Family Fun at Museums and Galleries across Tyneside this Easter
This Easter, families can enjoy an eggstravaganza of fun activities at museums and galleries across Tyneside
Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums (TWAM) is offering a wide range of events and activities throughout the Easter holidays to inspire and entertain children and families across all of its venues. Visitors can take their pick from crafts, art school, Roman-themed food and drink, science adventures, heritage train rides, plus lots more.
Great North Museum: Hancock, Newcastle
Wednesday, 13 April; 11am – 3pm
Hadrian's Wall 1900 Family Fun Day
The museum is transformed into a Roman festival for the day with a range of Roman-themed activities. Watch chariot demonstrations, make a Roman mosaic, and sample Roman food and drink, plus lots more. Come dressed in your finest Roman costumes!
Free event, donations welcome. No need to book - just drop in.
Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle
11 - 14 April; 10am – 3pm
4-day Art School for 11-16 year olds
Taking inspiration from the Laing's collection, young people will work with a professional arts educator to experiment with a variety of materials to develop their artistic skills and techniques, and create a portfolio of work.
Cost: £100 plus booking fee. Pre-booking essential.
Hatton Gallery, Newcastle
Monday, 11 April; 10.30am - 12.30pm
Springtime Art
Create a wonderful collage based on the colours, birds and plants of spring in this drop-in workshop.
Free, donations welcome. Suitable for children aged 4-11 years.
Discovery Museum, Newcastle
Eggstraordinary Easter Events
9 -24 April: Discovery Days - Complete the trail to be entered into a draw to win a chocolate hamper
12 & 14 April: Discovery Days - Family crafts in our Play + Invent space
13 & 20 April: Street Scientists at Easter - Bringing science to life through short interactive science demonstrations in the Museum galleries
Free entry, donations welcome. Charge for some activities.
South Shields Museum & Art Gallery
Tremendous Tuesdays
Drop in between 11am and 3pm for arts and crafts activities inspired by the objects and stories in the museum.
Tuesday 12 April - Tear and layer paper to create colourful landscape pictures.
Tuesday 19 April - Make a hobby horse stick puppet.
Free entry, donations welcome
Arbeia, South Shields Roman Fort
Crafty Romans
Collect a free craft pack from the Museum 11am – 3pm.
13 April - Plant your own Roman herbs to take away.
20 April - Make and design a Roman dagger and pretend to be a Roman soldier in battle.
Free activity, donations welcome
Segedunum Roman Fort & Museum, Wallsend
Roman-themed family fun
Marvellous Mondays
Collect a free craft pack from the Museum 11am – 3pm.
11 April - Soldiers walked for 25 miles every day just for practice. Design a pair of soldier’s boots to practise marching in.
18 April - Make and design your own Roman dagger and pretend to be a Roman soldier in battle.
18 April - Victor the Veteran
Find out all about life as a soldier on Hadrian's Wall. Will you become one of Victor's recruits?
Free activities, donations welcome. Kids under 16 get into the museum FREE, entry fee for adults
Stephenson Steam Railway, North Shields
Easter Family Fun at Stephenson
Heritage train rides: Sundays, Bank Holidays, and Thursdays during school holidays. Pre-booking recommended.
15 April - Enjoy traditional Fish 'n' Chips served by Codrophenia
14 April: Make & Take Thursday - Grow wildlife-friendly plants. Suitable for ages 3-11 years
21 April: Make & Take Thursday - Learn all about train timetables and make a station clock. Suitable for ages 3-7
Free entry, donations welcome. Charge for heritage train rides
Shipley Art Gallery, Gateshead
Family Arts Festival
Fun and creative activities inspired by the paintings, textiles, ceramic and glass artworks on display.
14 April: Flower Sculptures | 19 April: Still Life Painting | 21 April: Bird Decoration
Cost: £3 per person. Pre-booking essential.
Entry to all TWAM venues is free, except for Segedunum Roman Fort where adults over 16 pay £5.95 and concessions £3.95 (including voluntary donation). At Segedunum, children under the age of 16 always go free, as do NE28 postcode residents. Pre-booking is essential for a few activities.
TWAM is encouraging its visitors to use the Metro to travel to its venues, especially families looking for a good value day out. Up to three children aged 11 and under can travel for free on the Metro and the Shields Ferry with a fare-paying adult.
