Things to do in May Half Term in Newcastle Gateshead

Are you looking for things to do with your family in NewcastleGateshead during May half term? Taking place in the North East from the 25th May until the 31st May, this break is a perfect time to explore the city and spend time in the outdoors.

With so much going on at attractions and venues across NewcastleGateshead, it can be difficult to decide what to do, where to go and when to do it. Don’t worry, we have picked out some highlights in a handy guide of things to do in the North East during May half term.

Embark on a fascinating journey at Life Science Centre this May Half Term. Dive into interactive exhibits exploring the wonders of all things science with immersive events and installations this May. Experience the biggest collection of moving dinosaurs in the North East. Become a Dino Ranger and wander among colossal animatronic dinosaurs - follow the trail and use facts to crack a code, encountering fossils, live shows and more along the way! Find out more here.

Bring the whole family to Big Days out at Baltic from 27th - 31st May. Experience a playful, hands-on event inspired by Foundation Press: Starting Lines, with artist-led workshops and creative activities including collaborative drawing, simple printmaking, and interactive mark-making. Fancy starting your day with a cereal disco? You can join in the disco and doodle between 10am-11am during the half term holidays. Continue the disco with Curious Arts presents: wheelie proud daytime disco trike performance! With three repeated performances lasting 20-30mins, a disco on wheels bringing joy to your day, inviting audiences of all ages to join in. There's so much to enjoy at Baltic this May half term.

Starting Saturday 23rd May 2026, hop on and take a Toon Tour of NewcastleGateshead from the top of the city's open-top tour bus. Visitors can hop on and hop off to their heart's content as they explore Newcastle's attractions and take in the city's sights atop the latest sightseeing bus experience. The service will run every 30 minutes, starting from Central Station in Newcastle and then serve stops on a circular route which takes in some of the finest sights around the city including Discovery Museum, St James' Park, Great North Museum, Ouseburn, Quayside, Millennium Bridge, Tyne Bridge, Baltic and The Glasshouse International Centre for Music. See the route here. 

Bring the whole family and watch the Metrognomes perform during the May half-term holidays at Metrocentre. The Metrognomes Present: Back to the Metrocentre follows the latest adventures of Herbert, Sherbet, Maggot and Rusty as they bump into their old friend and famous inventor, Percy Veer. The show follows Percy’s trying to build a time machine to travel back to 1986, the year Metrocentre first opened its doors, but things aren’t going according to plan. Can the Metrognomes work their magic to help solve Percy’s time-travel troubles? With the support of the audience, they can. Watch the free family fun unfold at Exhibition Square, from Monday 25th May to Sunday 31st May.

• Monday to Friday: 12pm, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm
• Saturday: 11am, 1pm, 3pm, 5pm
• Sunday: 12pm, 2pm, 4pm.

Each shows lasts around 30 minutes and there’s no need to book - just turn up, grab a seat and enjoy.

What better way to enjoy May Half Term than with a trip back in time to Beamish Museum: The Living Museum of the North. Step into the enchanting world of time gone by at Beamish, where the past comes to life, and discover what life was like in North East England during Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian, war time and fifties Britain There’ll be a whole host of fun activities to take part in too, all included in your entrance ticket. From 23rd - 31st May you can celebrate historic vehicles at the Festival of Transport, a fun event showcasing transport from different eras. As with all daytime events, you can use your Unlimited Pass or Friends of Beamish membership to enjoy this special event. Find out more here.

Travelling to Beamish from Newcastle? You can get the Go North East number 28 bus to the entrance gates of Beamish. Plan your journey here. 

Grab the whole family and get your taste buds ready for a fiesta at The Mexican Standoff bringing Mexican flavours to Wylam Brewery. From 22nd - 23rd May, you can expect a fantastic lineup of tacos, fajitas and nachos from the best street food traders, as they battle it out to win the crown! Find out more here.

Experience a landmark live concert celebrating 20 years of BAFTA Games Awards music featuring a 65-piece orchestra performing music from award-winning and nominated games. Taking place on Saturday 23 May at The Glasshouse, the show includes live visuals gameplay and imagery on screen alongside suites from popular game soundtracks including Baldur’s Gate 3 Assassin’s Creed Cuphead Journey Fallout 4 Disco Elysium Ori and the Will of the Wisps Returnal Uncharted 2: Among Thieves and Far Cry 4 among others. Perfect for families to enjoy this May half term. Find out more here.

Head to Newcastle Castle this May half term and wander through ancient passageways, uncover hidden stories from over 2,000 years of history, and climb to the rooftop for some of the best views in the city. During your visit, encounter Rogues & Vagabonds, which dives deeper into the darker, more eccentric side of Newcastle’s history, revealing gripping tales of crime, punishment and survival. Your entry ticket lasts a whole year, so there’s plenty of time to come back for more. Find out more here.

Catch the K-Pop icons on their world tour at Tyne Theatre & Opera House on Monday 25th May. You can expect an energetic live concert featuring the K-Pop icons, the UK’s first virtual K-Pop band alongside a live dance crew! The show includes plenty of fan favourite tracks from K-Pop Demon Hunters plus songs from Blackpink and many more. This family friendly interactive performance combines digital avatars with live dancers and gives the audience a chance to help choose their favourite icon. It is a celebration of K-Pop culture for all ages whether you are a long time fan or new to the genre. Find out more here.

Join Mouse Tales at Great North Museum: Hancock for an interactive story, songs, related playtime, and a special opportunity to handle a museum object. The event takes place on Tuesday 26th May from 11-11:45am or 1-1:45pm, it's completely free to attend but booking is advised. It's perfect for children 5 and under and their families. Find out more here.

On Wednesday 27th May, take part in Art Camp at Laing Art Gallery, perfect for 7-10 year olds. Get creative and talk about art, little ones can create their own work in sessions led by a professional arts educator. Experiment with materials, learn new skills, and create a dynamic set of works in the Laing's Art Studio. Find out more here.