Visit multi-award winning Beamish Museum for just �5

(Durham, February 12 � 2009) Museums and attractions in Durham are offering great value, family friendly deals this February half term.

Top-Five great value family days out in Durham this Half Term:

1. Beamish Museum, the living Museum of the North - �5 admission

Visit the multi-award winning museum of Northern life, and meet people from the past, recreating life in the early 1900s right in front of your eyes.

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the West Stanley Colliery disaster � when 168 boys and men lost their lives in the Durham coalfield�s worst-ever tragedy � the museum has fixed its admission fee at just �5 per person.

The admission fee also includes a sneak preview of its newest exhibit, the �1m Colliery Lamp Cabin, where miners were issued their lamps before setting off into the pit.

2. Free science workshops and magic shows at Locomotion: The National Railway Museum in Shildon

The children can enjoy bells, buzzers, science and slight of hand at the North East�s only national museum exploring the history of locomotive rail travel and featuring steam engines and trains from as far afield as Japan.

Free Magic Shows Sunday February 15 � 11.30am and 2.30pm Saturday February 21 � 11.30am and 2.30pm

Free Science Workshops (for children aged 5-11 years) Monday February 16 to Friday 20 � 1.00pm to 3.00pm

Places are limited and pre-booking is essential. Please call 01388 771439 for more information. 3. Discover Durham�s �Hidden Gems� with a new, downloadable treasure map, complete the challenge and be entered into a draw to win exclusive VIP Prizes.

Explore priceless treasures and works of art, including the pectoral cross of St Cuthbert, the 320-million year-old Stanhope Fossil Tree, armour from the English Civil War and the Zuburan paintings � stolen by Pirates and recovered by agents of the Bishop of Durham. A new downloadable treasure map guides visitors around the �Hidden Gems� of Durham and challenges them to find the answers to cryptic clues. Complete the challenge and win one of many VIP Prizes, to download the map, visit: www.visitcountydurham.com/hiddengems

4. Durham Deals

Two-for-one entry and discounts are available at leading attractions in Durham through �Durham Deals,� an online promotion on www.visitcountydurham.com. Visitors simply log on, download and print the vouchers and use them the same day. Attractions include World Heritage site Durham Cathedral and Castle, The Bowes Museum and Beamish Wild.

5. Free reign in the Great Outdoors

Durham has miles of unspoilt crowd-free coastline and countryside in which to walk, cycle, run or just play, and best of all it�s free or extremely good value. Here are some highlights:

� Walk or cycle the Durham Heritage Coastal paths � Take a picnic or go Mountain Biking in Hamsterley Forest in the Durham Dales � Visit England�s largest waterfall at High Force in Teesdale � Visit Britain�s first Geopark and explore rare flowers and rocks in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty � Stroll along Durham City�s picturesque riverbanks

For more information about what to see and do in Durham, visit: www.visitcountydurham.com

-ENDS- Notes to Editors: In April 2006 responsibility for developing tourism in the county was placed with the County Durham Tourism Partnership (CDTP), a Destination Management Organisation. The central responsibility of the CDTP is to provide strategic leadership and coordination in the county and work closely with tourism networks, local authorities, local associations and tourism businesses to ensure tourism plays a major role in the county�s visitor economy.

The CDTP is charged with six key areas of activity: Visitor experience, product development, marketing, information services, business support and work-force development.

The partnership has been in development since One North East took responsibility for tourism in North East England. It is a private, not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, with a board of nine directors and an executive director, six from the private sector and three from the public sector.

Media Enquiries For more information, interview requests and other images, please contact Matthew Moore, Senior PR Executive, on tel: 0191 383 7419, or email: matthew.moore@cdtp.co.uk