The Bowes Museum

The Bowes Museum Outstanding collections of art, fashion & design housed in a beautiful French-style public museum set in gardens and parkland
(1)

Set in beautiful gardens in Barnard Castle, The Bowes Museum is a stunning French-style public museum with world-class art, fashion and textile collections. Founded by Joséphine and John Bowes in 1892, this iconic building is home to 22 galleries, incredible exhibitions and 22 acres of parkland to explore. Discover paintings, ceramics, textiles, clocks and interiors, plus inspiring displays from contemporary artists.

✨ An Audience with Claire Wilcox: How Westwood Drew on Art HistoryJoin us for an exclusive private view of Vivienne West...
19/06/2026

✨ An Audience with Claire Wilcox: How Westwood Drew on Art History

Join us for an exclusive private view of Vivienne Westwood: Rebel – Storyteller – Visionary and an audience with one of the world's leading fashion curators.

Claire Wilcox, Professor in Fashion Curation and Cultural Programming at London College of Fashion and former Senior Curator of Fashion at the Victoria and Albert Museum, will share insights into the landmark Vivienne Westwood exhibition she curated at the V&A in 2004 and her experience of working directly with Westwood on both the exhibition and accompanying publication.

Discover the historical influences behind Westwood's work and explore how objects from The Bowes Museum's collection connect with the designer's extraordinary vision.

Claire's curatorial career includes acclaimed exhibitions such as Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty, Frida Kahlo: Making Her Self Up, The Golden Age of Couture and Fashioning Masculinities.

🥂 Welcome drink
🍽 Two-course meal
👗 Exclusive exhibition viewing
🎤 Audience with Claire Wilcox

🎟 £50 per person

A unique opportunity for anyone with a passion for fashion, design and curatorial practice.

Book your ticket today: https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/whats-on/an-audience-with-claire-wilcox/

18/06/2026

Vivienne Westwood: Rebel - Storyteller - Visionary

Catch the show every day until Sun day 6 September.

🎶 Nerina Pallot Returns to The Bowes Museum 🎶 After selling out the venue four times in 2025, critically acclaimed singe...
17/06/2026

🎶 Nerina Pallot Returns to The Bowes Museum 🎶

After selling out the venue four times in 2025, critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Nerina Pallot returns to The Bowes Museum this December.

Set in the stunning and intimate surroundings of the Jubilee Room, this special performance comes as Nerina concludes her Fire Escape Symphonies UK and Ireland Solo Tour 2026. Following her acclaimed appearance at the Royal Albert Hall this summer, audiences can expect an evening of beautiful songwriting, heartfelt storytelling and unforgettable music.

🎟️ Ticket Options
✨ First Two Rows – £45 (seating closest to the stage)
✨ Standard – £40 (general admission seating)

Don't miss the opportunity to experience one of the UK's most celebrated singer-songwriters in a truly unique setting.

Book your tickets today: https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/in-concert-at-the-bowes-museum/

Just a quick reminder: The Bowes Museum is closed today (Wednesday 17 June) for a Staff Development Day, as we take time...
17/06/2026

Just a quick reminder: The Bowes Museum is closed today (Wednesday 17 June) for a Staff Development Day, as we take time to invest in our brilliant team.

We’ll be back open as normal from Thursday 18 June and we can’t wait to welcome you.

We're pleased to share that The Bowes Museum Souvenir Guide is back in stock.Whether you're planning a visit, looking fo...
16/06/2026

We're pleased to share that The Bowes Museum Souvenir Guide is back in stock.

Whether you're planning a visit, looking for a keepsake, or wanting to learn more about the museum's fascinating history, collections and founders, the guide is the perfect companion.

✨ Available from The Bowes Museum Shop
✨ Or order online and have it delivered to your door

Pick up your copy next time you visit and discover even more of the stories behind The Bowes Museum.

https://shop.thebowesmuseum.org.uk/

🌟 In case you missed it... Vote for Philippa!We're incredibly proud that our amazing Philippa has been shortlisted as a ...
15/06/2026

🌟 In case you missed it... Vote for Philippa!

We're incredibly proud that our amazing Philippa has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Durham Tourism Superstar Awards.

As Welcome Team Co-ordinator at The Bowes Museum, Philippa goes above and beyond to ensure every visitor receives a warm welcome. Her enthusiasm, kindness and passion for the museum make a lasting impression on thousands of visitors each year.

Whether she's helping guests plan their day, sharing knowledge about the collection, or supporting her colleagues across the Welcome Team, nothing is ever too much trouble.

💛 If Philippa has helped make your visit memorable, we'd love your support.

🏆 The winner is decided by public vote.

🔗 Cast your vote:
https://www.thisisdurham.com/durham-tourism-superstar

🎖️ A soldier's story in a hat boxThis forage cap and hat box offer a fascinating glimpse into the history of the Durham ...
14/06/2026

🎖️ A soldier's story in a hat box

This forage cap and hat box offer a fascinating glimpse into the history of the Durham Light Infantry.

Inside the cap is a handwritten label reading "Richardson 23¼ Durham Lt. Inf." and the maker's mark of Cater & Co., 56 Pall Mall, London. Tucked inside the hat box are embroidered military insignia, including a Durham Militia badge, crowns and a precedence badge once attached to the cap.

The box also contained an intriguing collection of buttons, including examples from the South Durham Militia and Durham Light Infantry. Some may even have belonged to John Bowes himself, having been found in a copper money bag stored inside the box.

Together, these small objects help tell a much larger story of military service, personal identity and local history.

✏️ Coming soon... Norman Cornish: A Life in SketchbooksStep inside the working imagination of one of the North East's mo...
13/06/2026

✏️ Coming soon... Norman Cornish: A Life in Sketchbooks

Step inside the working imagination of one of the North East's most celebrated artists.

This intimate exhibition brings together finished drawings, paintings and watercolours by Norman Cornish alongside the preparatory sketches that shaped them, offering a rare glimpse into his creative process.

Over the course of his life, Cornish filled 269 sketchbooks, capturing the streets, people and communities of the Durham coalfield with extraordinary warmth, humour and humanity.

📅 Opens Saturday 27 June

🔗 Learn more:
https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/exhibitions/norman-cornish-a-life-in-sketchbooks/

Just a heads up - The Bowes Museum, Café Bowes and The Bowes Museum Shop will be closed on Wednesday 17 June for a Staff...
12/06/2026

Just a heads up - The Bowes Museum, Café Bowes and The Bowes Museum Shop will be closed on Wednesday 17 June for a Staff Development Day.

We're taking this time to thank our wonderful team and invest in their growth and training.

We'll be open as usual on Thursday 18 June.

We are saddened to hear of the passing of David Hockney, one of the most influential and celebrated British artists of t...
12/06/2026

We are saddened to hear of the passing of David Hockney, one of the most influential and celebrated British artists of the 20th and 21st centuries.

The Bowes Museum has been privileged to display Hockney's work, including N**e, 17 June 1984, which currently hangs in the Blue Picture Gallery.

From his iconic Californian scenes to his later experiments with digital media, Hockney remained a restless innovator and a passionate advocate for the power of art to help us look more closely at the world around us. His influence on generations of artists, designers and makers is immeasurable.

Address

Newgate
Barnard Castle
DL128NP

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+441833690606

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Bowes Museum posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category