10 reasons to head to Durham this half term

Durham is hosting a packed calendar of family friendly events next week to celebrate National Family Week and school half term. From fairytale themed adventures in English country gardens, teddy bear picnics and trampolining taster sessions to museum exhibitions of the most famous children’s toys ever featured on BBC Television, there is something for every family happening in Durham next week.

Here are the Top-10 reasons to spend half term in Durham:

1. Fairytale Week at Crook Hall, Durham City

The secret walled garden, maze and mediaeval manor house at leafy Crook Hall in Durham City come alive during half term with sounds and stories from classic fairytales.

Meet your favourite fairy tale characters, including Little Red Riding Hood, The Big Bad Wolf and Snow White and wile away tranquil hours by the moat pond or in the Shakespeare garden. Runs May 24-31, admission: adults £5.50, children £4.50, family ticket £16.00.

2. Explore an exhibition of children’s TV characters from the past 60-years at Bowes Museum

Motivated by its current exhibition, Toy Tales, which celebrates 60 years of BBC TV children’s programmes, this treasure house of an art museum is running three family friendly events during half term.

Visitors can join in with creating some toy inspired artwork during a Family Fun Day on Tuesday 26 May.

Find out how toy characters are brought to life for the big screen by making plasticine models, posing them in different positions then using the latest computer software to bring their character to life with animation effects.

Wednesday 27 May: join popular storyteller Adam Bushnell in the Museum’s outdoor Story Garden. These wonderful sessions of stories and arty activities involve toys, tales and togetherness.

From 11.00 – 1.00 and 2.00 – 4.00, cost £2.00 for adults and £1.00 for under 16s, or free for those paying admission to the Museum. Advance booking is advisable.

Thursday 28 May: toy handling sessions designed to help children learn about how historic toys move and what they are made of, by handling replicas and studying the Museum’s permanent toy collection. Times: 11.00 – 12.00 and 2.30 – 3.30, with no booking required.

3. Durham Deals – 2 for 1 entry to more than 15 attractions

Families can enjoy recession-busting days out with a new value-for-money online promotion from tourism attractions in County Durham.

Visitors can benefit from 2-for-1 entry and children go free at Durham’s top museums, gardens and theme parks by simply logging onto visitcountydurham.com and downloading the deals vouchers and printing them off. Diggerland, the outdoor adventure theme park, is the latest attraction to sign up to the scheme.

4. Bat Walk in Hamsterley Forest, Teesdale, May 23

Learn about these elusive flying mammals on a special talk and guided tour through Hamsterley Forest in Teesdale. Bring a torch; wear sensible footwear and outdoor clothing. Pre-booking is essential.

5. Teddy Bear’s Picnic – Weardale Railway, May 24

Children can travel free this weekend on the heritage railway linking Wolsingham to the market town of Stanhope in the picturesque Durham Dales as long as they bring their teddy bear.

Picnic bags will be on sale in the train’s heritage griddle car and visitors to the railway can enjoy picnics in and around the station and on the adjacent recreation field.

There is a treasure hunt and children’s entertainers on hand throughout the day. First train departs from Wolsingham at 10:30am; last train departs Stanhope at 4:30pm.

6. Beamish Museum, Stanley: Power from the Past, May 28-31

Power from the Past is a four day annual event at award winning Beamish Museum that celebrates the might of industrial machinery and transport vehicles from the 19th and 20th centuries.

There is the opportunity for adults to fulfil the dreams of their childhood by becoming the engine driver of a 1933 diesel engine on a stretch of the Beamish Railway line for just £5.

Children can also enjoy rides on a seven and a quarter inch gauge model railway along a track with water tower and signal box designed to perfect scale. Finally there’s a test of strength for those willing to enter into a tug of war contest with ‘Fiddler’ an eight tonne steam roller.

7. Killhope: North of England Lead Mining Museum, Weardale, May 24 10:00am – 5:00pm

This award winning museum is holding a “Sail Away” river ecology workshop where children can make and sail their own boats and learn about the ecology of rivers and the fish and amphibians that live in them. Cost: £1.50

8. Locomotion: National Railway Museum, Shildon

Meccano Magic: Sunday 24 May and Monday 25 May. Learn to build models and structures from the popular children's construction kits and enjoy over 60 rail locomotives and steam engines at North East England’s only national museum. There is also a children's play area and interactive learning displays about the history of rail travel.

* Advisable to book for learning and school holiday activities

Entry to Locomotion is free throughout half term week.

9. Dalton Park's Get Active Weekend, Seaham - May 23 and 24

Dalton Park is North East England's largest retail outlet mall and is putting on a host of free family events over Bank Holiday weekend to encourage visitors to get active. Activities include:

• Six metre climbing wall
• Mini laser quest
• Durham County Cricket Club - leading cricket taster sessions
• Learn to play Badminton
• Put the spring in your day by trying Trampolining
• Explore miles of parkland trails with ponds, wild flowers and rare insects
• Irish Dancing - watch the experts - and join in

10. Hall Hill Farm, Lanchester – sheep shearing and donkey rides, May 23-25

Sheep shearing demonstrations are taking place throughout Bank Holiday weekend along with a host of other attractions including puppet shows, donkey rides, pet lamb feeding, tractor and trailer rides.

For more information about what’s on in County Durham and events during National Family Week and half term see visitcountydurham.com.