Bowes Lates

Bowes Lates returns this autumn, as The Bowes Museum opens its doors after hours for an evening inspired by light and landscapes.

Experience live spoken word performances and immersive listening experiences, alongside after-hours access to the galleries, creative activities and a special evening menu from Café Bowes.

Tailor your evening with a programme of activities included with general admission, or book one of our ticketed experiences to get even more hands-on.

£15 per person. Free entry for Members, Carers, full time Students and under 18s. Membership will be verified on arrival. 

Included with admission

Create

DIY Cornish Sketchbooks – 6 – 9pm

Make your own sketchbook at one of our dedicated stations, then take it into Norman Cornish: A Life in Sketchbooks and be inspired by the exhibition to fill the pages with your own drawings and ideas.

Artist Makers – 6 – 9pm

Create your own origami star decoration, inspired by Lace & Legacy: Fashion Treasures from The Blackborne Collection, with artist Jane Young.

Experience

Silent Disco – 6 – 9pm

A one‑of‑a‑kind experience awaits at the Silent Disco, where you can dance the night away in the museum’s late‑night atmosphere.

Silver Swan Performances – 6:45 & 7:45pm

There will be two performances of the Silver Swan, with a raffle that will give one lucky visitor the chance to start the iconic 18th-century automaton.

Lizzie Lovejoy – Spoken Word Poet – 6:45 & 7:45pm

Join local poet Lizzie Lovejoy for performances throughout the evening, culminating in lively celebrations of objects, people and place in the Green Picture Gallery.

Wonder Dome Planetarium – 6, 6:30, 7 & 8pm

Go stargazing in the Wonder Dome and enjoy a breathtaking views of the night sky, guided by an astronomy expert.

Spotlight Tours – 6:15, 7:15 & 8:15

Enjoy a guided tour with members of the museum team and discover fascinating stories of the stars and planets, explored through objects in The Bowes Museum’s collection.

My Museum in Five Objects – 6:15, 7:15 & 8:15

Join the museum’s Executive Director, Hannah Fox, for a special tour as she shares five of her favourite pieces from The Bowes Museum’s collection and the stories behind her choices.

Discover

Uncover the Vaults – 6 – 9pm

Go behind the scenes and gain rare access to the vaults that house objects from the ceramic, furniture and textile collections.

Enter the Fashion Cube – 6 – 9pm

Join Rachel Whitworth, Curator (Fashion & Textiles), and get up close to some of the museum’s most intricate treasures as you discover exquisite pieces from the Blackborne Lace Collection.

Eat and Shop

Café Bowes will be open from 6 – 8:30pm offering a seasonal menu, made with the very best local ingredients. Please call 01833 690606 and ask for Café Bowes or email events@thebowesmuseum.org.uk to book your table.

The Bowes Museum Shop is open from 6 – 9pm and will be fully stocked with a fantastic range of gifts and museum memorabilia, making it the perfect opportunity to get a head start on your Christmas shopping.