Bailiffgate Museum's Summer Show Revisits Alnwick from Ration Books to Moon Landings

Bailiffgate Museum and Gallery has opened its summer exhibition, taking visitors back through two decades of life in the Alnwick area. Titled "Ration Books to Moon Landings", the show runs from 2 June to 30 August 2026 at the volunteer-run museum, housed in a former church just a short walk from the castle.

Twenty years of everyday life

The in-house exhibition explores life in and around Alnwick from 1950 to 1970, a period that spans post-war austerity through to the space age. It draws on the museum's extensive archive of objects, written material and sound recordings to tell the story of how local people lived, worked and played during years of rapid change. There are participative activities aimed at families, making it a good rainy-day option during the school holidays.

Best for: The museum is run entirely by volunteers and tells the story of Alnwick and district across 10,000 years of history.

Visiting

The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm. Admission is £6 for adults, £5 concessions and £1 for children aged 5 to 16, with a 10 per cent discount available when booking online. Entry to the gallery exhibition is included with museum admission. The museum also runs drop-in volunteer information sessions on the second Tuesday of each month for anyone interested in getting involved.

Full details are on the Bailiffgate Museum website. If you would like to explore more of the town's past, see our guide to local museums and archives near Alnwick.

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