The Christmas opening times of Gateshead Metrocentre and Newcastle's Eldon Square

December is finally here, and it is now the time to start getting Christmas shopping together if you haven't already.

Luckily for residents of Newcastle and the wider North East, we have two major shopping centres in the area and the Metrocentre in Gateshead and Eldon Square in Newcastle are planning for their December customers.

When is the Metrocentre in Gateshead open in the build up to Christmas?

The Gateshead site will ben open between 9am and 9pm every weekday from now until the Christmas period. The centre's weekend opening times are listed as 9am - 8pm on Saturdays and 11am - 5pm on Sundays.

The site's Christmas hours begin from Christmas Eve, when doors will be open between 11am and 5pm.

After staying closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day shopping will be available between 10am and 6pm before regular hours return until Friday, December 29.

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The shopping centre will be open on New Year's Eve between 11am and 5pm. Shops will be closed on New Year's Day but some restaurants and other facilities may be open.

Normal hours will resume from Tuesday, January 2 2024.

When is Eldon Square open over December in 2023?

The Newcastle city centre site is due to be open between 9am and 8pm from Monday to Saturday every week until Christmas with Sunday hours in place between 11am and 5pm.

Boxing Day hours will continue into Christmas Eve with the whole centre closed on Christmas Day with hours of 9am-6pm on Boxing Day.

Regular non festive hours of 9am - 7pm on Monday to Saturday and 11am - 5pm Sunday hours will return after Christmas, although 9am - 8pm late hours will remain in place on Thursdays.

The only remaining change will see Eldon Square closed on New Year's Day.