Check our handy map to help find Playgroups in Gateshead, more details in our A-Z below👇
Details are subject to change, please check directly with organisers for the latest updates, further info and booking requirements. There may be a waiting list for some activities.
Gateshead Family Hubs provide support, advice and structured activities for families and the wider community, with a packed program of pre-school sessions throughout the week including:
🔹Sensory Rooms 🔹Stay and Play 🔹Soft Play 🔹Baby Time 🔹Toddler Time 🔹Trike Time 🔹Well Child Clinics 🔹External Baby & Toddler Class Providers 🔹Holiday Events
A range of services and health advice is available:
🔸Breastfeeding, hygiene, weaning, nutrition and safety advice 🔸Breast pump hire 🔸Antenatal and postnatal advice 🔸Parenting & family support and advice 🔸Affordable childcare and support to access funding 🔸Toy Library
Services are delivered in centres across Gateshead, in:
🔹Birtley 🔹Blaydon Winlaton 🔹Chopwell 🔹Chowdene 🔹Deckham 🔹Felling 🔹Leam Lane 🔹Teams 🔹Wrekenton
👉 For more info, visit @GatesheadFamilyHubs
📆 Tuesdays, 9.30-11.15.am
📌 Bill Quay Methodist Church, NE10 0UH
Snack time for children included, 50p extra for tea, coffee and biscuits for parents. Entry via the hall entrance to Bill Quay Church, which is on Morley Avenue.
👉 £2 per adult. No booking required
📆 Fridays, 1.15pm
📌 Birtley East Primary School, DH3 1QQ
Children are offered a healthy snack and the opportunity to engage in different activities each week.
👉 Booking recommended, contact 0191 410 2551.
Mondays, 9.30am-12.30pm
Blaydon Youth & Community Centre, NE21 5QE
Lots of fantastic equipment to play with, including bouncy castle and soft play shapes, with a healthy snack and juice for every child. Community Cafe also open for extra refreshments and lunch options.
£3 per child (£1.50 siblings).
No booking required
📆 Wednesdays 9.30 – 11am
📌 Chowdene Family Hub, NE9 7TU
Autumn term from 11th Sep 2023
Volunteer led parent and toddler groups provide an opportunity for parents/carers to spend quality time with their toddlers. The sessions include songs, rhymes, crafts and messy play.
👉 £1 per child (50p siblings), drop-in. More info here.
📆 Fridays, 9 – 10.30am
📌 Colegate Community Primary School, Felling, NE10 9AH
Lots of opportunities to play and explore.
👉 Register your interest on 0191 420 6626.
📆 Thursdays, 9.30 – 11am
📌 Dunston Community Centre, NE11 9EB
Autumn term from 4th Sep 2023
Soft play, messy play, arts and crafts, song time, Snacks.
👉 £2 per child. No booking needed.
📆 Thursdays, 9.15-10.45am
📌 Kibblesworth Village Millennium Centre, NE11 0XN
Designated area for little babies with play mats and rattles etc, lots of ride on and role play toys for bigger ones and often sensory trays/crafts too. Not forgetting the snacks and coffee for Mams!
👉 No booking needed.
📆 Thursdays, 9.30-11am
📌 Larkspur House, Beacon Lough East, NE9 6SS
A fun and friendly session for children and parents to play, with crafts, snacks and singsongs. Larkspur House is based in Larkspur Primary School.
👉 No booking needed.
📆 Thursdays, 9.30am – 12.30pm (Lamp Cafe)
📆 Fridays, 10 – 11.30am (Noah’s Ark)
📌 Marley Hill Community Centre, NE16 5DW
Noah’s Ark parent and toddler group with toys, books, crafts and snacks as well as refreshments for carers, and a song and story time based on God’s love.
Lamp Cafe pop up play sessions on Thursday mornings during term-time.
📅 Wednesdays 10.30 – 11.30 (SEN Stay & Play)
📅 Thursdays, 10.30 & 12.30pm
📌 Birtley, DH3 1QT
Parent supervised Stay & Play, with lots of equipment including trampoline, bars and beams, and bouncy castle. Cafe will be open to purchase hot food, drinks and snacks. All ages.
👉 From £5 for 1 hour session (non-walkers £3).
Booking required for SEN session only.
📆 Fridays, 9:30-11am (fortnightly) – CAKE & PLAY
📆 Saturdays & Sundays, from 10am (selected dates) – PLAY CAFE
📌 Dunston Community Centre, NE11 9DU
CAKE & PLAY – 6 mth to pre school age, bouncy castle & play. Café is available Booking required.
PLAY CAFE – Pop-up play cafe. Play from 10am, cafe from 11am, closes 5pm Saturday and 3pm Sunday. No booking needed
Daily Drop-in sessions
📌 Raven Valley Gym Club, Metro Riverside Park, NE11 9DJ
Raven Rascals and Soft Play are casual non-structured parent and toddler sessions where children can play and utilise the gym equipment, with baby toys, sensory wall, giant soft play shapes and bouncy castles.
From £2.50, no booking needed.
📆 Tues, Wed & Thurs, 9.30 – 11am
📌 Riverside Primary Academy, Dunston, NE11 9DX
There are plenty toys, games, and activities to keep little ones occupied. Come along and enjoy time with friends in a relaxed environment. Juice and biscuits are provided for the children and tea and coffee for the adults.
👉 £1. No booking needed
Tuesdays, 9.30 – 11.30am
Sunderland Road, Gateshead, NE8 3EY
A friendly playgroup in a fully accessible building with a great selection of play things for all toddlers, including a snack.
£1 per child.
📆 Tuesdays, 9.30 – 11.30am
📌 Sheriff Hill Methodist Church, NE9 5UQ
Learn, play and grow together. Snack and drink provided.
👉 £3 per family. No booking needed
📌 Springwell Village, NE9 7RP
👉 £2 per family. No booking needed.
📆 Fridays, 9-11.30am
📌 St Alban’s Centre, Windy Nook, NE10 9SU
Come and join us at St. Alban’s Toddler Group. There is a variety of toys and activities for children aged 0-5. Includes a hot drink for the adult and juice and a biscuit for the child. Additional hot drinks can be purchased for 30p.
👉 £2 (extra children 50p). No booking needed
📆 Fridays, 9 – 11am
📌 St Andrew’s Church Hall, Whinbrooke, Leam Lane, NE10 8HR
Baby corner.
Toys and equipment suitable from birth to 3 years.
Arts and Crafts.
Forest School sessions.
Snack time included for children.
Tea and coffee available.
👉 £2 per child (£1 additional siblings).
No booking needed.
📆 Thursdays & Fridays, 9.30-11am
📌 St Chad’s Community Project, Bensham, NE8 1YN
Autumn term from 4th Sep 2023
Messy play, baby area, toys, arts & crafts, reading area. Refreshments available, tea, coffee, toast and juice.
👉 £1 per child, no booking needed
📆 Thursdays, 9.30-11am
📌 St John’s Community Hall, Greenside, NE40 4LF
Footprints baby & toddler group, open to all. Held in community hall opposite St John’s Church.
👉 £1 per family. No booking required
📆 Thursdays, 10-11.30am
📌 St Mary’s Centre, Whickham, NE16 4SH
A warm welcome to everyone with babies, toddlers and pre-school children with play, fun, crafts, songs, bible stories and making friends.
👉 £2 (£1 per additional child). No booking needed.
📆 Tuesdays & Fridays, 9:30-11:30am
📌 Scout Hut, Heron House, Whickham, NE16 4SP
A lovely warm welcoming session with toys, arts and crafts, dress up, home corner, push chairs, ride on toys. There’s snack time and singing & a large outside area.
👉 £2.50 (£1.50 per additional child). Block booking required, first sessions are free.
Message 07813 441 169
📆 Wednesdays, 9.30 – 11am
📌 Stargate Comunity Centre, Ryton, NE40 3DX
A great range of toys suitable for all ages, various weekly activities for children as well as crafts. When playtime is over there is juice and toast to wind down, then to finish song time with various different instruments.
👉 £2 (under 1 year/siblings: £1).
📆 Thursdays, 1 – 2.30pm
📌 Swalwell Community Centre
Stay and play with a variety of toys, soft play shapes, arts and crafts, dress up, parachute and baby toys. Refreshments available. Supported by Swalwell Primary School.
👉 £1 suggested donation.
📆 Mondays, 2-3.15pm
📌 Teams Life Centre, NE8 2PW
Afternoon run around, with soft play, ride ons, slide, toys, activities and songs in large sports hall. Drinks included.
👉 £2. No booking needed
📆 Fridays, 12.30-2.30pm
📌 Harras Bank, Birtley, DH3 2LN
Toys and crafts, along with activities including messy play, songs and of course lots of fun! Tea/coffee available, please bring a drink and a snack for your child. Suitable from around 6 months old to 3 years.
👉 £2.50 per child. No booking needed
📆 Mondays & Wednesdays, 9.30-11am
📌 Winlaton, Blaydon, NE21 6BY
Parent and toddler group, includes juice and snack for children.
👉 £2 per family. No booking needed.
📆 Mondays, 9.30 – 11.30am
📌 The Whitehills Centre, NE10 8XU
A well established group run by a team of local volunteers, with toys, arts and crafts, story time and snack time.
👉 £1.50 (+50p siblings). Drop-in.
Check for updates on 07736 036 547
📆 Thursdays, 9.30am – 12pm
📌 Windy Nook Methodist Church, NE10 9RY
Toys, stories, singing and refreshments.
👉 £1 per child. No booking needed
📆 Thursdays, 10-11.30am
📌 Winlaton Mill, Blaydon, NE21 6SF
Includes: playtime, craft activity most weeks, drink, crisps and biscuits for the children, tea/coffee for the adults.
👉 £1.50 per family.
