Regional Museums Store

The Regional Museums Store sits on the outskirts of Stanley in County Durham - it's essentially the behind-the-scenes warehouse where museums in the region keep the objects they're not currently displaying. Think of it as a vast repository of artifacts, from Roman pottery to Victorian clothing, all carefully catalogued and stored.

Visits here work best as a booked appointment rather than a casual drop-in. You'll get a tour through climate-controlled storage areas where curators walk you through their collection methods and let you handle pieces you'd never touch in a public gallery. It's genuinely interesting if you're someone who cares about how museums actually operate - not just the exhibits themselves, but the conservation and curation side of things.

Families with older children might enjoy it, though younger kids could find rows of archived objects a bit dry. History enthusiasts and anyone fascinated by museum work will get far more from it. If you're staying at one of the nearby glamping spots - Beamish Glamping, West Hall, or Derecroft - this makes a proper rainy-day alternative to the main attractions. Beamish Museum itself is the bigger draw in this area, but the store offers something different.

Contact the museums directly to arrange a visit and check current admission fees, as they vary depending on what you want to see. Allow a couple of hours minimum. It's worth doing if you're already in the area, though it's not a standalone reason to visit County Durham.