Tired of entertaining your little ones at home? Do you want to get out and explore all the Newcastle that Tyne has to offer?! Well, you’ve come to the right place! Find out where your next trip will be with this list of the best things to do in Newcastle with toddlers.
Newcastle is a metropolitan borough of exciting family-friendly things to do because of its fascinating history, spectacular bridges, and breathtaking scenery.
There’s plenty here to keep you and your little ones entertained, from art galleries and museums to kiddie fun zones and parks.
Head on out and explore Newcastle upon Tyne’s wonders and fun places! It’s guaranteed to banish boredom for both children and adults.
Fun Things To Do In Newcastle With Toddlers
Great North Museum
Jump inside a history book come to life at Newcastle’s popular Great North Museum, just a stone’s throw away from the city centre. Home to fascinating collections from all over the world, and Newcastle, of course, the museum is an exciting world of wonders for young children.
Highlights at the museum include the interactive exhibit of Hadrian’s Wall, a life-size T-Rex dinosaur skeleton replica, fascinating objects and artefacts from the Ancient Greeks, and large interactive displays showing the animal kingdom’s diversity. You can learn and have fun at the same time!
Designed to excite curiosity and encourage young visitors to explore is the Museum’s “Mouse House”. Their Mouse House gallery is packed with fun surprises showcasing the museum’s diverse collections, and you can choose from a range of activities to do for free.
Fun Shack Newcastle
No place says fun like the Fun Shack! A ‘Premium Indoor Adventure Park’, it’s home to the largest soft play centre in the North East. With over 30,000 square feet of never-ending fun, your little one will be fully immersed and entertained, no matter the weather.
Set sail to the Fun Shack’s wide variety of playgrounds; test your speed at the miniature indoor Go-Kart track, or ride the two-story slide on the North East’s only indoor rubber dingy slide! There’s never-ending fun here: a Pirate Ninja Course, trampolines, and slides galore.
Tots will find the most fun in the Toon Town – Fun Shack’s toddler play village. Your little one can be whatever they want to be here with all the dress-up and role-play options the play area offers. It also has a dedicated under-4s play area and a mini cinema playing a selection of cartoons.
There’s plenty of exploring to do here, and your little ones will certainly be asleep in the back of the car after a day out here.
Tyne Theatre & Opera House
Get ready for an entertaining adventure into the iconic stories of Jack and the Beanstalk and Beauty and the Beast with Tyne Theatre’s pantomimes. Everyone loves a good British panto packed with the same iconic stories and hilarious characters, songs, and jokes.
With awesome effects, dance routines, great songs, and a whole lot of pranks and gags, you and your little one’s belly will be aching from laughter by the end! Carry on Britain’s “tale as old as time” tradition and grab the whole family for a pantomime jam-packed with child-friendly comedy.
You can find out more at Tyne Theatre’s “What’s On” tab on their website and view all the upcoming family shows and events happening year-round.
Seven Stories
Dive into a world of stories and tales at Seven Stories, The National Centre for Children’s Books. This museum and visitor centre is dedicated to children’s literature and can be found in the heart of Newcastle’s cultural quarter, Ouseburn.
This book-lovers paradise has a number of original exhibitions which display unique manuscripts, original artwork, and rough drafts from some of the most prolific illustrators and authors in Britain.
There are tons of fun interactive exhibits and creative activities to choose from. Have a seat with Mog, the Forgetful Cat, check out the original sketches of The Gruffalo, and design your own underpants, yes, underpants!
Another incredible feature is that it offers special sensory story times and relaxed performances for children on the autism spectrum.
There’s no stopping the creativity flow in this literary world!
Discovery Museum
Around the corner from Newcastle’s train station, you’ll discover Newcastle’s history at the Discovery Museum – bursting with rich history through interactive displays, all for free!
You can also find activity rooms, play areas, and galleries for your young one at the museum. Its “Science Maze” is a popular choice as it caters to children of any age with features like the shadow wall, air hockey table, and a number of working engines and turbines to explore. Or let your kid’s creativity and innovation shine with exclusive use of the museum’s PLAY+INVENT learning room.
A perfect day out for the whole family, Newcastle’s famous maritime history, fashion through the eras, and world-changing science and technology are waiting to be explored by you.
Rhythm Time
Why not enhance the development of your little one through music with Rhythm Time, a fun learning space that offers multi-sensory, award-winning music classes for babies and toddlers.
Rhythm Time’s wide range of music classes provides amazing developmental benefits for your young one. Whether it’s banging on a drum, shaking the maracas, or striking a xylophone, Rhythm time offers all the lyrical fun for your little one!
Book a session today and let your little one have a fun day filled with music that builds their confidence while meeting new friends.
There are 14 Rhythm Time classes in and around Newcastle so you’ve got plenty of opportunities to try this with your kids.
Laing Art Gallery
Here you’ll find a stunning collection of British oil paintings, ceramics, silverware, watercolour, and glassware to marvel at. It offers regular changing exhibits of some of the biggest names in historical, contemporary, and modern art in the North East.
Beyond this, the gallery has a circus-themed play area with a den, light table, books, toys, and dress-up for under-5 to explore. The gallery’s fun learning and exploration activities encourage your little ones to get involved in the art world and explore their creativity.
You can take time out and have a snack from the Gallery’s café, adjacent to the Under-5 areas, which serves a delectable variety of hot and cold drinks, desserts, soups, and sandwiches.
Mr. Mulligan’s Space Golf
Get lost in space with Mr. Mulligan’s Space Golf in Newcastle upon Tyne. You’ll have a whale of a time with three space-themed adventure gold courses. Maybe not the best place to start off as a professional golfer, but you’ll be laughing a heck of a lot while trying.
These exciting courses are fit for the whole family, and fun will be had no matter what age or skills you have! Crash land on the moon and take a trip to Mr. Mulligan’s secret airship hangar with the nine holes on each course – designed to match players of all abilities.
Is your little one’s birthday coming up? Don’t sweat it! You can book an ultra fun “out-of-this-world” birthday bash at Mr. Mulligan’s. One small step for toddlers and one giant HEAP of fun.
Although just a hop and skip from Newcastle’s City Centre, you’ll feel like you’re on another planet here!
Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art
Baltic has a lot to offer when it comes to fun, family-friendly things in Newcastle. Located on the south bank of River Tyne right next to Millennium Bridge, you’ll find art and great views of the Baltic, all for free!
Families and their tots can enjoy an abundance of games, books, toys, and self-led creative activities in Baltic’s Learning Lounge. Or, if you’d like something more toned down, you can visit their Sensory Room for little ones. It’s equipped with sensory features like a light table, fibre optics, a bubble tube, light-up orbs, and large soft shapes.
Enjoy some stunning views on their viewing platform, grab a bite at the Six Riverside Café, or shop for unusual cards and gifts. Baltic also provides a free Explorer Pack to kiddies aged 13 and under with an activity sheet, magnifying glass, and binoculars for some exploration fun.
There’s no stopping the fun to be had at Baltic!
Druridge Bay Country Park
With three miles of beach and sand dunes, a freshwater lake, woodland, and a meadow, Druridge Bay is the perfect place to enjoy a day out at the coast. You’re a shoo-in for an enjoyable visit with the park’s variety of sheltered picnic spots and woodland areas.
Its network of paths is great for exploring as it allows you to move about and discover the wildlife and landscapes. The park also offers windsurfing, sailing, and canoeing courses on its lake, Ladyburn Lake, every summer. The perfect way to spend the summer school holidays!
You can even enjoy some sightseeing of the wide variety of birds around the seashore and lake. Why not take a dip in the sea? It’s free, of course! Plenty of low-stress and flexible options, it’s the perfect place for some laid-back family fun.
Looking for another location? Check out our Days Out section for more ideas.
