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Whether you have a quiet Sunday afternoon with nothing planned or you’re looking for cultural activities in Newcastle and Gateshead, there are plenty of free museums to pop into that are family-friendly, educational, inspiring but most of all, a lot of fun!
Newcastle and Gateshead boast a range of museums to satisfy a whole manner of interests from transport enthusiasts to book lovers, science boffs to wannabe time travellers. Whatever your reason for a museum visit in the North East of England, you won’t be disappointed with the range of museums to suit all budgets too.
Discovery Museum is one of Newcastle’s most popular free museums. Not far from St James’ Park, the iconic home of Newcastle United Football Club, Discovery Museum is an ideal attraction for people wishing to, well discover! Explore stacks of artefacts and exhibits which tell the story of Newcastle’s maritime history as well as learn about changes in science, technology, fashion and military history.
Great North Museum is another excellent free museum in Newcastle that is not to be missed. With room after room of cabinets, curiosities and creatures, visitors to The Hancock Museum can explore artefacts, come face-to-face with a full-size T-Rex and journey back to Ancient Egypt, all in an afternoon. Don’t miss Dippy the Dinosaur who is on tour in Newcastle from the National Museum until October 2019.
Life Science Centre is the first of the paid entry museums on our list of the best museums in Newcastle and Gateshead. Life Science Centre may not be free, but it is definitely worth a visit. The award-winning museum is dedicated to inspiring your little scientists and has a changing programme of fascinating exhibitions to run alongside its permanent displays. Your day will be well spent with hands-on activities and demonstrations, a 4D Motion Ride and the North’s biggest planetarium.
Seven Stories is the National Centre for Children’s Books and can be found in Ouseburn - the creative quarter of Newcastle. Let your imagination take you on a journey through exhibitions dedicated to a love of children’s books. From original illustrations to rough drafts of famous stories, Seven Stories’ carefully curated exhibitions celebrate a love of reading. There is an admission fee to Seven Stories but like Life Science and Beamish Museum, Seven Stories sell annual passes which are ideal for visitors who live locally.
Hop on the bus or take the Metro to Wallsend and enter the world of Emperor Hadrian. Segedunum Museum is the gateway to Hadrian’s Wall and a brilliant place to learn more about Roman life in the North of England. There is an entry charge for adults to Segedunum but children go free (under 16 years).
If only walls could talk! The historic Newcastle Castle is home to over a thousand years of history. Find out more about the history of Newcastle Castle and what links a flying donkey to Newcastle Castle! Admission is required to Newcastle Castle.
St Mary’s Heritage Centre sits on the Gateshead bank of the River Tyne overlooking the iconic Quayside. Wander for free and take in the historic, grade one-listed building. Discover the history of Gateshead from its early days as a Roman settlement to modern times. St Mary’s Heritage Centre is also home to family history records and local history resources including historic maps and images.
Beamish Museum is a brilliant day out all year round. Stroll through the nostalgic streets of Beamish Town or hop on the tram to explore the open-air museum in style. Delve into British history to discover the story of the North East of England with a trip down the coal mines, a lesson in the school and a mouth-watering stop off to buy humbugs and cinder toffee in Beamish’s famous sweet shop. Embrace the smells, sounds and costumes at this truly immersive museum. You might start to see your own history creeping into Beamish Museum with the arrival of their latest 1950s attractions. Although there is an entry fee at Beamish, the day ticket is then valid for 12 months if you have chance to go back.
Transports, train enthusiasts, heritage train rides on their steam trains. Excellent Christmas activities with all the family. Free museum with a charge to ride the steam train. Opening days and times are a little irregular at Stephenson Railway Museum. The free museum is open during school holidays and in the spring – summer months with regular activities and heritage train rides at Christmas.
The Auckland Project is a major redevelopment in Bishop Auckland which will be a seven-venue experience exploring over a thousand years of history, art and culture. The attraction will include, amongst others, Auckland Castle, Auckland Tower and the first Faith Museum in England which will explore the history of faith from prehistory to the present day. Auckland Tower is currently open for visitors with the other areas of the venue opening over the next few months and years. Admission applies.
If you are looking for more inspiration for your visit to Newcastle and Gateshead and want to find art galleries, attractions and venues to explore then take a look at our Things to Do section.
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