South Shields Museum & Art Gallery
Free museum and art gallery in a Victorian building in South Shields, showing the history of South Tyneside, with lift access and a tea room.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The building on Ocean Road was put up in 1858–60 for the town’s Mechanics’ Institute, designed by the architect John Wardle. In 1873 it became the town’s first free public library, and in 1876 the museum was officially established there. The library moved to new premises in 1976, and the building, which is Grade II listed, was cleaned and restored in 1978–79.
Today the museum is managed by North East Museums for South Tyneside Council. Galleries on the ground floor present the history and people of South Tyneside, and an art gallery occupies the first floor. A shop and the Victorian Pantry tea room are on the ground floor.
The museum is free to enter and open six days a week, and it also runs community programmes such as Sensory Journeys storytelling sessions and wellness weekends.
Highlights
- Tales of South Tyneside gallery
- Changing Faces gallery
- Art gallery on the first floor
- Victorian Pantry tea room with staff in costume
- Grade II listed Victorian building
- Founded
- 1876
- Operated by
- North East Museums (for South Tyneside Council)
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Entry is free, with donations welcome. No booking is needed.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
A lift with a voice announcer serves the ground and first floors, and all floors have level access. Accessible toilets with baby changing are on both floors; there is no Changing Places toilet on site, and the nearest is at ASDA on Coronation Street. A wheelchair can be borrowed from the Welcome Desk, and a sensory backpack can be borrowed with ID as a deposit. Induction points and loops are fitted in several galleries, the meeting room, the learning room and the shop counter. Some displays include British Sign Language and the audio-visual displays are captioned. Assistance dogs are welcome. Seating with backs and arms is placed throughout. Visitors enter and leave through the shop, which can be reached by a small flight of steps or by the lift.
Kids & families
- Baby changing facilities
Both accessible toilets have baby-changing facilities, and breastfeeding is welcomed throughout the museum. The museum runs Sensory Journeys storytelling sessions in its learning programme.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
South Shields Metro station · 3-min walk
South Shields Metro station is about a three-minute walk away, South Shields bus station five minutes and the ferry landing nine minutes.
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
The museum has no car park. Options are street parking on Ocean Road after the Anderson Street junction, the public multi-storey car park off Anderson Street, and the pay car park at the Denmark Centre (NE33 2LR). Coaches and taxis can use the layby on Anderson Street or Mile End Road.
Drivers follow signs for South Shields town centre and the A183 towards the seafront.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
The Victorian Pantry tea room serves hot and cold drinks, cakes and savoury items, with takeaway available. The ground-floor shop sells gifts, books, homeware, art and toys.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | A virtual tour and a downloadable visitor map are available. Venue hire and filming can be arranged. |
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