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
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?
Lori says
March 4, 2014 at 12:54 amYay 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 ONE
agatapokutycka says
March 2, 2014 at 11:17 pmVery handy information, thank you.
Never been to Newcastle as yet …
agatapokutycka recently posted…Who / What Am I? 28/02
Rachel @ activities4kidz says
March 2, 2014 at 1:35 pmI’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 decorations
Aly says
March 2, 2014 at 12:43 pmI’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 Sloes
Gretta Schifano says
March 2, 2014 at 10:23 pmMy 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!
Boo Roo and Tigger Too says
March 1, 2014 at 12:18 pmMy younger brother lives in Newcastle, so lovely to see that there are places I can take the children when we go to visit.
liska says
February 28, 2014 at 10:31 pmThat 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 Effect
Angela Spicer says
February 28, 2014 at 5:55 pmI’ve never been to Newcastle
Angela Spicer recently posted…Pancake The Popple
Shell Louise says
February 28, 2014 at 1:50 pmOuseburn farm sounds lovely. I’ve never been to Newcastle but it’s on the list of places to visit 🙂
Nell@PigeonPairandMe says
February 27, 2014 at 9:29 pmMy 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 Horniman
Gretta Schifano says
February 28, 2014 at 9:24 amThat sounds lovely. I’d like to go back with the kids and explore the area.
Gude @HodgePodgeCraft says
February 27, 2014 at 8:43 pmWell, I’ve never been and now I must. Juice festival sounds especially appealing! 🙂
Gude @HodgePodgeCraft recently posted…St David’s day crafts: Love-spoons & Daffodils
Kara says
February 27, 2014 at 8:35 pmI 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 Review
Mummy of Two says
February 27, 2014 at 8:06 pmI 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!
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Chloe says
February 27, 2014 at 7:24 pmSo 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/
Emily @amummytoo says
February 27, 2014 at 6:44 pmWe’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)
Hannah Clementson says
February 27, 2014 at 6:40 pmI 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 Party
Kirsty says
February 27, 2014 at 6:20 pmI 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 Activities
Gretta Schifano says
February 27, 2014 at 8:16 pmSeven 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.
Jen Walshaw (@Mum_TheMadHouse) says
February 27, 2014 at 5:00 pmWe 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 weekend
You Baby Me Mummy says
February 27, 2014 at 3:41 pmGreat round up and I love your 1st picture. I have never actually been to Newcastle although I am a Northerner 🙂 x
Michelle says
February 27, 2014 at 3:37 pmNever 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]
TwinsplusTwo says
February 27, 2014 at 2:06 pmI’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 Blogging
Trish says
February 27, 2014 at 12:19 pmI 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!
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