Seven Autism-Friendly attractions to visit in Newcastle and Gateshead

Planning a trip to NewcastleGateshead and looking for autism-friendly attractions? Here’s a roundup of seven establishments from museums to shopping centres that have implemented initiatives to provide a more inclusive experience for neurodivergent visitors.

Let’s take a look!

Located in the city centre, Eldon Square is the first shopping centre in the North East to be awarded the Autism Acceptance Gold Award by the North East Autism Society (NEAS) for its outstanding autism acceptance efforts.

To provide an autism-friendly shopping environment, Eldon Square has introduced monthly Quiet Hours. These will take place the first Tuesday of the month between 10am-11am, alongside the first Saturday of the month between 9am-10am.

During the Quiet Hours, the shop lights will be dimmed, and the music volume will be reduced to provide a more relaxed experience for visitors.

Eldon Square also provide sensory bags including egg timers, sunglasses, a variety of visual symbols, fidget toys and autism guides, and are available for hire at the centre. The sensory bags are designed with the purpose to improve the experience for both autistic children and younger people.

Alongside this, Eldon Square has also assigned three Autism Champions, who work closely with the autistic community to better understand their needs and priorities.

North East Museums manages nine museums and galleries across Tyneside, including the Great North Museum: Hancock, and the Tyne & Wear Archives.

They have introduced initiatives to create a more inclusive environment for autistic visitors. The initiatives include providing sensory bags, ear defenders alongside introducing relaxed sessions at events for autistic visitors.

The leading regional museum, gallery, and archives service also provide online resources for visitors with more information about what to expect when visiting

Life Science Centre situated in Newcastle city centre, has become the first visitor attraction to receive the Gold Standard Autism Acceptance Award by the North East Autism Society (NEAS).

The centre has implemented some initiatives to create a more autism-friendly experience for visitors. This includes their monthly Relaxed Sunday Sessions, which has dedicated quiet time which anyone can access, including autistic people and people with other sensory needs. The sessions enable visitors to enjoy the centre with fewer visitors and less noise.

Sensory bags are available for visitors to hire during their visit to the centre and requires a £10 refundable deposit. The bags include ear defenders, sunglasses, fidget toys, alongside a copy of their visual story. Ear defenders are also available to hire when visiting the centre.

Alongside these initiatives, Life Science Centre are also dedicated to increasing staff understanding of autism and neurodiversity through ongoing specialist training.

Beamish Museum, located in County Durham, is the world-famous open-air museum brings the history of North East England to life.

The museum has put some steps in place to ensure that it provides an autism-friendly experience. These steps consist of providing sensory bags which are designed to support visitors with sensory needs.

The bags include headphones, a sensory book, lavender bag, football rattle, Beamish top trumps and Jacobs ladder and can be collected from the Beamish entrance gift shop for a £10 refundable deposit.

Beamish Museum also has a quiet space available in their 1950s welfare hall for all visitors to use if needed. The room is sensory-friendly and had a washbasin, chair, sensory-friendly lights, toys and books and works on a first come, first served basis.

Metro Centre is Europe's largest indoor mall-style shopping centre situated in Gateshead, which has over 300 popular high street shops.

The centre has applied simple steps to improve the shopping experience for customers through introducing a Quiet Hours, which run every Tuesday from 4pm to 6pm, alongside 9am-10am every Sunday.

This hour is accessible to anyone who favours a quieter shopping environment. During the Quiet Hours, all participating retailers, restaurants and leisure facilities will commit to reducing the volume of store music and tannoy announcements and dimming lights.

Sensory backpacks are also available to hire at the Metro Centre, which includes sensory toys to make shopping a comfortable experience. To hire out a backpack, head to the customer service desk in upper Platinum Mall, and lower Green Mall.

St. James’ Park, home to Newcastle United Football Club (NUFC), provides the opportunity for fans to see the stadium in all its glory.

Newcastle United offers twice-monthly, autism-friendly stadium tours developed with input from the North East Autism Society (NEAS).

The Autism friendly stadium tour lasts approximately an hour, which features the key parts of St. James’ Park, such as the home and away dressing rooms, the media suite alongside a pitch side visit and more.

Ticket prices for the tour: Adult (16 and over) - £15, Junior (5-15) - £6

Tyneside Cinema, located on Pilgrim Street, is a thriving arts hub and registered charity which aims to enrich people’s lives by thinking differently about and through film.

Tyneside Cinema holds regular sensory friendly screening within their Access Cinema. Audiences can expect a low sensory environment with reduced sound and lights with no adverts and trailers before the film. It also includes a chill-out space if people need to take a break from viewing the film.

The Access Cinema relaxed screening programme is open to everyone but is particularly mindful of neurodiverse audiences, as it creates an inclusive and relaxed environment.