Summer Holidays

18 July – 30 August

School’s out! This summer, discover a packed programme of family-friendly activities inspired by the museum’s collection, exhibitions and beautiful parkland. Enjoy daily trails and creative activities, explore 22 acres of outdoor space, and join special Tuesday and Wednesday events including Nature Spotters, Gallery Takeover, Bug Hotels and Step Into Westwood: A Family Adventure Through Fashion Rebellion.

Young people can get creative at The Wonder Workshop every Tuesday and Art as Protest: A Vivienne Westwood Inspired Workshop every Wednesday, while younger children can enjoy Stay and Play, Bowes Babies and Artist Makers sessions throughout the holidays. Daily creative activities are also available in the Create Space.

Alongside family fun, adults can enjoy talks, tours, workshops and live music, while everyone can explore Vivienne Westwood: Rebel – Storyteller – Visionary, an exhibition exclusive to The Bowes Museum. All activities are included with admission or Membership, and under 18s and full-time students always go free.

Children and Families

A group of children and an adult gather around a male adult instructor in a bright, art-filled classroom, watching attentively as he demonstrates a craft project.

Step Into Westwood: A Family Adventure Through Fashion Rebellion

Step into the world of Vivienne Westwood, the ultimate rule-breaker of fashion, in a family-friendly tour that brings her exhibition to life. Discover the stories stitched into her most daring outfits and unlock the secrets behind her visionary style. Meet in the Reception, recommended for ages 5-12, children under 14 must be accompanied.   Please contact the learning team

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Two young children examine a small museum display case in the Curiosity Gallery using magnifying glasses. The display contains botanical elements. Around them are various museum objects, including textiles and vintage instruments, all arranged in bright, modern exhibition shelves.

Gallery Takeover

Take a closer look at the art around you, then make something inspired by what you find. It might be a figure from a portrait, a tree from a landscape or something entirely your own. Guided by a member of the Learning Team, you’ll experiment with clay as you sculpt a unique piece influenced by what

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A child crouches beside a small outdoor “bug hotel” made from stacked wooden pallets filled with twigs, leaves, and natural materials. A hand‑painted sign on the front reads “BUG HOTEL” and is decorated with autumn leaves and a small illustrated insect. The child wears a long‑sleeved grey top, bright pink trousers, and trainers, and rests one hand on the structure. The setting is a park or garden with grass, fallen leaves, trees with autumn foliage, and a large tree trunk behind the bug hotel.

Bug Hotels

Join us in the wildflower meadow behind the museum to find bugs at the Bowes. Build eco-friendly bug hotels and learn about the importance of insects in the parkland. Use the #Bowesbugs on Instagram, when making your own at home. Recommended for families and nature lovers, children under 14 must be accompanied. Please contact the

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A child holds a homemade cardboard tube up to their eye like a telescope while standing at a craft table in a brightly coloured room with orange walls. The child wears a patterned headband and a smartwatch. On the table are craft supplies, including markers, scissors, and a cardboard box decorated with drawings. An adult stands nearby, partially visible.

Nature Spotters

Gather with us in an outdoor-inspired campsite in the Conversation Gallery. Discover the fascinating world of wildlife in the parkland, delve into the natural wonders that influenced some of the museum’s treasures and play games inspired by the great outdoors. Recommended for under 10s, children must be accompanied by an adult. Booking required. Please contact

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A large piece of fabric lies stretched across a table, covered in bold abstract artwork featuring sweeping black lines and areas of bright colour including orange, blue, purple, and pink. Two people stand at the far side of the table working on the fabric—one wearing gloves and applying paint, and the other leaning in while holding a tool or brush. The scene is set in a well‑lit room with tall windows in the background.

Pattern and Protest: A Family Workshop

Explore pattern and protest with Emma Jane Goldsmith as she brings Vivienne Westwood’s designs to life in this engaging, free drop-in workshop for all the family. Add your own marks, lines, drawings and words to fabric, ready for future use in clothing construction. Recommended for families with children aged 5+. Children under 14 must be

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A young child with light hair, wearing a mustard-yellow shirt, khaki shorts, and colorful socks, smiles while crawling on a large white cushioned surface in a brightly colored play area with red and pink abstract shapes on the wall behind.

Bowes Babies

Bowes Babies are special sessions designed for our youngest visitors aged 0–5 and their families. Join a member of our Learning Team in the Conversation Gallery for an opportunity for little ones to play, explore and connect.  Guided by the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework, these sessions encourage children to discover the museum

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Stay and Play

Time for The Bowes’ youngest visitors to explore and play in the Conversation Gallery, investigate materials and be creative in this self-led, free-play session. Suitable for children up to 5 years. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

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A child sits at a bright yellow table drawing on a large sheet of white paper with a red marker. The child leans forward with one arm resting on the table while drawing a small coloured shape near the centre of the page. Containers filled with coloured pens and pencils sit on the table to both sides. In the foreground are small cardboard cut‑out shapes, and in the background a display plinth holds an object within a well‑lit indoor museum or gallery space.

Artist Makers

Make time for making; join in and get creative. An opportunity to try out new techniques, materials and experiment with our team of artists, designers and makers.  Drop-in activity in the Create Space, recommended for ages 5+, children under 14 must be accompanied.  

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Young People

A mannequin dressed in a black double-breasted blazer with bold blue and white vertical stripes, featuring a large white collared shirt underneath. The blazer is embellished with gold buttons and two brooches—one shaped like a planet with rings and another circular pin.

Art as Protest: A Vivienne Westwood-Inspired Workshop

Fashion isn’t just what you wear – it’s a statement. A form of protest. Explore pieces from Vivienne Westwood’s collection and uncover how she used fashion to challenge power and how you can use creativity to make your voice heard. Recommended for bold voices aged 13 – 18, under 14s must be accompanied. Please contact

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Two people wearing protective gloves carefully handle a mechanical bird object, with its beak and internal mechanism partially exposed, in a museum conservation or workshop setting.

The Wonder Workshop

Have you ever wondered about the museum’s collection? How the swan moves? Why Joséphine and John Bowes collected the objects that they did? What grows in the parkland? What different symbols mean in paintings? Unlock your imagination and join us for this creative workshop that blends the logic of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)

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Adults

A person stands in the foreground of a fashion exhibition gallery with arms folded. Behind them, mannequins display tailored garments, including a bright red coat and a dark, patterned dress. The gallery walls are painted deep red and blue and feature large framed classical paintings in ornate gilt frames. A richly decorated cabinet with inlaid designs stands to the right, and a small exhibition label is visible near the mannequins. Display lighting highlights the clothing and artworks against the darker surroundings.

Vivienne Westwood: Rebel – Storyteller – Visionary Spotlight Tour

Join Rachel Whitworth, Curator (Fashion & Textiles), for a special Spotlight Tour of our latest exhibition. Gain insight into how the exhibition was brought to life, from the careful selection of objects to the thoughtful display of pieces from The Bowes Museum’s collection alongside designs by Vivienne Westwood. Discover the stories behind the curation and

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A person sits at a table using a white Singer sewing machine, guiding a piece of white fabric under the needle. The table is covered with colourful fabric pieces in the foreground. The scene is set in a bright indoor workshop space with orange walls and soft natural light coming from windows behind. The sewing machine, fabric, and tools are the main focus of the image.

Sew-cial at The Bowes

Unleash your creativity in our Vivienne Westwood–inspired sewing workshops. Each of the sessions stands alone with a complete project, while together they form a creative journey exploring style, technique and self-expression of stitches, samples and wearable art.  £55 per session. Recommended for adults, spaces must be booked in advance. No additional equipment necessary. All levels of experience welcome. Workshop 3: The Mutineer

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Four people lie on grass with their heads close together in a circular arrangement, photographed from above, with sunlight casting soft shadows across their faces and clothing.

Marshall Gilmour Webbs In Concert at The Bowes Museum

Experience an unforgettable evening of live music as Marshall Gilmour Webbs join us at the Bowes Museum. Fresh from their appearance at the Cropredy Festival, and ahead of their appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe, Marshall Gilmour Webbs will stop off at the museum to play in the intimate setting of the museum’s Jubilee Room. ‘Marshall

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A person stands in the foreground of a fashion exhibition gallery, positioned in front of tall glass display cases. Inside the cases are mannequins dressed in tailored jackets, skirts, and patterned garments, alongside accessories such as shoes and small objects. A bright orange bag with the text “Vivienne Westwood” is visible on an upper shelf to the left. Additional mannequins wearing coordinated outfits stand to the right of the person. The space is dimly lit with display lighting highlighting the clothing and objects against dark walls.

Front Row: Making Westwood

Join designer and Northumbria University Fashion Professor Emma Jane Goldsmith for insights into the cut and construction methods of Vivienne Westwood. This talk is a part of Front Row Talks series which explores the world of fashion and design. Talk taking place in the Conversation Gallery, recommended for ages 16+. £10 per person, plus admission.

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Your Visit

Discover wonders at every turn.

Image of a family looking at The Bowes Museum

Plan Your Visit

School’s out! This summer, discover a packed programme of family-friendly activities inspired by the museum’s collection, exhibitions and beautiful parkland. Enjoy daily trails and creative activities, explore 22 acres of outdoor space, and join special Tuesday and Wednesday events including Nature Spotters, Gallery Takeover, Bug Hotels and Step Into Westwood: A Family Adventure Through Fashion Rebellion.

Young people can get creative at The Wonder Workshop every Tuesday and Art as Protest: A Vivienne Westwood Inspired Workshop every Wednesday, while younger children can enjoy Stay and Play, Bowes Babies and Artist Makers sessions throughout the holidays. Daily creative activities are also available in the Create Space.

Alongside family fun, adults can enjoy talks, tours, workshops and live music, while everyone can explore Vivienne Westwood: Rebel – Storyteller – Visionary, an exhibition exclusive to The Bowes Museum. All activities are included with admission or Membership, and under 18s and full-time students always go free.

LEARN MORE
Image of a child looking at a kids automata from Cabaret Mechanical Theatre whilst holding a puffin teddy

Book Tickets

School’s out! This summer, discover a packed programme of family-friendly activities inspired by the museum’s collection, exhibitions and beautiful parkland. Enjoy daily trails and creative activities, explore 22 acres of outdoor space, and join special Tuesday and Wednesday events including Nature Spotters, Gallery Takeover, Bug Hotels and Step Into Westwood: A Family Adventure Through Fashion Rebellion.

Young people can get creative at The Wonder Workshop every Tuesday and Art as Protest: A Vivienne Westwood Inspired Workshop every Wednesday, while younger children can enjoy Stay and Play, Bowes Babies and Artist Makers sessions throughout the holidays. Daily creative activities are also available in the Create Space.

Alongside family fun, adults can enjoy talks, tours, workshops and live music, while everyone can explore Vivienne Westwood: Rebel – Storyteller – Visionary, an exhibition exclusive to The Bowes Museum. All activities are included with admission or Membership, and under 18s and full-time students always go free.

LEARN MORE
Image of an adult and child playing with outdoor toys in the Museum grounds

Park & Gardens

School’s out! This summer, discover a packed programme of family-friendly activities inspired by the museum’s collection, exhibitions and beautiful parkland. Enjoy daily trails and creative activities, explore 22 acres of outdoor space, and join special Tuesday and Wednesday events including Nature Spotters, Gallery Takeover, Bug Hotels and Step Into Westwood: A Family Adventure Through Fashion Rebellion.

Young people can get creative at The Wonder Workshop every Tuesday and Art as Protest: A Vivienne Westwood Inspired Workshop every Wednesday, while younger children can enjoy Stay and Play, Bowes Babies and Artist Makers sessions throughout the holidays. Daily creative activities are also available in the Create Space.

Alongside family fun, adults can enjoy talks, tours, workshops and live music, while everyone can explore Vivienne Westwood: Rebel – Storyteller – Visionary, an exhibition exclusive to The Bowes Museum. All activities are included with admission or Membership, and under 18s and full-time students always go free.

LEARN MORE

YOUR
VISIT

With wonders at every turn there’s something for everyone.

PLAN YOUR VISIT

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