Exhibition Park

Born Free Forever: Lions on Safari exhibition on display until 30 June 2022.

Exhibition Park in Newcastle city centre is currently home to a spectacular pride of bronze lions. The life-size sculptures are scattered around the city park as part of a year-long celebration to mark what would have been the 100th birthday of Bill Travers MBE - co-founder of world-famous organisation Born Free. Bill was from the North East originally so the exhibition is a fitting tribute. The focal point of the outdoor exhibition is a bronze statute of Elsa the lioness who you will finding standing on top of a vintage 4x4 surrounded by cubs. If you have seen the iconic 1966 film Born Free, you will recognise this scene!

Find out more about the Born Free Forever exhibition which will be on display in Newcastle's Exhibition Park until 30 June 2022.

You are never far from the tranquility of a leafy park in Newcastle city centre. Exhibition Park is a beautiful park complete with Victorian bandstand and small, boating lake which is now home to swans and ducks. Exhibition Park stretches from the edge of Newcastle's stylish suburb Jesmond and merges with an expanse of open land - Town Moor - where you'll often find cows grazing.

Exhibition Park is an ideal place for runners and hosts a weekly Park Run for all abilities; dog walkers and families can also enjoy the outdoors without travelling too far from the city. Take in the fresh air with a stroll around Exhibition Park where children can burn off their energy in the children's playground.

Escape the bustle of city life and look after your health and wellbeing with a burst of exercise on the outdoor gym equipment in Exhibition Park. If you're feeling particularly active, choose from a range of sports activities and step onto the tennis courts, a basketball court and croquet lawns or whizz around the popular skatepark near the main entrance to Exhibition Park.

The botanical-themed Urban Green Café features a larger outdoor seating area so you can watch the world go by in the beautiful surroundings of Exhibition Park whilst drinking your locally-sourced food and drink. There are a range of ethically-sourced coffee, specialty teas, local craft ales, organic wines, and non-alcoholic drinks.

Exhibition Park is also home to Wylam Brewery at the Palace of Arts a micro-brewery, bar and event space which resides in the impressive art deco, Grade II listed building at the heart of Exhibition Park. Enjoy a host of events and festivals in Exhibition Park throughout the year including Wylam Brewery's Battle of the Burger, Newcastle Mela Festival and Northern Pride.

The name Exhibition Park was first used during the Jubilee Exhibition of 1887 and the bandstand remains from this period.

Visitors can access Exhibition Park from multiple entrances including from Jesmond via Clayton Road. The main entrance to Exhibition Park is on Claremont Road. The parks main entrance is only a short walk from Newcastle's bustling shopping district, universities and attractions such as Great North Museum: Hancock and Northern Stage. The nearest Metro stop to Exhibition Park is Haymarket.

Exhibition Park's cafe is only open from time to time during the spring and summer months.

Things to do at Exhibition Park

• Skate park
• Two croquet lawns
• Tennis courts that are free to play.
• Free Park Run every Saturday at 9am
• Children's Playground
• Urban Green Cafe
• Public toilets free to use at the Urban Green Cafe