Enjoy NewcastleGateshead: Things to Do Online

Updated from 8th April 2020.

Are you looking for things to do inside? It is perhaps more tricky to find things to do inside than ever before for the many of us who have forgotten what wet weather was like!  

Whether it's rainy outdoors which is putting a dampener on spending time social distancing outdoors, or you want to find things to do online to help you get a flavour of NewcastleGateshead - we've got a few suggestions below.  

As the Covid-19 pandemic continues and the country remains in a state of partial lockdown, options are limited for how to stay entertained. Staying home and staying safe is the right thing to do and we're getting very good at it! Treat yourselves to some top quality scran from an independent restaurant or cafe and work your way through our list of places to get takeaways in NewcastleGateshead or delivery Afternoon Teas. If you don't want to put your wellies and woollies on for a walk in the parks, gardens and beaches around the North East then how about some of these suggestions...

Visit the (virtual) theatre

If you're missing the buzz of live theatre, here's the next best thing in the form of escapism with creative arts and culture. Homegrown North East actors have created The Coronavirus Theatre Club who are streaming live theatre every Sunday from 7pm from their Twitter account @ClubCoronavirus. 

Newcastle independent theatre, Northern Stage have launched a fascinating podcast as well as compiling a list of online theatre opportunities not to be missed.

Sage Gateshead have an online clinic for budding musicians as well as streaming some of their archived performances here and regularly going live on their Facebook page.

While Northumberland-based creative performance company, November Club, have a short video recording here of the immersive theatre show Foods and Feuds: Two Cooks of Hexham which they were unable to perform live because of the lockdown.

Discover a list of Virtual Events and online activities here.

Order your favourite craft beer and recreate pub life in NewcastleGateshead

If you're missing your cool pint of craft beer at Palace of Arts or By The River Brew Co, then you can order your favourite beer from Wylam Brewery online and relive the experience in the comfort of your back garden - and now with up to 6 of you can enjoy a pint together, from a distance, cheers! Visit the Wylam Brewery online beer store for details of how to order.

The Tyne Bar beside the River Tyne is usually heaving during the summer months too but remains closed at this time. But you can now recreate the pub-life from your own home with takeaway beers, ciders and wines from the Ouseburn pub. Order here on Thursdays for (limited) delivery on Friday or Saturday that same week.

Brinkburn Brewery in Ouseburn will also deliver beer to your doorstep - what a service! Order online or call the brewery to place your order. You can find out more and see their delivery charges here: Brinkburnbrewery.co.uk

Mother Mercy - trendy underground bar in Newcastle city centre - is also offering a swanky delivery of their classy cocktails!

Have a laugh!

Wherever you are (in your homes or gardens) this Friday night - get a slice of Geordie laughs with Newcastle-based improv group The Suggestibles. Join them for an evening of improv comedy or bring a little laughter to any day of the week by catching up on the comedic chaos from weeks gone by! Head to The Suggestibles Facebook page to find out more.

Newcastle's top city-centre comedy club, The Stand invite you to join them every Saturday night from 8.30pm for free, online comedy. Grab a home-pulled pint (or order from Tyne Bar or Wylam Brewery!) and split open a packet of crisps as you join The Stand Comedy Club online at their weekly Saturday Night Live event, hosted by Mark Nelson.

Family-time 

Join Seven Stories for an author event over Zoom or have a scroll through their Facebook page to catch up on some immersive storytime sessions... a great way to entertain the children with some excellent and give you a little down time! 

Enjoy a virtual day out 

Alnwick Castle did not reopen for their summer season this year due to the coronavirus lockdown, however, if you're missing a little culture and heritage, why not take a virtual tour of the historic Northumberland castle? Don't forget to check out these virtual tours of attractions and museums in Newcastle and Gateshead too.

Colouring in is not just for kids

A quiet stretch of mindful colouring in can be a therapeutic way to pass the time. Laing Art Gallery have created some colouring sheets which match the art in their collection so why not dust off your crayons and download an arty colouring in sheet?

Shipley Art Gallery invite families, adults, beginners and enthusiasts to join their weekly art challenge and have a go at creating some art based on items in the Gateshead gallery's collection. 

Or... if you're feeling especially creative, take a leaf out of Laing Art Gallery's imaginative book and recreate your favourite portrait or painting! 

Sign up to hear from Life Science Centre

Life Science Centre in Newcastle has a brilliant programme just for adults with fascinating talks and virtual science speakeasies. These events are currently being conducted over Zoom and therefore have a limited capacity. The science centre hosted another interesting panel discussion in June looking at the weird and wonderful realm of Lucid Dreams. If you like the sound of these events then make sure you join the Life Science Centre mailing list to find out what is coming up.

Disco with the best of them (in isolation)

As shown in this brilliant video from The Independent why not start an isolation disco? This is your chance to perfect a coordinated dance routine through the windows with your neighbours! Geordies love a party!