Thornton Hall Gardens open to the public, Darlington, on BH Monday, 11-4pm
Thornton Hall now a Grade 1 listed building was built around 1550 by Ralph Tailbois. There were three distinct walled gardens laid out with Elizabethan raised borders and an avenue of lime trees marking the entrance to the Hall. Includes entrance to specialist plant fair in the courtyard with many unusual plants for sale. Homemade light lunches and afternoon tea available. Plus at 12noon come and watch the chainsaw sculpture demonstration. Admission £6

The Northern Echo: Pitmen and Prelates exhibition, Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland, opens this weekend and runs until September 30. 
The coalfields of Durham have inspired a wealth of political, social, creative and artistic responses. The exceptional ‘mining art’ of County Durham reflects the pride and identity of regional artists, as well as their internal and external struggles over the past two centuries. This spotlight exhibition celebrates the industrial and creative heritage of the region, featuring important works of mining art and previously unseen objects specifically from County Durham. It explores the complicated relationship between the Bishops of Durham and the local mining community, from the Industrial Revolution to the Thatcher era. Leadership on social and political issues was, and remains, one of the most important aspects of the Bishop of Durham’s ministry. This exhibition is the first of its kind to address the association between the bishop’s ministry and the creative enterprise of artists from the coalfield. Free with admission to the Castle, adults £6, concessions £5, under 16's free. 01388-743750. 

Plants, food and gift fair, Raby Castle, Staindrop, on Sunday, 11-4pm
Over 20 stands featuring some of the best Northern plant nurseries along with quality gifts and food stands. Something for everyone. Admission (reduced) £5.00 to gardens, park and fair. Children free. 11:00am-4:00pm. 01833-660202. 

The Northern Echo: Swaledale Festival, starts on Sunday and runs until June 11
Award winning Festival of music and arts in the beautiful landscape of the three northernmost Yorkshire Dales - Swaledale, Wensleydale and Arkengarthdale. The two-week Festival, which started in 1972, begins on the Saturday of the late May Spring Bank Holiday each year. Venues are mostly charming churches, chapels, village halls, and heritage sites. Highlights include: Hallé Orchestra, Dame Emma Kirkby, Benjamin Grosvenor, Fitzwilliam Quartet, Heath Quartet, Stile Antico, Adam Summerhayes, Florin Ensemble, Lau, Niamh Ní Charra, People Show and many more. For tickets visit swalefest.org or call 01748-880019. 

May half-term fun, National Railway Museum, York. On all week
There's something for all the family this half term, Need For Speed family science show Learning Platform: Daily at 12:15 and 2:15pm Why are we always trying to go faster? How are we able to travel so fast on trains and which famous locomotives have broken incredible speed records? All this and more in our new fast paced interactive science show! 
Storytelling: Check daily dairy on arrival for times Budding storytellers roll up! You have the chance to tell us where the train in our story takes us in our interactive story telling sessions "Imagination Station". Suitable for under 6s. 
Warehouse tour: Check daily dairy on arrival for times. Explore our treasure trove of over 10,000 objects and artefacts with one of our Explainers as they pick some of their favourites. 
How a Steam Locomotive Works: Great Hall Daily at 4pm. Find out the principles of what makes steam traction work in this talk about our Explainers in front of our cut-away engine Ellerman Lines. Shinkansen (Bullet Train) talk Great Hall | check times on daily diary when arriving. Our Bullet Train is the only example outside of Japan. Find out why even now the engine is an icon of progress and engineering excellence. 
Miniature Railway: South Yard, £3 big fun for the whole family. Try our miniature railway ride this summer and journey through changing landscapes in our outdoor South Yard space.