Planning your visit

We are excited to welcome you back and we want to make your visit as safe and enjoyable as possible. This means there will be some changes to the way you visit. 

We are happy to tell you that we’re reopening Arbeia, South Shields Roman Fort on Monday 17 May 2021. 

Opening times: 

Monday - Friday 10am - 5pm 
Saturday 11am - 4pm
Sunday 1pm - 4pm 

Please be aware that some areas of the museum and grounds will be closed until it is safe to open them. These include:

• The reconstructed buildings
• Timequest

We are admitting fewer people into the grounds so we can provide enough space for social distancing. This means we would like you to book your visit in advance. 

CLICK HERE TO BOOK FREE TICKETS - You'll need to book a free ticket for every person in your party.

If you don't book, you may have to queue outside the museum until the number of visitors in the grounds has reduced to a safe level.

To ensure we can maintain social distancing and to help us make your visit safe and enjoyable, it is important that as many people as possible book a ticket in advance.

CLICK HERE TO BOOK FREE TICKETS - You'll need to book a free ticket for every person in your party.

• The museum building is very small so we can only admit 6 people into the space at a time.  This means we are introducing two types of ticket.  The first ticket is for Arbeia's outdoor space only and does not include admission to the museum building.  The second ticket includes admission to the museum building at a specified time as well as admission to the grounds. 
• Only 6 tickets can be booked per party to adhere to the government's social distancing guidance.
• You’ll need to choose your type of ticket (grounds only or grounds plus museum) and a time-slot.
• The time-slot is for your arrival time only and the length of time you can stay will be made clear during the booking process and on your ticket.
• Admission to the museum and grounds remains free entry but we welcome donations to support the museum.
• Every week we will release new bookings for visits the following week.  You can book up to midnight the day before you’d like to visit.
• Due to limited spaces, we’re asking that you only book once a week to allow others a chance to visit. 
• There will be a small allocation of tickets for people who walk up on the day, for those who are not able to book tickets online. If you do not have a ticket you will need to wait until a member of staff has made sure the number of people in the building is at a safe level before you can be admitted.
• If you are looking to make a school or college group booking please contact the Learning team stlearning@twmuseums.org.uk who will be able to discuss your visit requirements directly with you.

• To comply with government guidance you will be required to wear a face covering to enter the museum. (This does not apply to under 11s or people excluded due to health conditions).
• Please arrive at least 30 minutes before the end of the outdoor ticket times. You may need to queue for a short time while tickets are checked. Sadly, if you arrive late, we'll not be able to guarantee you immediate entry. Entry will be at the discretion of our staff based on the number of people already in the building and grounds.
• To maintain social distancing, please do not pass your phone or printed tickets to our staff. You may be asked for your name and booking number.   
• Please have your ticket ready to show our staff either on your phone or a printed copy.
• In order to help reduce the risk of a local outbreak of coronavirus we are legally required to take contact details of all visitors over 16 who do not book in advance or use the NHS test and trace app, as well as recording the time of entering our venue. In line with guidance issued by the government, we will keep your details for 21 days. We will only share them with NHS Test and Trace, if asked, in the event of a fellow visitor testing positive for coronavirus. We will also be displaying NHS QR code posters to make it easier for you to check-in. You will need to download the NHS app onto your mobile phone before you can scan the QR code. The app is available on Andriod's Google Play or Apple's App Store - search for NHS Covid-19. If you check-in using the QR code then you do not need to share your details with us. Your cooperation in helping us to keep our visitors, staff and the wider community safe is greatly appreciated.

• To comply with government guidance you will be required to wear a face covering to enter the museum. (This does not apply to under 11s or people excluded due to health conditions).
• Please follow government advice around social distancing when you visit and follow the one-way route around the venue. Any children in your group must be supervised at all times.
• Please read the new signs providing guidance and our staff and volunteers will also be happy to help you adjust to the new way of visiting.
• Our staff will greet you at a distance. They will be wearing face coverings and we have new screens at our till points. 
• Unfortunately some spaces are closed until it is safe to open them including the reconstructed buildings and Timequest. The museum building will not open until 17 May.
• You are welcome to bring you own food and drink to the outdoor area of our site and make use of our picnic areas.  
• If possible, please use contactless payment when visiting.
• We encourage you to use the hand sanitisers around the site.
• We have increased cleaning in all public areas and especially in areas of high contact.
• If you have any of the symptoms of coronavirus, or if you have been in contact with anyone that has the virus in the last 14 days, please don’t visit. 

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Thank you.