12 Family-Friendly Summer Activities In Newcastle

Summer of Fun @ Life Science Centre

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 brand-new special events, like the full dome show Life: The Greatest Story, which journeys from the origins of Earth to the search for extra-terrestrial life, and hands-on exhibitions in Lightbox - which offers everything from the chance to create your own twister to hear your heartbeat as a drum. And that’s not forgetting that the Life Science Centre celebrities its 25^th birthday this year, and has a fantastic live science show full of the best bits from its history that you’ll definitely want to catch as well! All that, plus fun in Life's Play Zone, Space Zone and Making Studios and more too!

Family Shows @ Purple Peacock

Wrap-up the week with a trip to the Purple Peacock that the whole family will enjoy! Their family musical Sundays certainly hit the high note, with full-stage musical theatre productions featuring the young’uns' favourite tunes from the likes of Matilda, Frozen and The Greatest Showman. Singalongs and full-scale audience participation is very much encouraged, so check out their website to see what’s playing this week!

NE1’s Screen On The Green @ Old Eldon Square

Our award-winning 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 - Tiddler, Room on the Broom, The Gruffalo and more - with picnic rugs to get comfy on and juice cartons for the little ones. There’ll be a brand-new stay and play space for the kids to explore, and of course the beloved Tiny Toon will be making its return for 2025 with plenty of Newcastle landmarks, and some new installations for kids to enjoy too. The fun kicks off on Monday 21^st July, and runs all the way through the summer holidays to Sunday 31^st August. We’ll be hosting a Screen on the Green Closing Party across the final weekend too, jam-packed with fun arts and crafts alongside audience-picked films - so keep an eye out for more details coming very soon!

Here Be Dragons @ Live Theatre 

Meanwhile down on the Quayside, Live Theatre are embracing fantastical fantasy with Here Be Dragons workshops on the 30^th July. This sixty minute sessions are designed to help kids’ imaginations soar, offering the chance for them to craft their very own dragon wings, dream up adventures and add stories to an adventure map – before their brilliant journeys come to life with the help of Unfolding Theatre’s talented team!

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 Monday 21^st July to Sunday 31^st August with tonnes of exciting activities for kids and their families to enjoy. There'll be family yoga sessions, pop-up events from Let's Party, storytelling on the banks of the Tyne and so much more. And brand-new for 2025, the Quayside Carnival will be bringing some action-packed fun to the area, including circus workshops and performances, meet-and-greets with the family’s favourite characters and a challenge zone for the older kids. Make sure to stop by the official Summer in the City website for times and booking details for all events.

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 (26^th and 27^th 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 (28^th and 29^th 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, lunch and recipes to take home and practice.

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 21^st July to Friday 29^th August (except from Bank Holidays), 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 £30 per day to take part but there are various packages available too.

Newcastle Fringe Festival @ Multiple venues

Also making a welcome return to the Toon this summer is the Newcastle Fringe Festival! Taking place from Tuesday 22^nd July to Saturday 2^nd August, there’s shedloads of family-friendly events to check out. At Alphabetti Theatre there’s Made by Raccoons: Tales from our Revolution and Philip Simon: School’s Out Comedy Club, while Dance City plays host to the Marvelous Microbes Workshop. Don’t forget to check out the Newcastle Fringe Festival website for the full listings, and get your tickets booked!

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 aimed at 7 to 10 year-olds, with sessions 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!

Summer Musical Theatre Workshop @ Tyne Theatre & Opera House

Got a wannabe performer at home? Send them to Enchanted Entertainment’s Summer Musical Theatre Workshop at Tyne Theatre & Opera House from Monday 11^th to Saturday 16^th August! Designed for kids aged 8-18 to learn all about singing, acting, dancing and stage craft, this fun-filled week offers the ideal chance to boost their confidence, make some new pals, and learn routines from loads of West End and Broadway musicals.

Summer Workshops @ Theatre Royal 

Alternatively, why not check out the range of summer workshops for kids and teens that Theatre Royal are hosting over the summer? From their 5 Day Film Challenge for budding cinematographers to their Play in a Week for kids aged 8 to 11 - plus workshops covering musical theatre and technical theatre skills - there’s loads of opportunities for kids to get a taste for the stage and learn something new with their peers. They’ll definitely have something to talk about at school come September!

Young People’s Summer Masterclasses @ Northern Stage

One for the older kids now at Northern Stage, as those aged 13-17 are invited to go behind the scenes at this iconic Newcastle venue for some taster workshops across technical theatre, set and costume design, directing for stage and play in a day. Tickets cost £50 per day for an individual workshop, but there’s a discount should they fancy joining for all four days.

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.

Main image: NE1's Tiny Toon at Old Eldon Square

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