Visit North East Museums and discover the things you love

Now's a great time to visit North East Museums. There's so much to explore across our museums and art galleries:

• Discovery Museum
• Great North Museum: Hancock
• South Shields Museum & Art Gallery
• Segedunum Roman Fort
• Stephenson Steam Railway
• Shipley Art Gallery
• Laing Art Gallery
• Hatton Gallery
• Arbeia, South Shields Roman Fort (reopens 31 March 2025).

Newcastle's story through the ages

Discovery Museum is a family-friendly museum in Newcastle city centre showcasing Tyneside's rich maritime, scientific, military and industrial heritage. 

Five things you'll love at Discovery Museum

1. Seeing Turbinia - once the fastest ship in the world
2. Getting hands-on in the Science Maze
3. Discovering the city's past in the Newcastle Story exhibition
4. Learning about world famous inventions in the Tyneside Challenge exhibition
5. Open seven days a week with free entry for a great value day out.

Plan your visit to Discovery Museum.

A natural history and archaeology adventure 

Great North Museum: Hancock is a family-friendly museum in Newcastle city centre exploring natural history, archaeology and human cultures. It was founded in 1884 by the brothers John and Albany Hancock.

Five things you'll love at Great North Museum: Hancock

1. Seeing a replica T. rex skeleton in the Fossil Stories exhibition
2. Blasting off to space in the Planetarium
3. Meeting the Pharaohs in the Ancient Egypt exhibition
4. Playing in the Mouse House space for under 5s
5. Open seven days a week with free entry for a great value day out.

Plan your visit to Great North Museum: Hancock.

Enjoy the South Tyneside story

South Shields Museum & Art Gallery is a family-friendly museum that celebrates the rich heritage of South Tyneside. It showcases the Borough's social, industrial and maritime history from 4,000 years ago to today.

Five things you'll love at South Shields Museum & Art Gallery

1. Seeing a lion in the Treasures exhibition
2. Learning about local cuisine in the SCRAN! exhibition
3. Meeting the resident live animals at Creature Corner
4. Learning about life in the Borough in the Tales of South Tyneside exhibition
5. Open Monday - Saturday with free entry for a great value day out.

Plan your visit to South Shields Museum & Art Gallery.

Where Hadrian's Wall begins and ends

Segedunum Roman Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Wallsend, North Tyneside. Built in AD 122 to guard the eastern end of Hadrian's Wall, Segedunum housed 600 Roman soldiers and stood as a symbol of Roman rule for nearly 300 years.

Five things you'll love at Segedunum Roman Fort

1. Seeing the Fort site from the 35-metre-high Viewing Tower
2. Learning about the life of a Roman solider in the Roman Gallery
3. Standing atop a reconstructed section of Hadrian's Wall
4. Getting a photo with Sentius Tectonicus - a huge statue of a Roman Centurion
5. Open Monday - Saturday. Under 22s and NE28 residents go free!

Plan your visit to Segedunum Roman Fort.

Heritage train rides and a museum to enjoy

Stephenson Steam Railway offers a family-friendly journey into the coal-powered past, with heritage train rides and exhibits of historic rail vehicles in the museum. It's located near Silverlink retail park in North Tyneside.

Five things you'll love at Stephenson Steam Railway

1. Seeing Billy - the world's third oldest steam engine
2. Taking a four-mile train ride in vintage 1950s carriages
3. Learning about the pioneers of the railways, George and Robert Stephenson
4. Seeing the Tyneside Electric Parcel Van - the only surviving vehicle from the Tyneside Suburban Electric Railway
5. Free entry to the museum. Pay once, ride all day for train rides.

Stephenson Steam Railway has special opening hours - make sure to check the website before visiting.

Plan your visit to Stephenson Steam Railway.

The North East's home of decorative arts, crafts and design

Gateshead's Shipley Art Gallery opened in 1917 with 504 paintings from Joseph Shipley's bequest. Today, it is a leading centre for decorative arts, contemporary craft and ceramics - a hidden gem right next to Saltwell Park.

Five things you'll love at Shipley Art Gallery

1. Seeing the painting of the famous song, The Blaydon Races
2. Exploring objects from the Saltwell Park Museum
3. Gazing at Tintoretto's masterpiece, Christ Washing the Disciples' Feet
4. Seeing outstanding craft collections in the Designs for Life exhibition
5. Open Tuesday - Saturday with free entry for a great value trip.

Plan your visit to the Shipley Art Gallery.

British art and world-class temporary exhibitions

Founded in 1901 by businessman Alexander Laing, the Laing Art Gallery houses an internationally significant collection of British paintings, watercolours, ceramics, silver and glassware. It's also known for its temporary exhibitions that bring the biggest names in art to Newcastle upon Tyne.

Five things you'll love at Laing Art Gallery

1. Seeing the Laing's best paintings in the 100 Years of Collecting exhibition
2. Exploring North East art in the Northern Spirit exhibition
3. Seeing the latest temporary exhibition - Romance to Realities
4. Enjoying afternoon tea in one of Newcastle's most beautiful cafés
5. Open Monday - Saturday with free entry to all permanent exhibitions.

Plan your visit to Laing Art Gallery.

Modern and contemporary art

Hatton Gallery hosts a changing programme of modern and contemporary art exhibitions. It's based in the Fine Art department at Newcastle University but open to everyone.

Five things you'll love at Hatton Gallery

1. Beautiful architectural details around the building
2. Seeing the new Sustainable Clay exhibition (until 3 May 2025)
3. Kurt Schwitters' iconic Merz Bern Wall, on permanent display
4. The gift shop - perfect for art books, cards and souvenirs
5. Free entry Monday - Saturday for a great value trip.

Plan your visit to Hatton Gallery.

Roman buildings reconstructed

Arbeia, South Shields Roman Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage site in South Shields. The fort guarded the main sea route to Hadrian's Wall and served as a key supply base for the Roman army. You can step into reconstructed Roman buildings on the fort site and explore fascinating archaeological finds from Arbeia in the museum.

Five things you'll love at Arbeia, South Shields Roman Fort

1. The West Gate - one of the UK's finest reconstructed Roman buildings
2. The Victor and Regina tombstones in Arbeia's small but perfect museum
3. The Commanding Officer's House - see how the fort's top soldier lived with his family
4. Interesting flowers and herbs in the Roman Garden and across the site
5. Free entry for a great value trip out. Dogs welcome on the fort site.

Arbeia, South Shields Roman Fort re-opens for the summer season on 31 March 2025.