Beamish Museum the region’s most popular paid-for visitor attraction, with record-breaking visitor numbers

Beamish Museum Director Richard Evans Credit: Beamish Museum

The Beamish Museum in County Durham saw a record number of visitors in 2016, with more than 700,000 entering its doors in 2016, making it the region's most popular paid-for visitor attraction.

Staff and volunteers have been celebrating the milestone, after 747,651 people visited the museum during 2016 – up by 11 per cent. It was the first time in the museum's 46-year history.

Visitor numbers in December were up by 38% on the previous year. Figures have more than doubled since 2008.

Horses at War 2016 at Beamish Museum Credit: Beamish Museum

Beamish Museum has also been celebrating its award of £10.9million by the Heritage Lottery Fund for its Remaking Beamish project, to feature a 1950s Town, farm and Georgian coaching inn.

Georgian Fair at Beamish Museum Credit: Beamish Museum

It was named Large Visitor Attraction of the Year for the third year in a row at the North East England Tourism Awards 2016.

Work is due to start on the £18million Remaking Beamish project this winter, with more than 30 new exhibits set to be added to the museum over the next four years.