The Museum of Classic Sci-Fi in Northumberland

This post & photos is based on a visit in Spring 2024. Information can change so do check with the museum direct for updated info before heading out, especially regarding pricing and opening hours. You can do that here: https://www.museumofclassicsci-fi.com/

My husband Steve is a Sci-Fi fan but I would say my son Harry is even more obsessed. We’re talking the kind who subscribes to Sci-Fi comics and listens to rare episodes of Doctor Who via podcasts. So I knew we had to pay a visit to The Museum of Classic Sci-Fi which is based in the small village of Allendale, Northumberland.

The museum is very small but packs loads in and now boasts over 300 props, costumes and artwork from films and TV shows in the Sci-Fi genre.

You can’t miss the entrance as you are welcomed by Robby the Robot and a Tardis outside.

There is parking in the village, I can’t seem to find the postcode but if you use the museum postcode you will see the car park (NE47 9BJ). Buses also serve the village of Allendale including the Tynedale Links 688 Hexham-Allenheads.

You don’t need to book in advance, but do check opening hours. Changes are posted on their website. As the museum is so small, staff are often not at reception so you need to press two doorbells to access. Quirky!

Current opening hours are:

Monday 10:30am-3pm
Tuesday 10:30am-3pm
Saturday 10:30am-4pm
Sunday 10:30am-4pm

With extra dates usually available during school holidays (usually a Wednesday but do check).

Admission can be paid by cash or card and is as follows:

Single adult: £7.50
1 adult, 1 child: £10
FAMILY 1 adult, 2 or more children: £13
FAMILY 2 adults, 1 child: £17.50
FAMILY 2 adults, 2 or more children: £20

A child age is 5-16 years, under 5s go free. How cool is this pricing structure! I don’t think I’ve seen it anywhere else before and it’s brill for families like mine who have more than 2 kids.

Your ticket gives you access for the full day and I would recommend visiting the museum, popping across the road to Allendale Forge Cafe for a cuppa at a chat to discuss it all before heading back to the museum for round 2. There’s also Emma’s Coffee & Sweets or The Kings Head Pub in the village.

I do want to manage expectations and let you know that the actual museum space is small. It’s not really somewhere you could spend hours. However it does pack so much in and like I say, I’d recommend popping back later in the day with your ticket.

The space can feel claustrophobic and narrow in some areas, I don’t think it would be suitable for a pushchair or wheelchair but do get in touch with the owners as they may have options for access that I’m not aware of.

There are two main sections to the museum – a Classic Sci-Fi section and a Doctor Who section. My boys were in their absolute element admiring all of the Doctor Who villains, costumes, scripts, artwork and props including some that are lesser known.

If your family loves Doctor Who or you grew up watching classic Who, you are going to absolutely love this place and it will bring back so many memories.

There are information boards with key info about where the item appeared next to each prop/costume/model so you know exactly what you’re looking at.

This is the Owner / Curator Neil Cole’s personal collection and if he’s on shift, he will passionately discuss anything about his collection.

Neil has spent over 30 years collecting and hand-restoring his Doctor Who collection. I’ve visited a few Doctor Who exhibitions in my time and this one stands out as being super unique.

There’s also a more general Classic Sci-Fi section which documents the history of Science Fiction TV and film from HG Wells up to present day.

Younger kids and Superhero fans will be happy to see items from Spider-Man and the Marvel Universe and Star Wars too.

You can expect props from Thunderbirds, Alien and Star Trek too. I’m not a huge Sci-Fi fan but walking around this museum was a real trip down memory lane and a real reminder of my childhood.

Honestly you do need to walk through more than once as it’s so easy to miss things.

Steve was chuffed to see a Judge Dress section too.

Oh and Dune and Planet of the Apes.

Exit is of course, through the gift shop which is small but perfectly formed.

I am honestly so pleased Northumberland has something as unique and quirky as this museum. We spent 20 minutes in here (and then another 15 minutes when we went back) so definitely not a full day out but it’s so worth the drive if you’re a fan of Sci-Fi or Doctor Who (or want to take someone who is as a special treat).

Just looking back at these photos has made me think we must return soon – the collection is ever growing!

If you’re not a Sci-Fi or Doctor Who fan / don’t think you’ll get a nostalgia hit as you walk through or any joy from visiting with someone who will, it’s probably not going to be the place for you.

We combined our visit with a coffee at Langley Castle nearby as we were visiting all of Northumberland’s Castles at the time. We also popped to Brocksbushes on the way home which is about half an hour’s drive from the museum (Strawberry picking, farm shop, cafe and play barn).

The towns of Hexham and Corbridge are also close by and both the perfect place for a potter around.