6 fun free things to do in Newcastle

Those on a budget looking to visit the fantastic city of Newcastle needn’t worry, there are lots of fun and free attractions here to suit people of all interests and ages. Below we have put together some of the best free things to do in Newcastle so that having an awesome time on your holidays in Northumberland won’t mean breaking the bank.

Angel of the North

The iconic Angel of the North, located in Gateshead, should not be missed on your way to visit Newcastle. This incredible piece of public art is considered by many to be the Eiffel Tower of northern England.

The Angel of the North is a huge steel sculpture designed by artist Anthony Gromley, and is representative of the coal miners who worked beneath the site of the statue for over 2 centuries. It is seen as a symbol of hope and strength. The structure stands 20 metres tall and has the wing span as big as that of a jumbo jet. The Angel is a real sight to be seen and must be visited to fully appreciate it – you will not fail to be impressed. Parking is available at the site.

The Biscuit Factory

Contrary to how it might sound, the Biscuit Factory is actually an excellent contemporary art gallery. This is the UK’s largest art, craft and design gallery and it can be found in the heart of Newcastle’s cultural quarter.

The gallery is spread across 2 floors and showcases a range of intriguing displays and exhibitions where you can see fine art, sculpture, jewellery, home wares and craftsmanship. There are 4 major exhibitions hosted each year and you can see work from over 250 artists each season, so there really is something for everyone to see here.

Open 7 days a week, admission is completely free and there is a good café and restaurant on site. How about stopping by at the stunning Cathedral of St Nicholas to see the architecture and beautiful stained glass windows also located in the city centre.

Discovery Museum

The brilliant Discovery Museum contains the finest collections of technological and scientific materials outside of London, and is conveniently located just 5 minutes from Newcastle Central Station.

There are loads of exhibits to see that tell the story of Newcastle’s history from a technological perspective, as well as many interactive general science displays for the kids to have fun and learn from. You can read about Newcastle’s maritime, military and mining histories too. The museum has great facilities including a gift shop and café and is open every day of the week. A great way to spend a few hours in the city centre!

Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art

The Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art is a unique, international centre for contemporary visual art by artists all over the world. It is worth visiting for its impressive building alone, which occupies an imposing position on the banks of the River Tyne.

There are some great free events that take place here throughout the year for families including Halloween pumpkin carving, the Baltic Festive Freeze where you can help decorate the centre’s Christmas tree and in October kids can get involved in variety of creative drawing activities in the centre’s Big Draw day. Admission is free and there is a wonderful viewing platform which looks out over the Tyne River.

Great North Museum: Hancock

If you are a fan of the Natural History Museum in London then you’ll love the Great North Museum. Visitors are able to get up close to a Tyrannosaurus Rex and see ancient Egyptian mummies, as well as many other fantastic displays covering archaeology, zoology, and palaeontology amongst other interesting and unusual things.

The museum is made even better for having its own planetarium where you can see breath-taking shows about the solar system using the latest technology, and in the Living Planet exhibition you can see real underwater life in the aquarium. The museum has excellent facilities, runs various temporary exhibitions and one-off events and recently underwent a £26 million refurbishment, so there’s no better time to visit!

Jesmond Dene

Jesmond Dean Park is a beautiful and peaceful green woodland valley that stretches for 3km along the River Ouseburn. There is plenty to do in the park, such as seeing the local wildlife which includes the kingfisher, the rare red squirrel and a number of woodland birds as well as native and exotic trees.

The wonderful river running through the middle of the park helps it feel a million miles away from the bustling city life. The park has a state of the art Visitor’s Centre, a café, kid’s playground and toilets. Families will love walking or cycling around the park via its many pathways and trails. Also, don’t miss the park’s petting zoo where kids can get close to farm animals.

Newcastle is a great place to visit for a fun and interesting free day out. Aside from wandering through the city and soaking up the architecture and atmosphere, there enough free museums and attractions to visit to keep everyone member of the family happy and entertained.