Newcastle Quayside New Year Laser show: What times are the shows, the best views across the city and where to park?

After the success of last year, Laser Light City has set up a temporary home in Newcastle once again. As the show welcomes in the New Year, local residents are expected to flock to the city centre to check out the new form of celebration which is taking over from the fireworks displays elsewhere across the region.

The displays are taking place over three days, with the evenings of New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day set to bring in the most people to watch the event unfold following the opening night of the event on Friday, December 30.

The light show will come from 80 lasers installed across the city with many of the light sources able to be controlled from smartphones, making each show interactive. This can be done from 5pm each evening.

When are Newcastle Quayside’s laser shows?

Running from Friday, December 30 until Sunday, January 1, the shows will be put on throughout the evenings and into the night.

The shows on Friday, December 30 will be on the hour, every hour between 6pm and 11pm. New Year’s Eve will see shows at the same times with additional shows at five minutes past midnight and 1am. The shows on New Year’s Day will also run hourly from 6pm to 11pm.

Where to watch Newcastle Quayside’s laser show

Although the lights are expected to be seen across the city, organisers are suggesting the best place to see the full display is at the Quayside as bridges and surrounding buildings will be lit up to make the display as impressive as possible. The lasers will light up the area between the Tyne Bridge and Millennium Bridge with the Sage and Baltic both expected to play prominent parts in displays.

Where to park for Newcastle Quayside’s laser show

Off street car parking is available at Akenside Hill off Queen Street where the cost is £1.60 per hour from 8am - 7pm and close to the Swing Bridge visitors will find another car park charging £1.50 per hour from 8am-7pm. Anyone not planning on watching displays on New Year’s Eve can use The Guildhall car park which is closed on the final day of the year. This is 80p per hour.

Dean Street multi-storey car park costs £1.80 per hour from 8am until 7pm and the car park is open until midnight. At Manors it is £1.20 per hour or a flat all-day charge of £9 from 8am - 6pm Monday to Saturday and £3 all day on Sunday. It is open from 8am - 10pm on Friday 30th and Saturday 31st, and 8am - 6pm on Sunday 1st.

How to get to Newcastle Quayside by public transport

Tyne and Wear Metro travellers can use Central or Gateshead stations to head to the Quayside with both being a short walk from the displays. Northern Rail services will also run into Central Station.

Stagecoach, Go North East and most Arriva bus services will be running a Saturday service on the Friday, December 30 and until about 6pm on New Year’s Eve, then reduced services until 7.30pm when most buses will finish. There are no bus service on New Year’s Day.