For families

Bede's World is very popular with family groups and makes an ideal day out. The family ticket offers excellent value, or if you plan to visit us often, membership of the Friends of Bede's World includes unlimited free access to the museum and farm and is available at a family rate.

The farm, with its rare breeds of animals, appeals to all ages. You can make friends with some of the animals by feeding them (suitable animal feed can be bought from reception for 50p a bag; we ask visitors not to feed other items to animals as it can damage their health). If you visit us in spring you will almost certainly find baby animals such as lambs, calves, and newly-hatched chicks and ducklings. A free farm newsletter keeps you in touch with all the latest developments, including recent additions.

Hands-on elements to the permanent exhibition include the chance to dress up in monastic habits - for adults and children alike - as well as buttons to push, handles to turn, drawers to pull out and model buildings to build. An Art Cart full of free activity sheets and trails to take around the museum is always available.

Family activities in the museum run from Monday to Friday throughout all school holidays. These change every week and include favourites such as Anglo-Saxon bead-making, rune activities and other crafts. There is always something to take away with you and all activities are included in the admission charge. Over bank holiday weekends and weekends throughout the summer you might well find Anglo-Saxon villagers, medieval musicians, potters or even alchemists - check our events programme for details.

All meals in the café are available in children's portions and are prepared using fresh ingredients. Children's packed lunch boxes are also available: "Orson the Owl", "Doyle the Dog", "Polly the Pig" and "Ginger Cat" lunch boxes offer excellent value at £2.50 and include a choice of sandwich (tuna, cheese or ham), a piece of fruit, bag of crisps, chocolate biscuit and carton of fruit juice (apple or orange). Two high-chairs are available in the café, and there are colouring-in sheets and crayons to keep little fingers amused.

Drewett's Park, which connects the Church with the Museum, provides ample space to let off steam or picnic and also has a children's play area.

There is flat access throughout the farm, museum and Jarrow Hall, ideal for buggies and prams, and there are baby-changing facilities in the museum and Jarrow Hall.