Museums & Galleries · County Durham
Swaledale Museum
📍 DL11 6TX
Photo: David Seale (CC BY-SA 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons
- Play the Sunday School harmonium
- Solve mystery object challenges
- Try on a pair of pockets
- Hear recorded voices of Swaledale people
- Touch tools used by lead miners
Swaledale Museum is a small, characterful local museum housed in a former 1836 Methodist school room, established in 1974. Here you can explore the stories of Swaledale, play the old Sunday School harmonium, try to solve mystery object challenges, try on a pair of historic pockets, listen to recorded voices of local people, and handle tools once used by lead miners. There's also a quirky shop to browse. It suits visitors curious about local heritage and rural history. The museum is open from June to September, and at other times by chance or appointment. If you're staying in the area, BritStays lists 51 bookable places to stay within 5 miles of this County Durham museum.
Practical details
- Open
- June to September, and other times by chance or appointment
- Booking
- Contact via email for enquiries
From the attraction's own website on 21 Sep 2026 — check before you travel.
Facilities
- ✓ Gift Shop
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Make a proper break of it — these stays are all within 25 miles.
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🎪 What's on near Swaledale Museum
Events from
Skiddle
Sat 14 Nov · 19:00
Tess Tickle & the Dragettes Xmas Show Extravaganza
Club Louis, Catterick Garrison · 9.2 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Sat 14 Nov · 19:00
Curry Night 14/11 - Buzz Bingo Darlington
Buzz Bingo Darlington, Darlington · 18.1 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Sun 15 Nov · 12:00
Early Christmas At Redworth
Redworth Hall, Redworth · 19.4 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Fri 20 Nov · 19:30
Saboteurs 20th Nov
Angels Cut Bar, Darlington · 18.0 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
🗓️ Make a break of it
Turn a visit to Swaledale Museum into a proper getaway — ready-made plans, and the drive worked out with fuel, EV charging and the best stops.
A weekend in County Durham: an accessible itinerary →
A weekend in County Durham with the kids →
A weekend in County Durham →
🗺️ Plan the drive to Swaledale Museum
🚆 Or come by train
- Garsdale 16.2 miles
- Kirkby Stephen 17.8 miles
- Darlington 18.2 miles
Straight-line distances · live departures on each station page