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Home / Type of trip / City / Things to do in Newcastle with kids

Things to do in Newcastle with kids

February 27, 2014 by Gretta Schifano 24 Comments

View from the Quayside, Newcastle. Copyright Gretta Schifano

View from the Quayside, Newcastle. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Newcastle is a cool, quirky, vibrant place and a great destination for a short break with the family. Newcastle is in North East England and the River Tyne runs through it. I went to Newcastle for the fabulous Traverse conference for travel bloggers, but I managed to see some of the city too as it’s a compact place which is easy to walk around. Here are some suggestions for great things to do with kids in Newcastle which won’t cost you a penny.

BALTIC

The BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art is a place to experience and learn about art as well as create it. Even if you’re not into art it’s worth a visit just to see the building and the views it offers. It’s a vast, iconic structure which sits next to the River Tyne at the foot of the Gateshead Millennium bridge. It’s open every day and hosts a series of contemporary art exhibitions as well as free family art activities. There’s a café and a spectacular view of the city from the picture window on Level 5. If you want a treat then afternoon tea at Six Restaurant is fabulous – my favourite was the mini banoffee trifle – and good value at £14.95.

Cost: free (apart from afternoon tea)

Quayside & seven bridges

On the opposite bank of the river to BALTIC is the Quayside and this is a great area to explore. There are interesting buildings to look at, bars, restaurants and views of the seven bridges which span the River Tyne. It’s a wide, pedestrianised area so very safe to let kids run around. The Gateshead Millennium Bridge is fun to walk across and at night it is lit up and changes colour. On Sunday mornings there’s a street market on the Quayside.

Cost: free

Ouseburn Farm. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Ouseburn Farm. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Ouseburn Farm

Practically next door to Seven Stories (I’m going to write a separate post about Seven Stories, the National Centre for Children’s Books and a wonderful place to visit) is the charmingly ramshackle Ouseburn farm. It’s a small city farm with goats, sheep, rabbits, chickens and pigs as well as a vegetable and flower garden and fields and woods to explore. The farm is a charity run by volunteers, is open every day and has a café. Look out for free family events such as the Little Growers Club which ran over February half term.

Cost: free but donations welcome

Great North Museum

This Newcastle University museum has an eclectic mix of exhibits including dinosaurs, stuffed animals, Samurai warriors and Egyptian mummies. There’s lots of hands-on stuff which kids will enjoy and the most popular exhibits include a life-size model of a Tyrannosaurus Rex and an interactive model of Hadrian’s Wall. There’s also a planetarium and a café.

Cost: free

Juice Festival

This is an annual arts festival at the end of October showcasing the creativity of children and young people. There are all sorts of things going on from workshops to parades to storytelling to exhibitions and it sounds like lots of fun.

Cost: many events are free

If you’ve ever been to Newcastle do you have any tips for things to do there for families?

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Categories: City, Elsewhere, Things to do in...
Tags: Newcastle

About Gretta Schifano

I'm a freelance journalist and blogger specialising in family travel with teenagers, trips when parents manage to travel without their kids, and 50+ travel. I also write about vegetarian travel, parenting teenagers, adoption, SEN, ADHD and anxiety. My work's been published by the Financial Times, Guardian, Independent, National Geographic Traveller, Lonely Planet and others. I've lived and worked in Italy and Spain and am now based in rural south-east England with my husband, adoptive and birth kids and our dog. I previously worked as a social action radio producer for the BBC.

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Comments

  1. Lori says

    March 4, 2014 at 12:54 am

    Yay this is a stones throw from my home town and a place I frequented every weekend as a child. Great choices, I love the Baltic and the Sage and will be planning a trip up there in June x
    Lori recently posted…PARIS IN PICTURES // KID IN THE CITY // PART ONEMy Profile

    Reply
  2. agatapokutycka says

    March 2, 2014 at 11:17 pm

    Very handy information, thank you.
    Never been to Newcastle as yet …
    agatapokutycka recently posted…Who / What Am I? 28/02My Profile

    Reply
  3. Rachel @ activities4kidz says

    March 2, 2014 at 1:35 pm

    I’ve never been to Newcastle, we live in Birmingham and to be honest we’ve gone south plenty of times but can’t think of !any places north of us we’ve been to!
    Rachel @ activities4kidz recently posted…Rainbow decorationsMy Profile

    Reply
  4. Aly says

    March 2, 2014 at 12:43 pm

    I’ve never been to Newcastle ( I haven’t traveled North full stop).It does look like a great place to visit .
    Aly recently posted…Spiced Sloe Gin Made From Frozen SloesMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      March 2, 2014 at 10:23 pm

      My children have never been north of Cambridge in England – although we have taken them to Scotland and Wales. I think I need to take them on a northern tour!

      Reply
  5. Boo Roo and Tigger Too says

    March 1, 2014 at 12:18 pm

    My younger brother lives in Newcastle, so lovely to see that there are places I can take the children when we go to visit.

    Reply
  6. liska says

    February 28, 2014 at 10:31 pm

    That photo’s great ha ha. I have been to Newcastle twice years ago, and LOVED IT but boths times on work, so didn’t get to see any of these places. Great city x
    liska recently posted…The Wilko EffectMy Profile

    Reply
  7. Angela Spicer says

    February 28, 2014 at 5:55 pm

    I’ve never been to Newcastle
    Angela Spicer recently posted…Pancake The PoppleMy Profile

    Reply
  8. Shell Louise says

    February 28, 2014 at 1:50 pm

    Ouseburn farm sounds lovely. I’ve never been to Newcastle but it’s on the list of places to visit 🙂

    Reply
  9. Nell@PigeonPairandMe says

    February 27, 2014 at 9:29 pm

    My Grandma lives in Newcastle, so I know it well! Tynemouth is a beautiful place to visit – by the sea, and with a flea market in the Metro station at the weekend. Definitely worth a visit for anyone who’s staying in Newcastle.
    Nell@PigeonPairandMe recently posted…Tea Dance for Little People & Extremes at the HornimanMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      February 28, 2014 at 9:24 am

      That sounds lovely. I’d like to go back with the kids and explore the area.

      Reply
  10. Gude @HodgePodgeCraft says

    February 27, 2014 at 8:43 pm

    Well, I’ve never been and now I must. Juice festival sounds especially appealing! 🙂
    Gude @HodgePodgeCraft recently posted…St David’s day crafts: Love-spoons & DaffodilsMy Profile

    Reply
  11. Kara says

    February 27, 2014 at 8:35 pm

    I would love to visit Newcastle as I was born not far from there. Maybe one day soon
    Kara recently posted…Kettler Barcelona Air Go Kart ReviewMy Profile

    Reply
  12. Mummy of Two says

    February 27, 2014 at 8:06 pm

    I don’t know why we have never visited Newcastle there sounds like there is a lot to do. On our numerous trips up to Scotland we tend to get stuck at Gateshead. Will definitely think about Newcastle instead next time!
    Mummy of Two recently posted…A lovely new raincoat from Lovably MeMy Profile

    Reply
  13. Chloe says

    February 27, 2014 at 7:24 pm

    So so glad you loved your time in Newcastle, it’s such a beautiful city and offers so much 🙂

    Chloe

    http://www.newgirlintoon.blogspot.co.uk/

    Reply
  14. Emily @amummytoo says

    February 27, 2014 at 6:44 pm

    We’ve never been to Newcastle but I did one of those ‘where should you live’ quizzes recently and this is where it said I should live, funnily enough. Will bookmark this for when we find ourselves up there.
    Emily @amummytoo recently posted…Bannisters’ potatoes: ready-baked, frozen jacket potatoes (review)My Profile

    Reply
  15. Hannah Clementson says

    February 27, 2014 at 6:40 pm

    I have never been to Newcastle even though my dad has family down there. We should definitely arrange a trip down there one day. Thank you for sharing this x
    Hannah Clementson recently posted…The success of our Zack and Quack PartyMy Profile

    Reply
  16. Kirsty says

    February 27, 2014 at 6:20 pm

    I always feel terrible that I haven’t visited somewhere in the UK – it is such a small island relatively speaking so we should go away (even it is just for a weekend) more often. Newcastle looks like it has lots going on and the Seven Stories Children’s Museum is there too – somewhere I have always wanted to visit.
    Kirsty recently posted…Mr Wolf’s Pancakes ActivitiesMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      February 27, 2014 at 8:16 pm

      Seven Stories is wonderful – I spent Sunday morning there but could have stayed all day. I’m going to write a blog post about it soon.

      Reply
  17. Jen Walshaw (@Mum_TheMadHouse) says

    February 27, 2014 at 5:00 pm

    We have family in Newcastle and love to visit with the kids
    Jen Walshaw (@Mum_TheMadHouse) recently posted…Getting outside in all weathers – something for the weekendMy Profile

    Reply
  18. You Baby Me Mummy says

    February 27, 2014 at 3:41 pm

    Great round up and I love your 1st picture. I have never actually been to Newcastle although I am a Northerner 🙂 x

    Reply
  19. Michelle says

    February 27, 2014 at 3:37 pm

    Never been to Newcastle before…it’s always good to know about free things to do in a city though. Some great things to do 🙂
    Michelle recently posted…Finding Dory! [Back To The Magic Trip Report 2013]My Profile

    Reply
  20. TwinsplusTwo says

    February 27, 2014 at 2:06 pm

    I’ve never been to Newcastle – flew to Edinburgh but otherwise I’ve only been up the West coast. Keep meaning to venture up!
    TwinsplusTwo recently posted…“Taking in the Washing” – my thoughts on BloggingMy Profile

    Reply
  21. Trish says

    February 27, 2014 at 12:19 pm

    I go back home to Newcastle frequently to visit family but often forget to go into the city centre to do the things tourists do. This is a great reminder for me to not just stay at my mum’s or go shopping!
    Trish recently posted…Tasty delights from the Computer SweetMy Profile

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Coverage From Traverse 14 - Traverse Events — Traverse Events says:
    May 25, 2014 at 4:48 pm

    […] Things to do in Newcastle with kids […]

    Reply
  2. Seven great things about Seven Stories - Mums do travel says:
    March 7, 2014 at 10:59 am

    […] be one of my favourite places in the world. I spent a morning there exploring on a recent trip to Newcastle. There’s loads going on from story times, craft activities, exhibitions and special events and […]

    Reply

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This is a personal blog written and edited by me, Gretta Schifano. Sometimes I’m given products or sent on trips to review, but I always make this clear and give my honest opinion. See my About page for full details.

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