The Bowes Museum

The Bowes Museum
Barnard Castle
Durham
DL12 8NP
England

logo: Designated as an Outstanding Collection

Website

www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk

E-mail

info@thebowesmuseum.org.uk

Telephone

01833 690606

Fax

01833 637163

All information is supplied by the venues or providers themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.
venue representative image
baby changing facilities icon Food icon Guided tours icon Shop icon Library icon Study area icon Hearing disability facilities icon Visual disability facilities icon Wheelchair access icon

The Museum offers one of Britain's most fascinating museum experiences. Founded over 100 years ago, by John and Joséphine Bowes, the magnificent building contains the greatest collection of European fine and decorative arts in the North of England. The designated collection contains works by Goya, El Greco and Canaletto. The Museum also houses a number of entertaining interactives and presents a programme of unmissable exhibitions which run throughout the year. Situated in beautiful grounds with acclaimed Café Bowes and Shop, The Bowes Museum provides a great day out for everyone.

The entire collection of this museum is a Designated Collection of national importance.

Venue Type:

Museum

 Opening hours

Open Daily 10.00 - 5.00

Closed only 25 & 26 Dec & 1 Jan

 Admission charges

Adults: £8.00
Concessions (Disabled, over 60s, students, unwaged): £7.00
Under 16s, disabled carers, tour guides and accompanying coach drivers: FREE
Groups of 12 or more receive a discount on the normal admission price.
Photography and Video Permit: £3.00
FREE parking and admission to grounds

Proof of status is required for free and discounted tickets.

Discounts

  • Museums Association
  • International Council of Museums
  • English Heritage
 General services and facilities
  • Brochure or leaflet available with directions to museum
  • Foreign language leaflet or brochure available
  • General audio-guide available
  • Guided tours
  • Information point provided
  • Pre-booking service for groups
  • Toilets
  • Cafeteria
  • Gardens open to public
  • Parking for coaches
  • Picnic area
  • Refreshments
  • Restaurant
  • Shop
 Children and families
  • Activities for pre-school children
  • Events and resources for children and families
  • Baby changing facilities
 Disability access
  • Audio guides specifically for blind and partially sighted people
  • Induction loops in lecture theatres
  • Large print information and/or interpretation
  • Touch exhibits
  • Parking for disabled available
  • Toilets for disabled
  • Wheelchair access to all public areas
  • Wheelchair access to some public areas
  • Wheelchairs available for loan
 Schools services and facilities
  • Direct teaching services for schools
  • Member of staff available with responsibility for education
  • Primary school education service available
  • Printed/audio-visual information available for schools
  • Secondary school education service available
  • Education facilities available
  • Reception and lunch facilities for educational groups
 Research and adult learning
  • Adult lectures and courses held
  • Teaching/resources available for HE/FE students
  • Library with public access
  • Mail order service available
  • Research facilities for academics
  • Study facilities
 Commercial and hire services
  • Licensed for weddings
  • Facilities for private functions and events
  • Meeting room available

Additional info

The Museum's reference library is staffed by the Friends of The Bowes Museum. It is open Tuesday,Wednesday and Thursday By appointment only. Please ring for details.

The Friends of The Bowes Museum offer free guided tours of the galleries. For more information, or to pre-book your place please contact us.

Handling Sessions may be arranged in advance.

The Bowes Museum
Barnard Castle
Durham
DL12 8NP
England

logo: Designated as an Outstanding Collection

Website

www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk

E-mail

info@thebowesmuseum.org.uk

Telephone

01833 690606

Fax

01833 637163

All information is supplied by the venues or providers themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.

The entire collection of the Bowes Museum is a Designated Collection of national importance.

This collection contains paintings, ceramics, items of woodwork, objects d’art and textiles. Before Josephine’s death in 1874, John Bowes and his French wife had amassed some 15,000 objects of all types of European fine and decorative arts from the period 1400-1870. The bills for this collecting activity survive in the museum’s archive. Acquisitions made more recently such as the Enid Goldblatt collection of porcelain, have reinforced the continental feel of the museum.

The Museum holds an outstanding collection of European fine and decorative arts of the period 1400-1875, specialising in French and Spanish paintings. There is an extensive collection of English furniture, European ceramics and textiles, as well as archaeological material and archives from County Durham and social history from Teesdale.

Collection details

Weapons and War, Toys and Hobbies, Social History, Religion, Photography, Personalities, Natural Sciences, Music, Literature, Fine Art, Decorative and Applied Art, Costume and Textiles, Coins and Medals, Archives, Archaeology

Key artists and exhibits

  • Silver Swan
  • James Cox
  • Pease Train
  • Clockwork Toys
  • Canaletto
  • El Greco
  • Goya
  • Tiepolo
  • Boucher
  • Revolving Band Clock
  • Giordano
  • Turner
  • Japanese Tiger
  • Portrait of Josephine Bowes
  • Portrait of John Bowes
  • Paintings by Josephine Bowes
  • Designated Collection

Collections services

  • General guide to collections available
  • Public access available to collections information
  • Specialist publications on collections available
  • Object study facilities available (enquire in advance)

The Bowes Museum
Barnard Castle
Durham
DL12 8NP
England

logo: Designated as an Outstanding Collection

Website

www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk

E-mail

info@thebowesmuseum.org.uk

Telephone

01833 690606

Fax

01833 637163

All information is supplied by the venues or providers themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.
Resources listed here may include websites, bookable tours and workshops, books, loan boxes and more. You may need to scroll down or click on headers to see them all.
 Digital and online resources

Portraits and Portraiture

How to obtain

Visit The Museums Network website www.museumnetworkuk.org which includes The Bowes Museum, for downloadable resources and games.

 Face to face resources

After School Club

http://www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk/learning/after%20school/

The Bowes Museum’s After School Club is for children aged 7-12 years and meets at 15.45 every Wednesday during term time. They explore different parts of the Museum’s amazing collections through hands-on arts activities with recent topics including optical art experiments, Art Nouveau glass inspired vessels and even a performance of a Mummer’s Play.
Being a member of the After School Club means that you get to decide on the project focus – be it clay containers, printing patterns or Modroc models, everyone is given the opportunity to vote for their favourite choice. It’s a great way to meet new friends, learn new skills and get your creative juices flowing!

How to obtain

If you are interested in joining The Bowes Museum’s After School Club, please contact the Education Team on 01833 694602, education@thebowesmuseum.org.uk.

 Resources

The Bowes

The Bowes Museum
Barnard Castle
Durham
DL12 8NP
England

logo: Designated as an Outstanding Collection

Website

www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk

E-mail

info@thebowesmuseum.org.uk

Telephone

01833 690606

Fax

01833 637163

All information is supplied by the venues or providers themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.
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