As well as the activities below, there are more ideas in Parks & The Outdoors.
Open access.
Durham Road, Low Eighton, Gateshead, NE9 7TY
A regional landmark with a wingspan of 54 metres, it’s a fun photo-op and a pleasant short paved circular walk around the base on a panoramic hilltop.
Free.
📌 Baring Street, South Shields, South Tyneside, NE33 2BB
Excavated remains and reconstructions of original buildings, displays of finds and artefacts discovered at the site. Offering regular family events throughout the summer, with crafts, gladiator training and falconry.
👉 For more info, visit @arbeiaromanfort
🎫 Free, donations welcome
Seasonal opening times, closed Oct-March
📌 Gateshead Quays South Shore Road, Gateshead, NE8 3BA
You can enjoy a changing programme of exhibitions, stunning views, a cafe bar and gift shop. There’s also an open area on Level 2 where kids can get creative with crafts and toys, plus a sensory room and sensory wall for infants.
👉 For more info, visit @balticgateshead
🎫 Free entry, donations welcome.
📌 Bill Quay, Gateshead, NE10 0UE
An organic rare breeds farm with large and small animals. Free to visit, plus regular events and activities and Bill Quay Cafe on site.
👉 For more info, visit @billquayfarm
🎫 Free (charges may apply for events)
📌 Near Witton Gilbert, Durham, DH7 6TR
A working organic farm with onsite café, farm shop, picnic area and outdoors play area, plus Forest Adventure available from Spring-Autumn (online booking required), with puzzling quiz trails, zip wires, tunnels and more.
👉 For more info, visit @BroomHouseDurham
🎫 Farm & play area: free entry.
Forest Adventure: £6.50 (under 2 years: free)
📌 Blandford Square, Newcastle, NE1 4JA
Exhibitions on local maritime, scientific and technological history, including Science Maze with interactive exhibitions, toddler play space and ‘play+invent’ space for older children. Plus, RAF Red Arrows Flight Simulator ride (min height 42″).
👉 For more info, visit @newcastlediscovery
🎫 Free (donations welcome). Charges apply for flight simulator & selected activities.
📌 The Chapter Office, The College, Durham, DH1 3EH
Welcoming of all faiths and ages, with guided tours and regular toddler/family activities. Borrow a kid’s backpack with toys and games, and see the 300,000 brick Lego replica cathedral.
👉 For more info, visit @durhamcathedral
🎫 Free (donations welcome)
📌 Exhibition Park, Claremont Road, Newcastle, NE2 4PZ
Park with grassland, woodland and lake, plus crazy golf, skate park, sports courts, water play trough and playground with sandpit and mini diggers. There’s a Military Vehicle Museum, a cafe and Wylam Brewery serving main meals. Behind the brewery is a miniature train track with free rides 11am-3pm first Sunday of each month (April-Sep plus seasonal specials).
👉 For more info, visit Newcastle City Council
🎫 Donations welcome for train rides, more info @TynesideSocietyMEE
📌 Jesmond, Newcastle, NE7 7DA
Woodland stretching over three kilometres with streams, waterfalls and a network of paths and bridges. Some parts of the stream are suitable for paddling. There’s a visitors centre, café and outdoor play area with slides and nest swing. Plus ‘Pet’s Corner’ including pigs, goats, sheep, rabbits and birds.
👉 For more info, visit @urbangreenncl
🎫 Free, donations welcome.
📌 New Bridge Street, Newcastle, NE1 8AG
Art and sculpture galleries, including a play space for toddlers with toys, books and dress-up, and weekly pre-school workshops with gallery exploration, practical art activity and story time (term-time only, booking required). Also regular Saturday art classes for 10-15 years (booking required). Cafe serving hot and cold meals.
For more info, visit @laingartgallery
🎫 Free, donations welcome
📌 intu Metrocentre, Gateshead, NE11 9YG
‘Fun Buggy’ ride-on cars can be hired from customer service desks, and a mini train ride from Exhibition Square.There’s also a small outdoor play area outside the Qube entrance for ages 3-10. Click here for info on NAMCO Funscape, Angry Bids Golf, Odeon Cinema & Clip ‘n’ Climb.
👉 For more info, visit @mymetrocentre
🎫 Activity prices vary, from £3
📌 Liberty Way, Sunderland, SR6 0GL
Gallery exhibitions, daily glass making demonstrations and a virtual glass making game, plus borrow a kids adventure backpack with activity cards and colouring activities (£5 refundable deposit, ages 4+). Regular family workshops including glass painting, glass fusing and sandblasting. Cafe serving breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea.
👉 For more info, visit @nationalglasscentresunderland
🎫 Free, donations welcome.
📌 Ouseburn, Newcastle, NE1 2PA
A not-for-profit charity with pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, lizards and tortoises, and animal feeding and petting. Plus a garden and orchard and a cafe serving homemade delights.
👉 For more info, visit @ouseburnfarm
🎫 Free, donations welcome.
📌 St Mary’s Square, Gateshead Quays, Gateshead, NE8 2JR
Enjoy fun, creative and engaging family concerts and workshops. You can also make a visit for the free children’s playspace, crafts, and cafe.
👉 For more info, visit @Sage Gateshead
🎫 Free entry, performances prices vary
*FREE metro travel to/from Gateshead, retain concert ticket for inspection on Metro
📌 30 Lime Street, Newcastle, NE1 2PQ
The National Centre for Children’s Books, with specialist children’s bookshop, cafe, regular family events and free interactive exhibitions and galleries celebrating popular authors and illustrators past and present,
👉 For more info, visit @7Stories
🎫 Free entry to galleries and bookshop (charges apply for special workshops & events)
📌 Prince Consort Road, NE8 4JB
Five gallery spaces showing a range of exhibitions, with regular events including family activities. There is a children’s play space with toys and books, plus you can request a ‘Magic Carpet’ play mat or Toddler Backpack with additional toys and creative activities.
👉 For more info, visit @Shipley Art Gallery
🎫 Free entry, donations welcome.
📌 Ocean Road, South Shields, South Tyneside, NE33 2JA
Works of art and interactive exhibits on local social, industrial and maritime history, and 20th century author Catherine Cookson. Plus Creature Corner with live reptiles and insects and free family activities during school holidays. Cafe serving hot and cold refreshments.
👉 For more info, visit @South Shields Museum & Art Gallery
🎫 Free, donations welcome
📌 Oakwellgate, Gateshead, NE8 2AU
Medieval, grade one-listed building formerly a parish church, with displays about local history and a heritage bookshop. Also events and workshops including children’s activities, local history talks, tours, concerts and performances.
👉 Free entry. For more info, visit @stmarysheritagecentre
📌 Middle Engine Lane, North Shields, North Tyneside, NE29 8DX
Steam railway museum with interactive exhibitions and a range locomotives and carriages. On Sundays, bank holidays (and selected dates) take a four mile return trip on a vintage locomotive in 1950s passenger carriages.
👉 For more info, visit @stephensonrailway
🎫 Museum free (donations welcome).
Train rides from £5-£7 pp / Family from £17 (under 5s free)
Seasonal opening, typically closed Nov-Jan (excluding special events)
📌 Burdon Road, Sunderland, SR1 1PP
Museum with interactive exhibits on local history. Winter Gardens greenhouse with tropical plants, water features, treetop walkway and dinosaurs hidden among the plants.
👉 Free. For more info, visit @sunderlandmuseu
📌 Barras Bridge, Newcastle, NE2 4PT
Interactive displays on Natural Science, Living Planet, World Culture, Archaeology and Geology, with full sized replica T-rex skeleton and wide range of animals and sea creatures. Plus, a Planetarium and regular family workshops and events.
👉 For more info, visit @greatnorthmuseum
🎫 Free (donations welcome). Charges apply for Planetarium.
📌 Market Place, South Shields, South Tyneside, NE33 1JF
Children and adult library books, special themed exhibitions, rooftop viewing terrace, gaming zone with retro console games, workshops using 3D printers and vinyl/laser cutters (booking required) and regular family-friendly activities and events. Cafe serving breakfasts, lunches and snacks.
👉 For more info, visit @worduk
🎫 Free (charges apply for selected workshops & activities)
