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Revealed: Opening date set for £15m Northumberland visitor attraction The Sill

Northumberland National Park Authority has confirmed its £14.8m state-of-the art visitor centre on Hadrian’s Wall will officially open to the public on Saturday 29 July.

The Sill, which is the UK’s first National Landscape Discovery Centre, is the result of an innovative partnership between Northumberland National Park and YHA (England and Wales) and has been made possible by National Lottery players through a £7.8m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

The public opening is taking place during National Parks’ Week, an annual celebration of Britain’s 15 National Parks with various events and activities taking place up and down the country.

The Sill building features fixed and temporary exhibitions focusing on landscape, culture and heritage, several learning and event spaces, a 90 seater café showcasing local produce, a Youth Hostel, a rural business hub to house and support new and emerging rural enterprises, a shop packed with local produce, arts and crafts, a tourist information service and a fully accessible Whin Sill grassland roof, the only one of its kind in the world.

Tony Gates, Chief Executive of Northumberland National Park Authority, said: “We are very excited to confirm the date for the official opening, it’s the perfect way to celebrate National Parks’ Week which also coincides with the start of the school summer holidays.

“We’ve worked extremely hard to bring this iconic and inspirational project to life. The Sill is the single most significant initiative to be undertaken in rural Northumberland in a generation and will transform how people engage with landscape, nature and the great outdoors.

“The Sill gives Northumberland and the rest of the UK a new world-class facility and visitor experience in the heart of Hadrian’s Wall UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s the perfect gateway for people of all ages to explore and enjoy the landscapes, history and rich culture of Northumberland and the wider region.”