Free days out in Newcastle with the kids this October half term 2021

Like most bustling UK cities, Newcastle has plenty to offer families over the school holidays, but it can be tough to find options if you’re hoping to keep things cheap. Here are some of the best things to do around Newcastle for free if you’re hoping to get the kids out the house this half term.

The Discovery Museum in the city centre is a behemoth of a building showcasing the best of the local area’s history and culture over three floors. The museum opened as the first science museum in the UK outside of London and moved to the current site in 1993.

Open seven days a week including 10am – 4pm on weekdays and full of exhibits including the ‘Stories of the Tyne’ exhibition to the ongoing ‘Making Waves: A Festival of Sound’ and many more, kids can explore, learn and enjoy a day out with no cost for access.

Less than a 20 minute walk from the Discovery Museum is the Great North Museum where children can learn about natural history and civilisations from days gone by. The site’s planetarium opened again following Coronavirus restrictions on 23 October and other parts of the museum including the Hadrian’s Wall gallery and Living Planet gallery are all ready to welcome children from across the area.

If you want to keep away from a museum setting, Ouseburn Farm is ideal. The farm is open Tuesday – Sunday every week for families to get up close and personal with animals in one of Newcastle’s trendiest areas. The farm hosts regular sessions with the animals they house including reptile bathing, goat walking and rabbit and guinea pig grooming. You could pair a trip to the farm up with a visit to the local Biscuit Factory which hosts some fantastic art from local creatives or walk along the river Ouse down to the Tyne before following the Quayside back into the city centre.

Staying away outside, Jesmond Dene can be a fun place for kids to reconnect with nature and see the area’s famous waterfall. With plenty of places for a picnic or just explore away from the bustling city centre, this North East favourite allows kids to blow off some steam in the wild and is a short 15 walk from West Jesmond or Ilford Road metro stations. The site also includes a play area and Pets Corner where children can interact with farm animals including goats, alpacas and pigs.

Families can also head over the Tyne to the Baltic art gallery for a bit of culture. The culture hub is hosting family days throughout half term which cater to all ages and abilities. In addition to the workshops, Baltic are also hosting family tours of the building, allowing kids to see the site’s art first hand – and even if the art isn’t for everyone, the sights from the viewing deck are worth the trip! These activities are happening throughout half term week and the full schedule is available on the Baltic’s website.