Award Winning Life Science Centre Is Going Kids Free for One Epic Late-Night Takeover

Adults can explore dinosaurs, space and the origins of life on Earth at a special after-hours event at Newcastle’s Life Science Centre (Life).

The Life late session takes place between 6pm and 9pm on Thursday 4 June, and promises to be a night out with a difference for over 18s.

Visitors can step into a Jurassic Park style world with The Great Dinosaur Escape, which has been attracting record-breaking visitor numbers since opening. The North’s biggest collection of moving dinosaurs is making its UK debut at Life, and features more than 25 dinosaurs, including a towering 9-metre T.rex, a baby Stegosaurus, and plenty more prehistoric legends.

In the planetarium, which is the largest in the North, you can sit back and enjoy the award‑winning 360° immersive dome show created by the Life team, Life: The Greatest Story.

Narrated by Alex Kingston (Doctor Who, ER), this show‑stopping journey takes you through the origins of life on Earth, travelling from bacteria in the deep ocean to the evolution of plants, fungi and animals, before exploring the big question: could life exist on other planets?  

The show has just scooped the coveted Best Educational Film Award at the International Dome Fest West 2026, held recently in Colorado, in the United States, beating off stiff competition, including the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

There’s also plenty of hands-on exhibits to explore including Lightbox, where you can step in Europe’s highest tornado tower, sculpt glowing shapes with a giant string of light, see who can win the sneaky feet challenge and much more.

There will be a par bar open all night, and tickets cost £15 or £12 for students.

For more information visit life.org.uk/whats-on/event/life-after-hours/