Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum explores Northumbrian small pipes and their music inside The Chantry, a historic building on Bridge Street in Morpeth. The museum is a two-minute walk from this Morpeth hotel, making it easy to add to a town-centre visit.
- Location: First floor, The Chantry, Bridge Street, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 1PD.
- Typical hours: Open Monday to Saturday; closed Sunday
- Admission: Free, with donations welcome; no booking required.
- Access: A wheelchair-accessible lift reaches the first floor.
Find the museum in Morpeth’s Chantry
Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum is on the first floor of The Chantry, a 13th-century Grade I listed building that also houses the town’s Tourist Information Centre. The Chantry stands on Bridge Street, and the museum’s entrance is within this historic landmark.
Richard of Morpeth founded the Chantry in 1296 as a place for prayers in memory of his parents and his benefactor, John of Greystoke. From the 1550s until 1846, it served as Morpeth’s original grammar school. Dr William Turner, who later became known as a naturalist and botanist, began his education there.
The building has two access points: the main entrance through the Tourist Information Centre on Bridge Street, and a rear entrance through the Craft Centre, which has a wider automatic door. The museum also has a ground-floor gift shop selling bagpipe music CDs, books and gifts.
What does the bagpipe collection cover?
The museum traces the history and development of Northumbrian small pipes and their music, while setting them in the wider story of bagpipes around the world.
Its collection holds more than 120 sets of pipes from across Europe, with examples from Scotland, Spain, Italy, France and Estonia. Displays change regularly. Among the collection are pipes associated with William Alfred Cocks, a set said to have belonged to King Louis XIV, a miniature set made for Queen Mary’s dolls’ house and pipes from the Jacobite rising.
You can listen to pipe music through personal headphones using the museum’s sound system. Recordings of small-pipe performances play in the galleries, and live performances also take place there. Piping demonstrations can occasionally be arranged in advance by phone or email.
Check opening hours and admission before you go
Admission is free, donations are welcome, and you do not need to book. Hours and admission details can change, so check the official site before you go.
Opening hours
- Monday to Saturday: 9:30–17:00
- Sunday: closed
Last checked November 2026. Hours can change on holidays and for special events.
There is no café on site; food options and picnic places are in Morpeth town centre. The Chantry’s historic floors are uneven, as are the rear courtyard paving and the area outside the Tourist Information Centre.
A wheelchair-accessible lift beside the staircase reaches the first floor. The staircase has 18 steps, a half landing, open treads and one handrail on the right.
The museum has a standard accessible toilet; ask Chantry staff on the ground floor for its key. There is no separate baby-changing facility. The nearest Changing Places toilet is at Morpeth Leisure Centre, a three-minute walk from the museum.
Assistance dogs are welcome, and upholstered seating is provided throughout the museum. Gallery lighting is low for conservation, while exhibition panels use large text; most have black text on a white background.
How do you get to the Chantry on foot?
The Chantry is a nine-minute walk from Morpeth railway station and a five-minute walk from Morpeth bus station. Arriva services from Newcastle Haymarket Bus Station take about 30 minutes to Morpeth Bus Station; the X15 from Alnwick Bus Station takes about 45 minutes.
There is no car park at the museum. Castle Square car park is a three-minute walk away, with parking for up to three hours using a parking disc, which costs £1. Visitors with mobility needs can arrange a closer drop-off and pick-up by phone or email in advance.
FAQs
Is Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum free?
Yes. Admission is free, donations are welcome, and booking is not required.
Can you hear bagpipes at the museum?
Yes. The museum has recordings available through personal headphones, and live performances take place in the gallery. Demonstrations can occasionally be arranged in advance.
What else can you see in Morpeth?
Morpeth Castle is another historic town landmark. A guide to Morpeth Castle covers what visitors can see and how to plan a visit.
Can you explore Morpeth on foot?
Yes. The Chantry is within walking distance of both the railway and bus stations, and a one-day Morpeth itinerary on foot brings together more town stops.