Nelson fell in battle, Vice Admiral Collingwood led the British Naval Fleet to victory.

The flag will then be carefully looked after by the conservators in specialised storage, as a new permanent space in the museum is created later in 2027.

22/10/2026

The great, great, great niece of Admiral Lord Cuthbert Collingwood, the Newcastle born man who led the British Naval Fleet to victory at the Battle of Trafalgar after the fall of Admiral Horatio Neslon, reflects on her heroic ancestor.

Susan Collingwood-Cameron supported Discovery Museum in the acquisition of the Union flag flown from Vice Admiral’s flagship, HMS Royal Sovereign, for the people of the North East.

The Trafalgar Flag – said to be stitched by hand on the way to battle by his crew ‘The Tars of the Tyne’ - was flown on Admiral Lord Collingwood’s flagship MHS Royal Sovereign

See it here on display here until Sunday 1 November. The museum is planning a new permanent Vice Admiral Collingowwd display for late 2027 with the flag as the centrepiece.

14/10/2026

We’ve been getting the Trafalgar Flag of Lord Collingwood ready for display.

The battle-scarred, hand-sewn flag was flown aboard HMS Royal Sovereign, flagship of Newcastle-born Vice-Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood, at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

Here’s a little peek behind the scenes as it goes on display.

See it for yourself from 17 October to 1 November, free at Discovery Museum. 🇬🇧

06/10/2026

"The night Newcastle and Gateshead burned"

On 6 October 1854, a fire broke out in Gateshead – but what followed became one of the most devastating disasters in Tyneside’s history.

The flames spread through buildings close to the River Tyne, eventually reaching a warehouse containing highly combustible materials.

Then came the explosion.

The blast was so powerful that debris was thrown across the River Tyne into Newcastle, starting new fires on the opposite bank.

Buildings burned, streets filled with smoke and chaos, and people on both sides of the river found themselves caught in a disaster unfolding before them.

By the time the fires were brought under control, large parts of Newcastle and Gateshead had been devastated, 53 people had lost their lives, and hundreds more were injured.

02/10/2026

🎂 Happy 75th Birthday, 🎂

Today, 2 October, we are celebrating the birthday of music legend Sting, whose hit musical The Last Ship was inspired by the shipbuilding communities of the River Tyne.

At Segedunum, you can explore the history that helped shape stories like these, from the Roman fort that once guarded the edge of the Empire to the shipyards that transformed Wallsend centuries later.

Do you know what links Sting, shipbuilding and Segedunum?

⚓ 1. The Last Ship
Sting's acclaimed musical tells the story of a community bound together by the shipyards and the people whose lives revolved around them.

🏠 2. The Roman fort disappeared beneath a sea of houses
By the early 20th century, Segedunum was hidden beneath streets of terraced homes built for shipyard workers and their families.

📸 3. See the area before excavation
Our exhibition, Streets Above, featuring historic photographs is back on display, showing what Wallsend looked like when homes, shops and industry covered the buried Roman fort.

🕰️ 4. Find the Swan Hunter Timeclock
One of the most iconic objects at Segedunum, the timeclock is a reminder of the thousands of workers who clocked in and out of the famous Wallsend shipyard.

🚢 5. Wallsend built some of the world's largest ships
Among them was the giant tanker Esso Northumbria, one of the largest ships ever launched on the River Tyne and a symbol of Tyneside's shipbuilding achievements.

From Roman soldiers to shipyard workers, Segedunum tells the story of generations of people, who lived and worked on or near here.

01/10/2026

I've been looking in box folders again 😂

Why did I miss these shows first time around?

👉 Famous Faces at Discovery Museum
👉 Diana in the North East at Discovery Museum
👉 The World of TinTin at Discovery Museum
👉 Pharaoh: King of Egypt at Great North Museum: Hancock
👉 Treasures from the Lost Kingdom of Northumbria at Laing Art Gallery.

Did anyone visit any of these? Long shot, I know...

If you could go back in time to visit an exhibition, what would you pick?

28/09/2026

🍂 Autumn has arrived at Segedunum Roman Fort!

Our winter opening hours are now in effect:

🕙 Monday - Saturday: 10am - 3pm
🏛️ Outdoor site closes at 2.30pm
🚫 Closed on Sundays

Admission charges apply.
✅ Free entry for: Young people 21 and under and all NE28 residents

Plan your visit and step into Roman history this autumn!

Address

Discovery Museum
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE14JA

Telephone

+441912326789

Website

https://www.northeastmuseums.org.uk/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when North East Museums posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.