TIME WARP
Time warp UK ‘tourist town’ that’s like travelling back to the 1920s to open to overnight stays
Plus, one other living museum to visit in the UK
A RETRO tourist town in the UK will soon start welcoming overnight guests for the first time in its history.
The in County Durham allows people to see what life would have been like in the UK between the 1820s - 1950s, with replica homes, pubs, shops, businesses and more.
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Unlike other museums, Beamish is fully interactive, so instead of dusty items sitting behind glass cases, it has real people in authentic costumes leading demonstrates.
There's also great attention to detail paid in the recreation of the town, which is set out on a sprawling 300-acre estate.
But before 2024, visitors to the time warp "tourist town" were forced to leave when the museum closed at the end of the day.
Those guests who want to keep the experience going for a little longer will be able to book an overnight stay at Beamish later this year.
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A statement on : "We will be giving visitors the opportunity to stay overnight at Beamish in Georgian workers cottages, offering a unique self-catering experience in farm buildings original to the museum site.
"The first two of these cottages are due to open near 1820s Pockerley Old Hall later this year."
Additional information, including ticket prices and a firm opening date, have yet to be revealed.
The option to stay overnight at a Beamish Georgian workers' cottage isn't the only new attraction opening at the museum later this year.
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A recreation of the Grand Cinema, from Ryhope in Sunderland, will also be opening later this year.
The recreated cinema will give visitors the chance to experience what it would've been like to head to watch a film on the big screen during the 1950s.
Many of the scenes from hit TV series Peaky Blinders were shot at the Black Country Living Museum
According to the website, the cinema will have some original features, including period newsreels and adverts.
A toy shop and an electrical shop and repair workshop are also set to open alongside the cinema.
An 1820s pub called the Drover's Tavern, where visitors will be able to enjoy Georgian-inspired food and drink, will also be opening.
Until these attractions launch later this year, there are plenty of other activities and buildings to keep visitors entertained.
For example, visitors can ride the trams that run through the quaint cobbled streets, order drinks in the reconstructed pub, the Sun Inn, and even see the farmers feeding the pigs in the on-site working farm.
There's also a bakery and a sweet shop that make treats in full view of the visiting public, who are then able to buy the delicious products.
Another highlight at Beamish is the Edwardian train station, which offers visitors the chance to experience the birth of the steam train, with rides on one of the locomotives.
The trains are pulled along by Puffing Billy, a replica of the original locomotive which was built in 1813 by William Hedley.
Beamish isn't the only living museum in the UK, there's also a similar museum in Dudley.
The Black Country Museum
The in Dudley allows visitors to see what life would've been like between the 1850s-1960s, with replica high streets, retro houses, businesses, pubs, and even a chippy.
Tourists can step back in time and become immersed in the region's history, thanks to more than 40 carefully reconstructed buildings that provide a glimpse into life during the 19th and 20th Centuries.
The buildings were moved from sites across the West Midlands and some were even carefully reconstructed brick by brick.
Across the 26-acre estate, actors dress up in authentic costumes to bring historical figures to life.
As well as welcoming visitors, the Dudley-based living museum has also been used to film TV shows like Peaky Blinders.
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Meanwhile, Aaarhus in Denmark is home to the world's oldest living museum.
I recently visited the Danish living museum and spent two hours exploring every nook and cranny.
Best staycation locations for 2024
1. Bristol
The arty harbour city was the top spot on the list and is bursting with culture and trendy cafes scattered along the River Avon.
A bubbling hub for creatives, Bristol is the birthplace of street artist Banksy, and you can admire some of his best early works on a free walking tour.
2. Hull
The Humberside port city started to get recognition last year, and it has a thriving nightlife scene - if that's something you're after.
The old town is crawling with history and classy buildings, whose walls have many stories to tell and The Deep is a fascinating aquarium attraction.
3. Isles of Scilly
Just off the Cornish coast, it's easy to see why the archipelago made it into the top three.
Here, you can expect golden sandy beaches where you will be able to spot dolphins beyond the shoreline, as well as seafront pubs serving up hearty grub.
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