Things to do in Newcastle for free

Must-see free Newcastle sights

1. Spend an afternoon in the fascinating Discovery Museum
2. Enter the Literary and Philosophical Society
3. Learn about natural history at the Great North Museum
4. Enjoy art at the Hatton Gallery
5. Discover the Laing Art Gallery
6. Stroll around the heart of the city

This northern city is home to some great attractions. Think the Discovery Museum and the Laing Art Gallery. One of the most rewarding things to do is to simply stroll around the city centre and take in the impressive architecture.

1. Spend an afternoon in the fascinating Discovery Museum

The Discovery Museum concentrates on the maritime history of Newcastle and Tyneside, and their role in Britain’s scientific and technological developments. One of the best things to find here is the Turbinia. This was the first ever ship to be motored by a steam turbine. You can’t really miss it to be fair, it’s a key feature of the museum entrance. The Newcastle Story provides a walk through the city’s history with stories from animated characters en route. If you’re looking for Newcastle holidays, take a look through our fantastic selection of deals.

2. Enter the Literary and Philosophical Society

Known as the Lit and Phil, this temple-like public library and learned society occupies one of the city’s finest Georgian buildings: the domed roof, stucco ceilings and wrought-iron galleries are well worth a look. Established in 1825, it now runs a programme of recitals, jazz concerts, talks and exhibitions.

3. Learn about natural history at the Great North Museum

The Great North Museum: Hancock has an engaging collection of displays for kids. There are plenty of natural history exhibits - there’s a knobbly T-Rex skeleton, some stuffed animals and an aquarium - historical artefacts such as the large-scale replica Hadrian’s Wall, and a planetarium. This is one of the best free things to do in Newcastle with little ones!

4. Enjoy art at the Hatton Gallery

Just across the street from the Great North Museum is the bijou Hatton Gallery, famous for housing the only surviving example of German Dadaist Kurt Schwitters’ Merzbau (a sort of architectural collage). It’s home to some one-of-a-kind pieces and so is one of the most interesting free things to do in Newcastle.

5. Discover the Laing Art Gallery

The Laing Art Gallery, in the east of the city, is home to the northeast’s premier art collection: the permanent display is a sweep through British art from the seventeenth century to the present day. Here you will find interesting sculptures from Henry Moore and a large collection of John Martin’s impressive landscapes, along with a selection of Pre-Raphaelites, a group much admired by the English industrial barons. Another permanent display highlights a superb collection of Newcastle silver dating from the seventeenth century and a range of vibrant 1930s glassware by George Davidson.

6. Stroll around the heart of the city

The heart of the city is known as Grainger Town, one of the best-looking city centres in Britain. Thrown up in a few short mid-nineteenth-century years by businessmen-builders and architects such as Richard Grainger, Thomas Oliver and John Dobson, the area is known for its classical stone facades lining splendid, wide streets and, in particular, Grey Street, named for the second Earl Grey (he of the tea), prime minister from 1830 to 1834. In 1832, Grey carried the Reform Act - which granted seats in the House of Commons to large cities that had developed during the Industrial Revolution, like Newcastle - through parliament, an act commemorated by Grey’s Monument at the top of the street. The restored Grainger Market, nearby, was Europe’s largest covered market when built in the 1830s, and is today home to the smallest branch of Marks & Spencer, known as the Original Penny Bazaar.

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