Today we have a guest post from Sam who blogs over at North East Family Fun. North East Family Fun is an award winning family travel blog featuring adventures of a family of 5 across the North East, UK and beyond. Sam lives just a few miles from the vibrant city of Newcastle Upon Tyne and today is sharing her top 5 recommendations for FREE family fun in ‘the toon’ this summer:
1 – NE1 Screen on the Green
Did you know that Newcastle City Centre has it’s own outdoor movie screen in the summer? Located in old Eldon Square there’s a full programme of movies to keep the family entertained this summer. Expect lots of classic from Paddington to your favourite Disney movie. Check out the Screen on the Green website for listings. All movies are completely free to watch but I’d recommend getting there early if you’d like to guarantee a seat.
https://www.getintonewcastle.co.uk/ne1-events/screen-on-the-green
2 – Celebrate ‘All the fun of the fair’ with the Discovery Museum
The Discovery Museum is a FREE hands-on museum in Newcastle close to the train station. This summer they are hosting a special fairground exhibition charting the history of Europe’s largest travelling fair – the Hoppings. Children can play with over 50 vintage machines, try their hand at pinball and even discover their fortune.
https://discoverymuseum.org.uk/
3 – Quayside Seaside
Newcastle Quayside has it’s very own seaside in the summer months. It has to be the best spot for people watching. Children can enjoy playing in the sand with the buckets and spades provided as their grown ups relax in a deckchair and watch the world go by. If you’re peckish, Barrio Comida with be serving their legendary Mexican street food and refreshments from their on-site shipping container.
https://www.getintonewcastle.co.uk/ne1-events/quayside-seaside
4 – Great North Museum
You’ll find the Great North Museum in the heart of Newcastle City Centre – not far from the main bus station, university and intu Eldon Square. This much-loved museum is home to a scale replica of Hadrian’s Wall, an Egyptian mummy and has it’s own Planetarium. The museum runs a lot of special events across the summer holidays and many of them are free of charge. Highlights this year include ‘Explore the World Week’, Creepy Crawly Handling, ‘Under the Sea Week’ and ‘Space Week’.
https://greatnorthmuseum.org.uk
5 – Exhibition Park
Exhibition Park is a city-centre park packed with fun. There are multiple play areas packed with climbing frames, swings and slides alongside a water play area, a boating lake, skate park and beautifully manicured grounds. It’s the perfect place to spend a sunny afternoon with a picnic. On the third Sunday of every month there’s a miniature train that runs next to Wylam Brewery. It’s organised by volunteers and free to ride – a firm favourite with toddlers in the North East.