Days Out by Bus

If you're planning a trip to Newcastle and Gateshead this summer, or simply want to explore everything the area has to offer, from fascinating museums and art galleries to stunning coastlines and fun-filled activities, then look no further. Travelling in and around the region by bus has never been easier. 

The new Days Out by Bus campaign launched by North East Mayor Kim McGuinness makes it easier to experience the very best of the North East. It offers up to 25% off entry at a wide range of participating venues when people travel by bus. This includes the likes of Beamish Museum, Life Science Centre, North East Museums, National Trust sites, and many more cultural locations across the region. The offer is perfect for families, and people wanting to explore the very best of the North East. 

Anyone travelling by bus can access offers throughout the year, you just need to simply show a valid ticket at the participating venues! Read on to discover which businesses are taking part in the Days Out by Bus campaign and to uncover the discounts you can get. 

• Discount: 25% off standard individual admission charge (travel using Go North East bus)

Beamish Museum is an award-winning attraction near Gateshead that brings to life North East heritage all year round. Experience living, breathing history and discover what life was like in North East England during Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian, war time and fifties Britain. Visitors to the award-winning, family-friendly attraction will be fully immersed in the smells, sounds, experiences and even tastes of the past. 

With plenty of places to sample the delights of yesteryear, don't forget to stop off at the Jubilee Sweet Shop in the 1900s Town, tuck into fresh fish and chips at Davy's Fried Fish Shop in the Pit Village and enjoy an afternoon tea in the Victorian Town. There's just so much to explore and enjoy at Beamish Museum.

Throughout the summer holidays make sure to enjoy Summer of Fun: Tales from the Rails 19th July - 1st September, where you can experience a variety of engaging activities across the museum’s different time periods. 

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• Discount: 25% off tickets

Life Science Centre is a fantastic science centre in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne where one ticket gets you everything, making for a great value day out! With hands-on exhibitions and a changing programme of activities throughout the year, there’s always something new to experience. The award-winning museum is dedicated to inspiring your little scientists, creative thinkers and explorers and has a changing programme of fascinating exhibitions to run alongside its permanent displays. Families can enjoy amazing live shows, exciting experiments, interactive exhibits and hands-on making activities. 

Summer of Fun awaits with highlights that include: 

• New hands-on exhibitions in Lightbox including a giant ‘string’ of light.
• New fulldome show Life: The Greatest Story – is there life elsewhere in the universe?
• Enjoy sparkles, surprises and the danger of someone getting wet with our best demos from the last 25 years in an exciting live science show.

and so much more!

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• Discount: 10% off in museum cafe

Discover all about life in Newcastle and Tyneside at Discovery Museum, from the area's renowned maritime history and world-changing science and technology right through to fashion through the eras and military history. The museum is full with interactive displays, which makes it the perfect place to learn and have fun.

Visitors to the Discovery Museum can reap the benefits of free entry, as it's positioned within Newcastle it has great transport links for both public and private transport.

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• Discount: 10% off in museum cafe

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 Great North Museum: Hancock can explore artefacts, come face-to-face with a full-size T-Rex and journey back to Ancient Egypt, all in an afternoon. 

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• Discount: 10% discount on admission

Visit Raby Castle and Gardens, one of the most impressive intact castles in England, with a powerful exterior, superb collections and unique history, surrounded by acres of picturesque parklands where wild red and fallow deer roam. Discover the stunning 5 acre Walled Gardens remodelled by word renowned designer Luciano Giubbilei with beautiful, framed views. This elegant leisure destination is complete with heritage buildings, stylish shopping, exciting events and local food as fresh as it gets, sourced within the Estate served in the new Vinery Restaurant.

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• Discount: 20% off entry price

Tynemouth Priory and Castle stands as one of the North East's most iconic landmarks. Perched dramatically on a headland overlooking the North Sea and the mouth of the River Tyne, this historic site dates back to the 11th century and once served as a vital stronghold for the Kings of Northumbria. Once among the largest fortified areas in England, Tynemouth Castle and Priory boasts over 2,000 years of rich history. Today, its dramatic ruins, panoramic coastal views, and fascinating heritage make it an unforgettable destination for a family day out.

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• Discount: 25% off standard entry

Gibside offers miles of woodland and riverside walks with views across the Derwent Valley. Explore an architectural gem of a Chapel and orangery which sit among pockets of peaceful woodland. Watch out for red kites as they soar above the famous tree-lined avenue at Gibside in Gateshead. Discover the ever-changing Walled Garden and the Stables, now a learning and discovery centre. Bring the family for wildlife spotting and outdoor adventures, including Strawberry Castle play area, nature playscape and the Low Ropes Challenge, or indoor fun with Daisy, the milkable cow and Gibside mini-play Hall.

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• Discount: 25% off exhibition ticket

At the Laing Art Galley there's always something to keep everyone entertained and informed, from exhibition talks, family-friendly activities and artist hosted events. Many of these events, like the gallery, are free of charge. Laing Art Gallery has an impressive collection of art and sculpture with its Newcastle exhibition programme renowned for bringing the biggest names in historic, modern and contemporary art to the North East. There permanent displays of John Martin's breath-taking The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and William Holman Hunt's poignant painting of Isabella and the Pot of Basil are always worth a visit.

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• Discount: 10% off in shop

Arbeia is the best reconstruction of a Roman fort in Britain and offers visitors a unique insight into the every day life of the Roman army, from the soldier in his barrack room to the commander in his luxurious house. Explore the amazing reconstructions of the West Gate, Commanding Officer's House and Barrack Block, rebuilt where they once stood. Enjoy live action events throughout the summer and children's activities during school holidays.

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Ad Gefrin - Discount: 10% off Museum & Distillery tours (tickets offer repeat access to Museum for 7 days)

To help plan journeys, the campaign is backed by the Good Journey website, offering travel guidance for all venues involved. The scheme also features 20 picturesque routes as part of the Great Scenic Journeys programme, showcasing the region’s transport links and landscapes.

To find out more about Days Out by Bus and the participating venues, click here