Quite a diverse mixture of different things in this building. There's a small section on how the War years affected the area, then a bit on the industries if the area like fishing, shipping, coal mining and glass manufacture. I think they should get rid of "creature corner" not nice to see a live Python in such a confined small glass case. Upstairs the artistic contributions of a local woman, Sheila Graber, are celebrated with lots of written material and illustrations from across the eight decades of her life. It's a free museum and if you happen to be in South Shields then worth popping in for half an hour to have a look.

Really enjoyed. Didn't realise how rich South Shields history was. It's free, but make a donation. It's so worth it. Park at Morrisons for free parking.

Absolutely brilliant museum! Really enjoyed my first visit here. The exhibits were local themed which I loved, good array of different subjects and eras and for once not all aimed souly for a family audience, yay! The art gallery was a pleasant surprise, some really beautiful works in a calm environment. On day of visit there was a good local photography group exhibition too. Entry to the museum and gallery is free, friendly staff and although I didn't get a chance to try it there looked a good cafe too! Highly recommend.

The museum is well worth a visit it is free but they appreciate donations. The museum caters for the disabled there is a lift and.a toilet which is very generous in size . Those interested in the local history a visit us a must. The staff are very pleasant and there is s very reasonable tearoom there and there again very pleasant staff. There is lots of parking the library parking us £1 30 for the day. It's all on the flat for those with wheelchairs

Not bad for a free museum can't spend ages in here as not loads to see or do we were in about a hour. Also has a nice little cafe inside to

My grandson who's 8 loved it. All good ,very clean ,toilets and cafe.

Well worth a visit very interesting ....staff are helpful admission is free but donations are appreciated . The museum is wheelchair friendly and there is a toilet for the disabled The museum is Tyneside history and going back in time for the mote mature is a good feeling and enjoyable. There is a cafe Victorian Pantry and a nice choice of food and reasonably priced ....the cakes looked good quality. The staff in the cafe were very friendly There is all ALL DAY PARKING near the library £1 30. ....and there again for those with walking problems or mobility scooters from leaving the car it is all on the flat Enjoy your day

Very interesting if you like old memories,also nice little cafe

Even though we were looking for the Catherine Cookson museum and they had reduced this element, it was still great here! Really interesting to find out more about South Shields and the highs and lows of living here. The cafe was great too, many thanks! All in all a really nice surprise!

Went with family,had a great time,exploring the history of South Shields,plus looked in art gallery learning history of local artists,great little gem will be back

Nice little museum about local history with free entry and a pleasant, reasonably priced, cafe

Great museum, shows the rich yet unknown history of South Shields, entirely free yet we had nearly 2 hours of fun inside, highly encourage donating to this amazing museum

Fun, fun, fun if you like a mixture of folklore, local history and a wonderful laughing policeman puppet. There are one or two gruesome exhibits that you might not want any child under twelve to see like the ' gibbet' and it's accompanying description. It threw me a little after ld just been looking at live snakes in a tank just around the corner. There are tarantulas as well. It's definitely a fascinating place that maps out the shipping and mining industries, the origins of our national lifeboat rescue service, and the nightmare of the blitz on Tyneside. Can't say ld like sleeping on a horsehair mattress in a bunk bed. There's also an upper floor that houses the current art exhibition which l didn't have time to see. There are various watercolours dotted in between the exhibits on the ground floor and in the shop at reception. The shop also has great photographic poster offers. It has plenty of folk tale books, mapped walks and various pocket money toys and magnets. Don't forget to visit the lovely victoriana cafe which serves tea in a lovely China teapot, the sandwiches arrive with generous salad garnish and the gigantic sponge cakes are baked fresh by the staff. The museum is well worth an hour or twos browsing plus a leisurely half hour in the cafe where everyone is extremely friendly.

there is lots of thing in this museum which can tell something

Excellent

Free entry donations welcome. Great wee local Museum full of local history and facts kids love it.

Not very interesting, especially for young children

Nice , free wonder around museum

Great place to visit, excellent cafe on site. Parking is not on site.

Enjoyed "SCRAN" Exhibition, and history of "food families". Worked in South Shields in the late sixties on Fowler Street, so Dicksons was very handy. Used the library too, great memories.

Fascinating museum. Cafe was lovely inside but the service was extremely slow. It took approximately 50 minutes for the order to arrive which is far too long, so would probably not eat there again.

Friendly staff .interesting relics of times gone by and street depiction is always intriguing, to see what we remember,from back in the day. We did not recall, it being a big salt producer in The 1800 ,had not see that in Museum prior?

boring

Great place

Nice museum with some interesting exhibits. Free entry. There is a shop selling local souvenirs and toilets upstairs and on ground floor level

Interesting local museum.

Excellent service, very clean and all the members of staff are friendly and helpful!! Thank you a lot. we will certainly come back again.

The museum was very interesting. Took me back to childhood memories , with the old toys. Lovely place to visit ,with families of any age.

Museum Victorian tea room afternoon is superb value.. a variety of tasty items and plenty tea for only £16

Lovely free activity for the children although donations are welcome. Lots of interesting activities. Also a small insect and reptile section.

It was OK. Saw the Pearce exhibition. I thought they might have had some old masters there, but unfortunately not. It was quite small. Not a lot to see. Had a cuppa in the cafe and cake which was nice, but it only took us about 90 mins to see everything. It was free of course, but needs something exciting there to get me back.

Had a good time here. If you're unfamiliar with the area as we were, park in the Morrisons car park across the street, it's free for up to several hours. Failing that, there's street parking nearby which is cheap enough, but you can't beat free ! With regards to the museum itself, couldn't fault it. We went in expecting to pay upon entry, however, it was free. We managed to do the whole museum in about an hour. Friendly informative staff and a nice little café for refreshments.

Great place another great insight into the history of the town and surrounding area,let's get behind the museum and get more young people in to learn all about our history.

Lovely place to visit. I went to see the Shipbuilding exhibition as my Granda has been included.

Such a lovely museum with varying exhibits telling the story of local history. It's in a great location on the High Street and accessible to everyone.

This was a lovely experience, made even nicer by the helpful staff who looked after us as we had booked in for delicious scones, coffee/tea and cakes for our elevenses.

Free small museum in centre of South Shields You can make a donation if you like.

First visit to this lovely and very interesting museum and art gallery, loads of information about the shipbuilding history of the area. Cafe is well worth a visit too, delicious, fairly priced food and pleasant staff!

An absorbing free museum with a lot of interesting things. Many things are presented in a glorious jumble with no explanation or notes at all. Good to visit though.

Went with a group of people. Currently has a ship yard exhibition on. Very interesting and worth a visit. Would recommend this experience. Also has a little cafe on site. Wheelchair accessible too

Nice place to bisit in southshields. Kids friendly

Not much to do with kids

Great place to visit

Great little museum with a good café.

Good atmosphere

Lovely cakes

Good local exhibition. Good cafe

Clean, well kept and helpful staff

Good day out

Local museum has a mock up high street inside

Free museum with donation box.

Hidden little gem

Great little museum. Lots of history inside. I personally enjoy seeing the snakes and spiders they have on the first floor. They have a cafe and a small gift shop too.

Lots of local history. You would need at least an hour to have a descent walk around. Very interesting place. They also have a coffee shop on the premises which takes you back to years gone by. Staff are great here and are always on hand to answer any questions you may have.

We love coming here especially when they have an exhibition and so do our grandchildren (they always buy a small gift from the gift shop!)

Great little museum, lots to see in such a small space, excellent and informative.

The street area within the museum is a good way of learning about the area's 20th century history.

Want to see how we lived during the 1914 - 18 war?? See Catherine Cookson's living room?? Check out some cool fossils or see how the early police and courts dealt with rogues and villains? This is your place to be. Theres also a cafe inside the museum and plenty outside too.

I used to go here as a kid when it was a library and there are still a few of the old exhibits about along with very interesting permanent displays relating to the history of the town.

Really good little museum, currently has a Lego exhibition on

Lots of interesting stuff about Catherine Cookson , the war, and South Shields in general. Especially enjoyed the tarantulas and snakes

South Shields Museum well worth the visit set over two floors it shows you things from South Shields past from trolley buses and ships ie modles of ships built on the Tyne at many of the ship yards through to H.M.S Kelly in which Nole Coward set his film in which we serve on the ships bell can be seen as well as a Gibbet that William Jobling in 1832 was hanged and placed in it at Jarrow . This museum is well with you visiting for young and old.

Reminiscent of days gone by.

Very good

Canny little museum

Fantastic place to visit with your children loved the little Victorian cafe really reasonable prices.

Very enjoyable " More than a game " exhibition well worth seeing . Other displays interesting as well .

Tells the story of South Shields

Lovely place to take kids and tell them about the town and its history. Catherine Cooksons plaits are on display here .

Loved it. Local football exhibition on now. Fascinating and free although you can make donations.

great place for kids and adultsalikeanda lovely caffe

Interesting collection

Loved the learning experience

A great introduction to the South Shields story. Very nice cafe too

Nice museum and gallery. A lot of good exhibits.

Lovely little museum with sounds of people who lived after the war. And intetesting rooms set up as they were in history. Good place for people with memory loss .childen and anyone really. The photo gallery showed some outstanding images. And is really worth checking out.. There is a small cafe but we had to wait an hour for coffee and scones. Not sure if they were just short staffed overall i would recomend it

Staff on arrival were pleasant and informative! There is no charge for entry, donations are accepted. The day I visited most of the displays appeared worn and tired. A good proportion of small display lights were not working and the down stairs area was dark and dull. Upstairs the photographic display was very good and well lit. I am not sure I would visit again and modest overhaul would really improve things.

Amazing place to visit all free , shows the history of South Shields 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 windows from Holy Trinity Church.

Kids enjoy catching up with the old times and looking at the pictures