What are the opening hours?

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

The Bowes Museum

Home
United Kingdom
Barnard Castle
The Bowes Museum

Call Directions Website

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.

05/11/2026

🧵✨ Opening soon at The Bowes Museum...

Discover the beauty, craftsmanship and extraordinary history of lace in our upcoming exhibition, Lace & Legacy: Fashion Treasures from The Blackborne Collection.

📅 Saturday 14 November 2026 – Monday 3 May 2027

Marking 20 years since the landmark exhibition Fine & Fashionable: Lace from The Blackborne Collection, this new display celebrates one of the UK's most significant historic lace collections.

From the intricate craftsmanship of the sixteenth century to the changing fashions of the twentieth, discover how lace became a symbol of luxury, status and creativity.

Through historic garments, portraits, decorative arts and exciting new research, Lace & Legacy uncovers the story of the Blackborne family's antique lace business and the collection's enduring influence on artists, makers and designers.

🥂 Can't wait until opening day?

Join us on Friday 13 November for an exclusive Private View!

Enjoy a delicious three-course dinner in Café Bowes, hear fascinating insights from the exhibition's curators and be among the first to explore this remarkable collection.

✨ Find out more and book your place: https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/whats-on/lace-legacy-private-view/

05/11/2026

A first look at David Bowie: On Tour 🤩

Keep an eye out for this coming to The Bowes Museum in October 2027!

04/11/2026

On Sunday 8 November, Barnard Castle will come together to observe Remembrance Sunday, with wreaths being laid at the cenotaph in The Bowes Museum's grounds.

Please be aware that Newgate will be closed between 11:30am and 12pm, and there will be no vehicle access to the museum grounds during this time.

If you're planning to visit us on Sunday, please take this temporary closure into account when planning your journey.

03/11/2026

🚗⚡ Did you know you can charge your electric vehicle at The Bowes Museum?

Whether you're exploring our galleries, enjoying a bite to eat at Café Bowes or taking a stroll through our beautiful parkland, you can charge your vehicle while you visit!

🔋 8 EV charging bays are available in our rear car park.
♿ 4 accessible charging points are located directly behind the museum.

With competitive charging rates, we're making it even easier to enjoy a convenient and more sustainable visit to The Bowes Museum.

We look forward to welcoming you soon! 💚

02/11/2026

💛 Celebrating our amazing Young Volunteers!

Yesterday, we had a wonderful morning celebrating the incredible contributions of this year's Young Volunteers at The Bowes Museum.

It was a fantastic opportunity for everyone to showcase the work they've been doing throughout the summer, sharing their achievements with family, friends and fellow Young Volunteers from across the programme.

We're so proud of everything they've accomplished and delighted to hear how much they've enjoyed their time with us.

A huge thank you to everyone who took part and helped make this summer so special. We hope to see lots of familiar faces around the museum again soon! ✨

01/11/2026

🍂 What's coming up at The Bowes Museum this November?

From fascinating talks and exclusive exhibition previews to after-hours experiences, there's plenty to look forward to this November!

✏️ Sunday 8 November – Front Row Talk: The Cornish Sketchbooks
Join Norman Cornish's son-in-law, Mike Thornton, for a special talk and tour exploring the artist's creative practice and the stories behind his sketchbooks.

🧵 Friday 13 November – A Private View of Lace & Legacy
Be among the first to discover our new exhibition with an exclusive evening featuring a three-course dinner, curator talks and a private exhibition view.

✨ Saturday 14 November – Lace & Legacy Opens
Discover Lace & Legacy: Fashion Treasures from the Blackborne Collection, exploring the remarkable history and craftsmanship of this extraordinary collection.

🌙 Saturday 21 November – Bowes Lates
Experience the museum after hours with live performances, creative activities, special tours and exciting experiences.

📚 Sunday 22 November – Bowes Book Club
Join us for another afternoon of conversation, literature and connections to the museum's collection.

There's something for everyone to discover this November!

🎟️ Explore what's on and book your place today: https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/whats-on/

31/10/2026

🐍 The death of Cleopatra, but where is the asp?

This dramatic painting by Italian artist Cecco Bravo depicts the final moments of Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, drawing inspiration from the account of Greek historian Plutarch.

According to Plutarch, Cleopatra was discovered lying dead upon a golden couch following her imprisonment and the defeat of Mark Antony. At her feet lies her maid Iras, while another attendant, Charmion, makes one final gesture of loyalty by arranging the royal diadem upon Cleopatra's brow.

But there's one famous detail missing from the painting: the asp.

Although legend tells us that Cleopatra died from the bite of a venomous snake, Plutarch recorded that no asp was ever found in her chambers.

Rather than depicting the snake, Cecco Bravo focuses on the drama and tragedy of Cleopatra's final moments.

🖼️ What details catch your eye in this painting?

The Death of Cleopatra, Cecco Bravo, B.M.629

30/10/2026

🎨🥂 Make your Bowes Lates experience even more memorable!

Join us on Saturday 21 November, 6–9pm, and get hands-on with one of our two exciting premium experiences, combining creativity, culture and a little something extra!

🥂 Brush & Bubbles, 7 - 9pm

Join artist Betty Brown in the Picture Gallery for a painting and dining experience inspired by striking portraits featuring flamboyant hats, dramatic hairstyles and extraordinary headpieces.

With expert guidance on colour, composition and technique, you'll create your own painting while enjoying a delicious grazing board and glass of fizz.

🎟️ £50 per person | £35 for Members, carers, full-time students and under 18s

Book now: https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/whats-on/brush-bubbles/

🖼️ Framing the Landscape, 6:30 - 7:30pm or 7:45 - 8:45pm

Inspired by Impressions of Light, experiment with expressive brushstrokes and vivid, transparent paints to create your own atmospheric landscape inside a box frame.

Capture movement, colour and light before taking home your very own framed creation!

🎟️ £25 per person | £10 for Members, carers, full-time students and under 18s

Book now: https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/whats-on/framing-the-landscape/

✨ Both experiences include admission to Bowes Lates, so you can enjoy everything else happening throughout the evening too!

Book your premium experience today and get creative after hours!

29/10/2026

🎨 Did you know that a painting of dockworkers heading home helped launch the career of Raoul Dufy?

Our latest Object Highlight from Impressions of Light: Masterpieces from MuMa – Le Havre and The Bowes Museum takes us to the bustling port of Le Havre at the turn of the 20th century.

This early study by Raoul Dufy depicts the Quai Colbert, capturing everyday life in the French port.

Recent research has connected the finished painting to a work exhibited at the 1901 Salon des Artistes Français, titled Fin de journée au Havre (End of the Day in Le Havre), identifying it as the first work Dufy presented to the public.

At a time of growing tensions between workers and employers in Le Havre, Dufy's decision to depict dockworkers at the end of their working day was a bold choice.

The preparatory study also reveals a fascinating shift in the artist's approach. While the sketch reflects the influence of Impressionism, the finished painting adopted a darker, more realistic style, quite different from the colourful works for which Dufy would later become famous.

🖼️ Discover this fascinating chapter of art history in the Shared Histories section of Impressions of Light, now open at The Bowes Museum.

29/10/2026

🍂 A little reminder about our Winter Opening Hours!

As the days get shorter, The Bowes Museum and Café Bowes will be moving to winter opening hours from Sunday 1 November.

🏛️ The Bowes Museum: 10:30am–4pm
☕ Café Bowes: Opens at 10:30am, with last orders at 3pm.

Whether you're planning a day exploring our galleries and exhibitions or popping into Café Bowes for a warming drink and a bite to eat, please bear these changes in mind when planning your visit.

We look forward to welcoming you over the coming months! 💛

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

http://www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk/

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.