A state-of-the-art exhibition space will showcase special exhibitions, including national treasures brought from the museums in London and abroad.

Visiting our Image Gallery

Entrance will be free to the 11 family friendly galleries exploring the natural world, the ancient world and world cultures. Across the road, the Hatton Gallery will showcase its collections of historic and modern art and feature a regular programme of contemporary and historic art exhibitions. The museum will also offer an accessible resource centre (offsite) where visitors will have study access to the reserve collections.

Other visitor facilities include two cafés, one of which will look out over the re-planted spacious gardens, two shopping zones and a multi-purpose learning suite where there will be a running programme of events and workshops.

There will also be a comprehensive library (open to the public) of the North East's most important natural history and archaeological archives and historic reference books.