Museums & heritage in Newcastle

36 Lime Street Ltd

Newcastle upon Tyne

Drop into working artist studios for glassmaking and printmaking demos, free to wander round.

Indoor play

Auckland Palace

Bishop Auckland · ages 5-15

A thousand years of history in one bishop's palace, from a private chapel the size of a church to Old Master paintings and a Faith Museum.

Accessible toiletCaféGift shopParking+2 more

Aydon Castle

Corbridge

A well-preserved medieval manor house where you can climb to the battlements and picnic in a walled orchard afterwards.

Picnic area

Beaurepaire Priory (Ruins)

Durham · ages 0+

Free wander round medieval manor house ruins, with the odd tour and hands-on gardening session thrown in.

Belsay Hall Quarry Garden

Newcastle upon Tyne

Rocky quarry ravines to scramble round, a medieval castle to explore and a Wild Man Play Area, set in 30 acres of grounds.

Gift shopGroup bookingsFood on sitePushchair friendly+2 more

Blackfriars Restaurant

Newcastle upon Tyne

A medieval friary building in Newcastle where you can eat a proper lunch, take a history tour, or book a children's cookery party.

Birthday partiesGroup bookingsParty roomsRestaurant

Brinkburn Priory and Manor House

Morpeth

Free ruined priory and manor grounds to explore, though you do need to book your visit ahead.

Blue badge parkingBooking requiredFree parkingWheelchair accessible

Bywell Castle

Stocksfield

A guided tour round Bywell Hall's art and furniture collection, with a fifteenth-century tower to gawp at on the way.

Chipchase Castle

Hexham

A 13th century castle and gardens that only opens its doors for a handful of weeks each summer.

Cash only

Cullercoats Caves

North Shields

Sea caves tucked into the cliffs at Cullercoats Bay, only there to explore when the tide's out.

DFDS Seaways

North Shields

A ferry crossing from North Shields to Amsterdam, with cabins, dining and live entertainment on board.

Gift shopFood on siteRestaurant

Discovery Museum

Newcastle upon Tyne

Free Discovery Museum near Central Station - transport play and Tiny Tyneside for under-5s.

Birthday partiesToiletsWheelchair accessible

Durham Castle

Durham

A working Norman castle you can only see by guided tour, with the grounds and history to explore around it.

Elsdon Castle

Newcastle upon Tyne

A steep short climb up to a Norman motte and bailey mound, with the earthworks themselves the whole point of the visit.

Gibside National Trust Farm Estate

Rowlands Gill

NT estate near Rowlands Gill with gardens, walks and seasonal farm - Soft Play N.

CaféParkingToiletsBaby change+2 more

Gosforth Nature Reserve

Gosforth · ages 0-16

Wildlife hides and quiet boardwalk trails through a Newcastle nature reserve, with a pound entry for kids.

Accessible toiletCaféParkingPublic transport nearby+2 more

Great North Museum: Hancock

Newcastle upon Tyne

Free Newcastle museum on Barras Bridge - dinosaurs, natural history and rainy-day halls.

ToiletsWheelchair accessibleGift shop

Hylton Castle

Sunderland

A free medieval gatehouse and grounds to explore, with a rooftop viewing gallery you climb a spiral stair to reach.

Accessible toiletBlue badge parkingBooking requiredCafé+3 more

Jesmond Dene

Newcastle upon Tyne

Free woodland valley with waterfalls, mill ruins and a Pets Corner to wander round on foot or with the buggy.

Dog friendlyOutdoor playPicnics allowedPushchair friendly+1 more

Laing Art Gallery

Newcastle upon Tyne

Free Newcastle art gallery - British collections and rainy-day temporary shows.

Accessible toiletCaféGift shopToilets+1 more

Lakeshore Railroad

South Shields

A miniature steam train chugs you round the boating lake for £2 a head, with under-3s riding free.

Café

Newcastle Castle

Newcastle upon Tyne

Norman keep and Black Gate above the Quayside - annual-pass tickets, Soft Play N.

ToiletsCaféGift shopWheelchair accessible

Newcastle City Marina

Newcastle upon Tyne

Kayak tours, a dragon boat race and River Tyne sightseeing cruises from the Quayside marina right by the Tyne Bridge.

Booking required

Northern Print

Newcastle upon Tyne

Printmaking classes and a small gallery of print exhibitions, open just a few hours a week.

Wheelchair accessible

Ouseburn Trust

Newcastle upon Tyne

Guided tours through a Second World War air raid shelter tunnel under Newcastle, with brewery and heritage walks alongside.

Booking required

Prudhoe Castle

Prudhoe

Free grounds to explore around a towering keep, with steep steps up to a gatehouse chapel and a Regency mansion inside the walls.

Toilets

Psycho Path

Newcastle upon Tyne · ages 13+

Eleven haunted mazes, fire performers and fairground rides across an outdoor scare event for over-13s only, running 5pm to 11pm.

Booking requiredFree parkingFood on siteToilets

Red Beard Tours

Newcastle upon Tyne

A walking tour around Newcastle, on foot with a guide, digging into the city's history and stories over a couple of hours.

Wheelchair accessible

Roker Pier

Sunderland · ages 10+

A guided walk through the lighthouse tunnel out along the pier, for kids aged 10 and up with an adult in tow.

Booking required

Rothley Castle

Morpeth

A folly tower on a crag you can climb for a 360 degree view over open countryside, with a short walk in from free roadside parking.

Ryhope Engines Museum

Sunderland

Free visit to a Victorian waterworks building with two giant beam engines you can see running on Steam Days.

Free parking

Seven Stories

Newcastle Upon Tyne

Free children's book museum in Ouseburn - galleries and stories, Soft Play N.

ToiletsCaféGift shopParking+2 more

Shieldfield Art Works

Newcastle upon Tyne

Free oil painting sessions and changing art exhibitions in a small community gallery, with gardening sessions running alongside in warmer months.

Stephenson Steam Railway

North Shields · ages 4+

A heritage steam train ride, a railway museum, and a meet with the world's third-oldest working locomotive.

Booking requiredFree parking

Sunderland Astronomical Society

Washington

Free evenings of telescope viewing, talks and workshops under a proper dark sky near Washington.

Free parkingPublic transport nearby

The Biscuit Factory

Newcastle upon Tyne

Free art gallery browsing with a café and rooftop terrace, good for an unhurried wander rather than a hands-on kids' activity.

Birthday partiesCaféGift shopIndoor seating+1 more

Theatre Royal

Newcastle upon Tyne · ages 0+

Panto and touring theatre for little ones through to teens, with babes in arms let in for £2.50 on a shared seat.

Accessible toiletCaféDog friendlyHearing loop+3 more

Tyne Cruises

Newcastle upon Tyne

A cruise along the River Tyne with sightseeing and wildlife spotting from the water.

Café

Tynemouth Priory and Castle

Tynemouth, Tyne and Wear

English Heritage priory ruins on Tynemouth headland - sea views, Soft Play N.

ToiletsPicnic areaParking

Utilita Arena Newcastle

Newcastle upon Tyne

A big-arena venue for touring shows and gigs, ten minutes' walk from Central Station, with accessible seating you actually need to plan ahead for.

Accessible toiletHearing loopWheelchair accessible

Vane

Gateshead

A free contemporary art gallery in Gateshead showing work by critically engaged artists, open Wednesday to Saturday afternoons.

Victoria Tunnel Tours

Newcastle upon Tyne · ages 5-15

A guided walk through a real WWII air raid shelter tunnel under the city, torches and all.

Blue badge parkingBooking requiredGroup bookingsParking+2 more

Warkworth Castle

Warkworth

A cross-shaped keep to explore with five guided trails and an audio tour, plus a hidden hermitage down the river.

Gift shopGroup bookingsFood on siteParking+1 more