The best museums in Newcastle

What is it?
A free museum featuring a great mix of science and local history and covering topics from shipbuilding to computing.

Why should you go?
Discovery Museum invites you to delve into military and maritime history, learn about world-changing science, and get to know the best of Tyneside’s inventions and technological innovations. As you step inside, you will come face to face with the amazing Turbinia, a 32-meter-long steam-powered ship that was once the fastest in the world. You can also see Stephenson’s locomotives and Armstrong’s guns, discover the North East’s connection to the WW2 Enigma code, and explore the world of science in the interactive Science Maze.

Specialization
Science & Technology

Perfect for
Families with curious kids, science geeks, maritime history buffs

What is it?
A free museum of natural history, archeology, geology, and world cultures that tells the story of our planet and its people.

Why should you go?
The Great North Museum, also known as the Hancock Museum, takes you on a journey through 350 million years of evolution. It is the right place for you if you are amazed by Ancient Egypt with all its mummies and sarcophagi or if your kids ask you to take them to a ‘dinosaur museum.’ The museum’s highlights include a full-sized replica of a T-Rex skeleton, the Egyptian mummy Bakt-en-Hor, an interactive model of Hadrian’s Wall, and other rare and unique objects, from fossils and taxidermy to ancient Greek pottery.

Specialization
Natural History & Ancient Civilizations

Perfect for
Families, kids of all ages

What is it?
A state-of-the-art science museum offering plenty of hands-on exhibits, immersive shows, and fun things to do.

Why should you go?
Life Museum is a perfect destination for a family day out. This award-winning attraction is ready to arouse your curiosity and fascination for science and keep all of you entertained. Kids will be happy to carry out practical experiments, watch live science demonstrations, and take a 4D Motion Ride across our planet’s surface and in space. Adults can dive deeper into the subject by exploring the mysteries of the brain or the latest advances in medical research in healthcare. Or just have a rest and look at the stars while sitting back in the biggest planetarium in the North.


Specialization
Science & Education

Perfect for
Families, kids of all ages, science geeks

What is it?
A world-famous open air-museum telling about everyday life in North East England from the 1820s to the 1950s.

Why should you go?
Beamish, set in 350 acres of gorgeous countryside eight miles from Newcastle, invites you to travel back in time. It brings to life the 1820s Pockerly Old Hall and Gardens, 1900s Town and Pit Village, 1940s Farm, and 1950s Town and Farm. You can also explore Rowley railway station as it looked in Edwardian times and get a fully immersive experience by arranging your hair in a 50s style, hopping aboard a retro tram, trying freshly-made bread in the Edwardian Bakery, and being photographed in the Edwardian studio.

Specialization
History & Anthropology

Perfect for
Families, history buffs

What is it?
An ever-changing contemporary art museum presenting the work of both established and emerging artists.

Why should you go?
Baltic is one of those places that never look the same, thanks to rotating exhibitions and dynamic international visual art programs. There are a bunch of reasons why this major art center is worth a visit, not counting the art itself. First, it is housed in a landmark industrial building in the vibrant Quayside area. Second, it provides stunning views of the River Tyne — you can enjoy them from a viewing terrace, a rooftop restaurant, and scenic lifts. Best of all, it is free of charge.

Specialization
Contemporary Art

Perfect for
Art lovers, couples

What is it?
A cultural center and free museum in Newcastle dedicated to children’s books and the art of storytelling.

Why should you go?
Seven Stories is always one of the top attractions in Newcastle because it is the only place in Britain that celebrates national children’s literature, its authors, illustrators, and, of course, readers. It is housed in a renovated Victorian house with seven levels, each focused on a different aspect, such as comic art or magical worlds. For instance, you can take a journey through the Wild Woods to explore Narnia, Discworld, and Hogwarts and admire original artwork and manuscripts.

Specialization
History & Culture

Perfect for
Families, kids, book lovers

What is it?
A historical site and a museum offering a glimpse into life on the northern frontier of the Roman Empire.

Why should you go?
Segedunum is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an absolute must-visit for anyone interested in the history, archeology, and culture of ancient Rome. Start with looking out across the excavated remains of the Roman fort from the 35-meter viewing tower, and then see the fort brought to life with interactive exhibits and audiovisual projections. You can explore full-sized reconstructions of a Roman military bathhouse, a cavalry barrack, and a section of Hadrian’s Wall, which you can climb on to imagine what it would have felt like to be a Roman soldier guarding the Wall.

Specialization
History & Anthropology

Perfect for
History buffs

What is it?
A relatively small but absolutely charming Newcastle museum focusing on 18th and 19th-century British art.

Why should you go?
This free art museum, situated in a beautiful baroque-style building in the center of Newcastle, is home to an internationally important collection of oil paintings, watercolors, sculpture, ceramic, silver, and glassware. You can admire the pre-Raphaelite masterpiece ‘Isabella and the Pot of Basil’ by William Holman-Hunt, dramatic paintings by John Martin, Henry Moore’s abstract sculpture, and even work by famous French Post-Impressionist artist Paul Gaugin.

Specialization
Art & Design

Perfect for
Art lovers

What is it?
An art museum housing a rich and diverse collection of works ranging from the 14th century to the present day.

Why should you go?
This free museum is off the beaten track, but it is a real gem for art lovers of all kinds. Its collection includes over 3,500 pieces of art spanning centuries of cultural heritage. One of the highlights is the Merz Barn Wall, an avant-garde wall of art made of stone, cement, and found objects, which was removed from a small barn and installed in the gallery. You can also marvel at works by British figurative painter Francis Bacon, 16th-century Italian master Palma Giovane, and many other prominent and lesser-known artists.

Specialization
Art & Design

Perfect for
Art lovers

What is it?
A tiny but fascinating free museum showcasing a range of historic locomotives and other significant railway artifacts.

Why should you go?
The museum, housed in the former coal-wagon repair shop, offers a fantastic insight into the history of the railways and tells the story of the life and work of the ‘Father of Railways’ George Stephenson. You will meet ‘Billy,’ one of the world’s oldest surviving steam locomotives, and see an electric train built by Siemens in 1909. On Sundays and Bank Holidays, you can also enjoy a heritage train ride in a 1950s passenger carriage behind a vintage locomotive.

Specialization
History & Technology

Perfect for
Train enthusiasts, history buffs, families with curious kids

What is it?
An independent contemporary art gallery situated in a former Victorian biscuit manufacturing warehouse.

Why should you go?
The Biscuit Factory, conveniently located in Newcastle’s cultural quarter, is a large, airy space with stunning original beams and brickwork and lots of beautiful art pieces on display. As the largest commercial art, craft, and design gallery in the UK, The Biscuit Factory presents the works of about 250 artists each season. You can marvel at modern paintings, engravings, sculpture, and jewelry and then enjoy your branch at the gallery’s lovely in-house café and roof terrace.

Specialization
Contemporary Art

Perfect for
Art lovers, couples

What is it?
A unique venue exclusively devoted to showing the best in international documentary photography.

Why should you go?
Side Gallery is a hidden gem in the vibrant Newcastle Quayside area. This small but perfectly formed exhibition space with free admission is considered one of the leading photography galleries in the UK. There, you can see the rich and powerful work of some of the most important and influential photographers of the past few decades, as well as emerging artists who explore aesthetic and moral issues such as identity, social justice, and cultural diversity.

Specialization
Photography

Perfect for
Anyone interested in photography and documentary

What is it?
An art museum holding one of the UK’s finest collections of Dutch and Flemish 16th and 17th-century paintings.

Why should you go?
The Shipley Art Gallery, located in Gateshead, is the right destination for anyone interested in European fine art, craft, and design. Its collection includes works by Dutch Golden Age painters, such as Benjamin Cuyp, 19th-century British artists, and several French, German, and Italian masters. One of the main highlights is Christ Washing the Disciples’ Feet, the major painting by the famous Venetian master Tintoretto. You can also see a wide range of contemporary crafts, glassware, and many more — and do it for free.

Specialization
Art & Design

Perfect for
Art lovers

What is it?
Not a traditional museum but a fascinating historic site providing lots of information about Newcastle’s past.

Why should you go?
The Victoria Tunnel is the only place in Newcastle where you can literally go deeper into the city’s history. You can go down underground and explore a preserved 19th-century waggonway hidden under the busy streets. You will see a range of historical artifacts and learn about the mining and coal industry, as well as about the tough life during World War II when the tunnel was used as an air-raid shelter.

Specialization
Cultural Heritage

Perfect for
History buffs, tourists

What is it?
A medieval fort and heritage center offering a range of exhibits and activities.

Why should you go?
Newcastle Castle is one of the city’s landmarks and most photographed structures, which not only looks impressive from the outside but is also open to visitors who want to learn more about this place. You can explore the amazingly preserved castle’s towers, known as the Black Gate and the Castle Keep, see medieval banners, costumes, and weapons in the Great Hall, and enjoy stunning views from the top of the building. The castle also hosts a range of family-friendly activities included in your admission ticket, as well as special night events.

Specialization
History & Heritage

Perfect for
Families, history buffs