February half-term is just around the corner! NewcastleGateshead is the perfect place for families and adventure seekers to spend some quality time together. The region is full of activities and attractions that promise to make your winter break memorable.
From cultural explorations to outdoor adventures, Newcastle has something for everyone during the February half term. The best part is, as most of them are free!
Read on to discovery the top things to do in NewcastleGateshead this February half-term.
Baltic Big Days Out: 5 Days of Nature
Flourish with creativity this February half-term in a building sprawling with activities, tours, talks and art inspired by nature.
From Wednesday 21st until Sunday 25th February, explore Baltic and join the gallery for nature and nurture themed artist-led sessions, story times, play areas, tours, talks and films. Head to Level 1 and add to the growing cardboard city installation which is imagining an urban landscape where nature has taken over with sprawling vines and plants, curious animals, meandering rivers and much more. Take time to nurture and discover the environment in the Front Room with bird spotting, nature talks & tours, sketchbook drawing, sewing bees, honey tasting and more.
The Cereal Disco & Doodle will also be running as usual each morning for families to top up their tummies with a nourishing breakfast. With four floors of art to explore, nature-inspired zine-making and a Learning Lounge equipped with a Sensory Room, baby social zones and nature books, there's plenty to see and do.
All activities are free drop-in! Find out more here.
Enjoy a day out at the Life Science Centre
Enjoy a colour explosion with a new live show alongside hands-on activities. Enjoy big bangs and fireballs in the exciting live Rocket Show, with special guests Wonderstruck! Head to the Play Zone and discover some new additions for under-7s. Cross bridges over the River Tyne and spot the famous landmarks including the Angel of the North. Additional activities include making your own colour catcher lantern and experiments with materials to test how they absorb ultraviolet light to make the best visor for an astronaut's helmet. Find out more here.
The Great North Museum: Hancock
Another family friendly day out is a visit to The Great North Museum: Hancock. This award-winning attraction in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne is free to enter and open daily for visitors who want to explore centuries of Northern history. The Living Planet gallery spans the ground and first floor of the museum and tells the story of wildlife and habitats alongside the Hadrian's Wall gallery which enables visitors to discover the detailed history of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Become a space explorer at Fenwick
Mini astronauts are invited to join Fenwick this February half-term for an out-of-this-world Space Workshop with astronomers from Kielder Observatory that will take them to infinity and beyond. This year promises to be exceptional for observing the northern lights, also known as the aurora borealis. In this captivating and educational workshop, little ones can marvel at the night sky as they create artworks depicting displays of the aurora as it could appear here in the Northeast. Not only this, budding space rangers will have the chance to get hands-on with the extraordinary Kielder meteorite collection, showcasing specimens from the asteroid belt, as well as rare samples from the Moon and Mars. At the end of the session, they'll be solar system professionals! Located at Fenwick Newcastle, on the Third Floor Reading Room, sessions are available to book on Thursday 22 February: 11am-12pm, 1pm-2pm and 3pm-4pm. Find tickets here.
The Angel of the North
For those visiting Newcastle and Gateshead in the half-term holiday, one of the must see and famous attractions in the North East is the iconic Angel of the North. Visible from far and wide, this colossal piece of public art was created in 1998 by artist Antony Gormley and his since become one of the most recognisable landmarks in the UK. A symbol of home for many locals, the Angel rises 20 metres from the ground and has a wingspan of 54 metres. Making it even more impressive, is that visitors can get close to it by walking up to the site and snapping some impressive photographs at the feet of the monument – the perfect memento from your trip.
Ouseburn Farm
For the animal lovers out there, Ouseburn Farm is a community-led project located in trendy Ouseburn Valley, just a mile from Newcastle city centre. The purpose-built barn and the farm's compact fields and meadows provide the perfect home for all manner of critters from sheep, to goats, pigs and chickens. Visitors never tire of visiting Ouseburn Farm due to its regular event schedule which includes animal petting and feeding sessions and child- friendly activities to entertain and educate during school holidays. Ouseburn Farm is free and fully accessible for both pushchairs and wheelchairs, making it an inclusive and interactive day out.
Seven Stories
Seven Stories is The National Centre for Children's Books and can be found in the heart of Newcastle's cultural quarter, the Ouseburn. The book-lover's paradise is committed to preserving British literature heritage for children and future generations and is guaranteed to spark creativity and imagination in all ages. This free experience, includes work by over 250 authors and illustrators including Enid Blyton, Philip Pullman, Robert Westall and Judith Kerr. All situated in a beautiful grade listed building, over seven storeys, it is free to enter and a perfect place to bring children for a day out. Regular events and workshops are hosted throughout the year, this half-term there is a “Little Listeners, Cinderella by Opera North” an interactive and relaxed concert.
Beamish: The Living Museum of the North
One of the most unique experiences in the North East is Beamish: The Living Museum of the North. Discover what life was like in North East England during Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian, war time and fifties Britain. Beamish is a living, working museum, set in a stunning 300-acres of countryside. Meet knowledgeable volunteers and staff who are decked out in exceptional, historical costume and who shine a light on the stories, facts and the goings on of everyday life at locations set throughout the expansive outdoor museum. Travel by tram or old-fashioned bus from the Edwardian Town and Pit Village, complete with original drift mine to Home Farm and Pockerley Old Hall. Experience first-hand how the Industrial revolution transformed agricultural life in the region, what life was like in a North East town and the trials and tribulations of a Victorian village school.
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