10 Family-Friendly Summer Activities In Newcastle
A handy round-up of the best kid-focused activities happening in the city over the summer
As the school summer holidays stretch ahead of us, parents can often worry about what to do with their kids to keep them busy, entertained and stimulated for the next few weeks.
Luckily, the city is bursting at the seams with summer fun for your little 'uns and we’ve picked some of the most exciting for you - from cooking up a storm at one of Blackfriars' kid-friendly cooking classes to summer camps at Northumbria University and much, much more.
Summer of Fun @ Life Science Centre - Times Square
Life Science Centre is always buzzing with exciting events for kids of all ages but over the summer they really pull out all the stops. There are special events, like the Earth Defenders show in the Planetarium where satellites defend earth in a stunning eighties-style animated show or the Cloudy With A Chance Of Diamonds: Sphere Show, with TV weatherman Ross Hutchinson appearing as a galactic weather forecaster taking you through the weather on the planets of our solar system - from Mars’ sandstorms to Venus’ 460 degree heat and the possibility of raining diamonds on Saturn! Let's not forget The Great North Time Machine Live Science Show, which takes you on a journey through the past to see some of the amazing inventions that have emerged from the North East. All that, plus fun in Life's Play Zone, Space Zone and Making Studios and more too!
Kids Camps @ Sport Central, Northumbria University
If your kid is of a sporty persuasion, you’ll be happy to hear Northumbria University is bringing back its programme of kids camps this summer. Running from Monday 22nd July to Friday 30th August (except for Bank Holiday Monday), the camps offer 6-11 year-olds the chance to try football, cricket, basketball, netball and table tennis, and have daily access to the swimming pool and climbing wall. There’s a games room too! It costs £25 per day to take part but there are various packages available.
Little Monks Cookery Club & Smart Cookies Cookery Club @ Blackfriars
Blackfriars always seems to have something exciting on the go and they make sure kids are included too. This summer they’re inviting budding young chefs to join them for the Little Monks Cookery Club (24th July and 28th August), for six hour sessions aimed at 7-10 year olds. They’ll get to learn about nutrition, make their own lunch and generally become more confident in the kitchen. Alternatively there’s the Smart Cookies Cookery Club (25th July and 29th August), aimed at 11-17 year olds who are more confident around the kitchen and want to develop their culinary skills. Sessions for both classes cost £75 including refreshments and all materials and ingredients.
Art Camp & Art Club @ Laing Art Gallery
The Laing has a variety of summer activities for kids of all ages, encouraging their creativity and helping them appreciate art. Art Club is a three-day school aimed at 11 to 16 year-olds and Art Camp is a three-day school at 7 to 10 year-olds and are held throughout July and August. Both are led by art educators who help kids create their own artwork in a variety of materials, taking inspiration from the gallery’s collection - perfect for future Picassos!
NE1’s Screen On The Green @ Old Eldon Square
Our iconic open-air cinema Screen on the Green makes a welcome return to Old Eldon Square this summer and there are tonnes of kid-friendly films to enjoy as a family, from Disney and Pixar favourite to musicals and blockbusters. Every Tuesday morning, the big screen will play host to Toddler Takeover with screenings of adaptations of Julia Donaldson's popular kids' books - The Snail & The Whale, The Highway Rat, The Gruffalo and more - with picnic rugs to get comfy on and juice cartons for the little ones. Play Rebellion, our interactive artistic play space, will be back too and there's a new addition at Old Eldon Square for 2024 with Tiny Toon - a miniature play village full of Newcastle landmarks and businesses for kids to enjoy too. The fun kicks off on 22nd July and runs all the way through the summer holidays to 1st September.
NE1’s Summer in the City @ The Quayside
Think Screen on the Green is the only summertime activity NE1 puts on? Think again! Our annual Summer in the City programme is back again too from 22nd July to 1st September with tonnes of exciting activities for kids and their families to enjoy. There'll be dance classes for kids, family yoga sessions, storytelling on the banks of the Tyne, Kids' Club parties and so much more. Make sure to stop by the official Summer in the City website for times and booking details for all events.
Spark Club @ Discovery Museum
This year, the marvellous Discovery Museum is hosting Spark Club as part of its exciting Steam To Green programme. Aimed at ‘budding scientists and engineers’ aged 8-12, the club aims to get gets involved in experiments and inquiry by presenting them with the revolution happening in the North East around renewable energy. The five Monday sessions (22nd July to 19th August 19) will look in turn at robotics, lightbulbs and circuits, transport, light and sound and green energy. Sessions run from 10am to 3pm and cost £30 each.
Milkshake! Live on Holiday & Dinosaur Adventure Live: Trouble on Volcano Island @ Tyne Theatre & Opera House
The Tyne Theatre & Opera House always has some special attractions for kids over the summer, and dinosaurs are usually involved somewhere! This year it’s Dinosaur Adventure Live: Trouble On Volcano Island, which promises to be more ‘ROARSOME’ than ever. This brand-new show features an active volcano, our dinosaur rangers and of course lots of ancient reptiles, including a giant T-Rex. There are two afternoon shows on 7th August, with special meet-and-greet options available. They’re also bringing Milkshake! Live on Holiday to town on 27th July, bringing popular Milkshake characters from Paw Patrol, Blue’s Clues and more. Expect songs, dancing and a whole lot of holiday fun.
Madagascar: The Musical & Peppa Pig’s Fun Day Out @ Theatre Royal
Also bringing some excellent shows for kids to town this summer is the Theatre Royal, with a double whammy of holiday treats. Madagascar The Musical runs from 10th to 13th July and brings much-loved characters from the popular movies to musical life in an adventure starring Alex the Lion, Marty The Zebra, Melman The Giraffe and more. Full of hi-jinks and hit songs, this should be a blast. Then from 21st to 22nd August, Peppa Pig and her chums arrive for three shows a day, in a song and dance-filled show that sees our heroes visit the zoo and the beach.
Summer School @ Purple Peacock
Flamboyant home of all things cabaret, Purple Peacock is hosting a week-long Summer School for kids this summer that’s bound to give your young’uns a fantastic experience. Taking place from 29th July to 1st August, the school will give kids a grounding in musical theatre with chances to learn about stagecraft, scriptwriting, dancing and singing. Costing £80 for the week, the price includes a costume for the final show put together by the kids for their families to enjoy.
That’s just skimming the surface of the many fun activities for kids and families this summer in Newcastle, so get them to put down the game controller and get out and about enjoying some of the excitement the city has to offer.
