Primary Times - the definitive what’s on and where to go family guide of activities and events for children of primary school age. Things to do with your kids during the school holidays including arts and craft activities, music and theatre for children, parties, competitions, days out, and family attractions along with term time drama schools, dance classes, after school clubs and sports activities. Things to do at a place near you!
What's On in Newcastle, Gateshead & Northumberland
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MEET AND MAKE
1st November-31st December 2025
Time: Sundays 2-4pm
Venue: Baltic
Address: Gateshead Quays, NE8 3BA
Website: www.balticmill.com
Take part in free artist-led workshops perfect for families with children aged 5-12.
TODDLER TIME
1st November-31st December 2025
Time: Wednesdays 10am-6pm
Venue: Baltic
Address: Gateshead Quays, NE8 3BA
Website: www.balticmill.com
Toddler time explores the themes of colour, sound and touch, and is designed to support your toddler to play, make, think and do. Have fun and investigate new ways to play in these changing drop-in activities.
UNDER 5'S PLAY HIVE
1st November-31st December 2025
Time: 10am-6pm
Venue: Baltic
Address: Gateshead Quays, NE8 3BA
Website: www.balticmill.com
Drop in every Wednesday to Sunday to this area where under 5s celebrates Baltic's journey from a flour mill to our present day as an art gallery. Through play, we invite you to explore our past, present...
WONDER & WANDER TOUR
1st November-31st December 2025
Time: Wednesdays 10.30am
Venue: Baltic
Address: Gateshead Quays, NE8 3BA
Website: www.balticmill.com
Soak up some art with the barins and join a member of our Learning Team (alongside Kitty the Kittiwake) for a Wonder and Wander tour where you and your little one can discover our current exhibitions through...
COWGATE YOUNG THEATRE MAKERS
1st July-31st December 2025
Time: Mondays 4-6pm
Venue: Cowgate Community Centre,
Address: NE5 3UT.
Website: www.unfoldingtheatre.co.uk
An exciting new drama group for children & young people during term-time that uses drama, theatre-making, movement & creative writing to create & share stories. For ages 8 -14 years old. Delivered...
EAST END STORY MAKERS
3rd July-31st December 2025
Time: Wednesdays 4-4.50pm
Venue: Byker Primary School,
Address: NE6 2AT.
Website: www.unfoldingtheatre.co.uk
A creative group for children and young people during term-time that uses drama, music, movement, creative writing & food to create & share stories. For children & young people aged 5 -14 and...
STEAM TO GREEN
20th-21st July 2026
Venue: Discovery Museum
Address: Blandford Square, NE1 4JA
Website: www.discoverymuseum.org.uk
Discovery Museum's new FREE exhibiton which tells the story of energy & the climate crisis in the North East by looking back to the industrial revolution, & forward to the pioneering contributions in green...
NORTH EAST DEAF YOUTH THEATRE
21st September-31st December 2025
Time: 9.30-11.30am
Venue: Gosforth Civic Theatre,
Address: NE3 3HD
Website: www.unfoldingtheatre.co.uk
North East Deaf Theatre aims to support deaf children and young people to develop their creative skills, build confidence and form new friendships. Together with deaf arts organisation Turtléar,...
LEAP THEN LOOK, PLAY, INTERACT, EXPLORE
12th October-27th April 2025
Time: 10am-6pm
Venue: Baltic
Address: Gateshead Quays, NE8 3BA
Website: www.baltic.art
This new exhibition explores play, collaboration & materials. Featuring large, tactile sculptural objects & colourful assemblages, everything in the space is interactive. Lively, exciting & curiosity-filled, Play...
LOST LEGIONARIES TRAIL
6th January-31st March 2025
Time: 10am-3pm (Closed Sundays)
Venue: Segedunum Roman Fort, Baths & Museum
Address: Buddle Street, Wallsend NE28 6HR
Website: www.segedunumromanfort.org.uk
Eight Roman soldiers have gone missing on the fort site. Can you find all of them? Pick up a trail leaflet from reception & explore the fort site to find all the missing soldiers. Free entry to young people...
QUEEN HEAVEN
23rd January-31st December 2025
Time: 6.30pm
Venue: Life Science Centre
Address: Times Square, NE1 4EP
Website: www.life.org.uk
Enjoy some of legendary rock band Queen’s greatest hits set to fun, exciting visuals in Life’s Planetarium (a 360° immersive dome). Approved by Queen & inspired by their music, &...
FEBRUARY REOPENING
1st February-31st December 2025
Venue: Life Science Centre
Address: Times Square, NE1 4EP
Website: www.life.org.uk
Life Science Centre reopens on Saturday 1 February, after a period of closure for exciting upgrades, essential maintenance & team training, ahead of Life’s 25th birthday in May. Among the exciting new...
NEWCASTLE CASTLE
1st February-31st December 2025
Time: 10am-5pm
Venue: Newcastle Castle
Address: Castle Garth, NE1 1RQ
Website: www.newcastlecastle.co.uk
The city's most historic building & attraction, Newcastle Castle & Keep is open 5 days a week 10am-5pm during winter hours & all week at Half Term. Enjoy a day out exploring the landmarks & discovering...
British Science Week
7th-15th March 2025
Venue: Life Science Centre
Address: Life Science Centre, NE1 4EP
Website: www.life.org.uk
Families can get stuck into loads of hands-on fun at Life this March. Discover an immersive world with Luma, the giant, glowing robotic snail! (Friday 7 – Saturday 15 March only). This nine-metre-long...
LUMA
7th-15th March 2025
Venue: Life Science Centre
Address: Times Square, NE1 4EP
Website: www.life.org.uk
Discover an immersive world with Luma, the giant, glowing robotic snail during British Science Week! This nine-metre-long interactive snail has a gentle, welcoming & otherworldly presence. And just loves...
KING ARTHUR
10th-12th March 2025
Venue: Newcastle Theatre Royal
Address: NE1 6BR
Website: www.theatreroyal.co.uk
La Navet Bete’s King Arthur hilarious retelling of the Arthurian legends will have the whole family crying with laughter & become part of the legend themselves! Camelot is in trouble & King Arthur knows...
TINY SPARKS TAKEOVER
14th-14th March 2025
Time: 10am-12.30pm
Venue: Discovery Museum
Address: Blandford Square, NE1 4JA
Website: www.discoverymuseum.org.uk
Go along with your little ones aged 33 months - 5 years old to takeover the Discovery Museum! There will be a series of simple play activities on offer, encouraging toddlers to explore the museum in new...
FAMILY ART CLASS
15th-15th March 2025
Time: 10.30am - 12 noon & 1-2.30pm
Venue: Shipley Art Gallery
Address: Prince Consort Road, NE8 4JB
Website: www.shipleyartgallery.org.uk
A monthly Saturday art class for 7 - 12 year olds. At each session you'll be guided by a professional artist to discover a different art technique, such as watercolours, ceramics, mixed media, drawing...
MARCH PRE=SCHOOL DAY
21st-21st March 2025
Time: 9.30am-3pm
Venue: Life Science Centre
Address: Times Square, NE1 4EP
Website: www.life.org.uk
Pre-school days provide the perfect opportunity for you & your little ones to try new things, make new friends & have lots of hands-on fun. Enjoy exciting activities that have been developed with children’s...
RED NOSE DAY
21st-21st March 2025
Website: www.comicrelief.com/rednoseday
The funniest day of the year is back on 21 March 2025. Get ready to feel good, give big & do something funny for money. Together we will help people here in the UK & across the world.
NORTH EAST DEAF YOUTH THEATRE
22nd-22nd March 2025
Time: 9.30-11.30am
Venue: Gosforth Civic Theatre,
Address: NE3 3HD
Website: www.unfoldingtheatre.co.uk
Free monthly theatre workshops for deaf children (ages 5–12). Led by deaf actor and writer EJ Raymond, these free workshops nurture creativity, confidence, and friendships. Explore acting, storytelling,...
BEAUTY & THE BEAST EASTER PANTO
19th-26th April 2025
Venue: Customs House
Address: South Shields, NE33 1ES
Website: www.customshouse.co.uk/theatre
A dazzling pantomime retelling of Beauty & the Beast, perfect for the whole family. When the kind-hearted Beauty finds herself in a mysterious castle, she discovers that its grumpy yet loveable Beast is...
THE WIZARD OF OZ - EASTER PANTO
19th-20th April 2025
Venue: Tyne Theatre & Opera House
Address: Westgate Road, NE1 4AG
Website: www.tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk
Next April school holidays, join Kansas farm-girl Dorothy & her pet dog Toto on this magical adventure suitable for all ages. Watch in amazement as they are picked up by a tornado & carried off to...
PINOCCHIO
22nd-23rd April 2025
Venue: Whitley Bay Playhouse
Address: NE26 1LZ
Website: www.playhousewhitleybay.co.uk
Anton Benson Productions presents an hilarious Easter Panto with no strings attached. Prepare yourselves for another all-singing, all-dancing, laugh-a-minute ride through the fun & frolics of panto land....
THE GRUFFALO
22nd-25th April 2025
Venue: Northern Stage
Address: NE1 7RH
Website: www.northernstage.co.uk
Join Mouse on a draining adventure through the deep, dark wood in Tall Stories magical, musical adaptation of Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler’s classic picture book, celebrating 25 years in 2024! Tickets...
SLEEPING BEAUTY
23rd-23rd April 2025
Time: 2pm
Venue: The Exchange Theatre
Address: Howard Street, North Shields, NE30 1SE
Website: www.theexchange1856.com
Enjoy a spellbinding journey with Sleeping Beauty, presented by Tom Rolfe Productions! Follow the tale of Princess Beauty, a kind-hearted royal destined for greatness. All is going well in preparation...
THREE LITTLE VIKINGS
25th-25th April 2025
Time: 11am & 2pm
Venue: Gosforth Civic Theatre
Address: NE3 3HD
Website: www.gosforthcivictheatre.co.uk
Three brave little Viking girls save the day in this bold & funny adventure story for little rebels. Once upon a time in a Viking village, everything seems to be going wrong. Chickens are disappearing,...
PIG HEART BOY
29th April-3rd May 2025
Venue: Newcastle Theatre Royal
Address: NE1 6BR
Website: www.theatreroyal.co.uk
For older children, the multi award-winning writer Malorie Blackman OBE’s, Pig Heart Boy asks is it better to have a pig’s heart that works … than a human heart that doesn’t? This heartfelt play...
POP PRINCESSES - WORLD TOUR
4th-4th May 2025
Venue: Customs House
Address: South Shields, NE33 1ES
Website: www.customshouse.co.uk/theatre
This is the children’s pop concert with a big difference. The four fabulous Fairy tale Princesses are back, & this time they are on their first World Tour! Come & join a soundtrack of top pop hits from...
PIRATES LOVE UNDERPANTS
6th-7th May 2025
Venue: Customs House
Address: South Shields, NE33 1ES
Website: www.customshouse.co.uk/theatre
These pirates SO love underpants! Join a swashbuckling party of pirates on their quest to find the fabled Pants of Gold for the Captain’s Treasure chest! Dodge hungry crocs beneath Long-John...
DINOSAUR ADVENTURE - BIG JURASSIC STORM
25th-25th May 2025
Time: 2pm
Venue: Tyne Theatre & Opera House
Address: Westgate Road, NE1 4AG
Website: www.tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk
A brand new adventure with DINOSAUR ADVENTURE LIVE? When a satellite tasked with controlling the island’s weather systems malfunctions, chaos erupts.The island’s tropical climate spirals leading to...
THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR SHOW
28th May-1st June 2025
Venue: Northern Stage
Address: NE1 7RH
Website: www.northernstage.co.uk
A vibrant celebration of Eric Carle’s adored classics featuring a menagerie of 75 lovable puppets. The perfect introduction to live theatre. Tickets from £14.00.
MILKSHAKE LIVE ON HOLIDAY
1st-1st June 2025
Venue: Customs House
Address: South Shields, NE33 1ES
Website: www.customshouse.co.uk/theatre
Join your favourite Milkshake! friends on Holiday with Dora, Pip & Posey, Blue from Blues Clues & You!, Milo, Milkshake! Monkey plus two of your Milkshake! presenters for an all-new adventure! It’s a...
JULIET
2nd-7th June 2025
Venue: Newcastle Theatre Royal
Address: NE1 6BR
Website: www.theatreroyal.co.uk
Break free of the balcony scene with a romantic comedy that proves there’s life after Romeo! Juliet’s new story bursts to life through a playlist of pop anthems as iconic as her name, including Britney...
JOSEPH & THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DEAMCOAT
10th-15th June 2025
Venue: Newcastle Theatre Royal
Address: NE1 6BR
Website: www.theatreroyal.co.uk
X-Factor winner & Theatre Royal pantomime favourite Joe McElderry stars as the roof-raising Pharaoh, in this much-loved family musical. Tickets from £24.00.
ANDY & THE ODD SOCKS
28th-28th June 2025
Time: 4.30pm
Venue: Tyne Theatre & Opera House
Address: Westgate Road, NE1 4AG
Website: www.tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk
Join the ‘Odd Socks’ as they bring their brilliant madcap mix of songs, slapstick comedy & silliness to life with a show to entertain families of all ages. It’s the show that everyone wants to see...
PAW PATROL LIVE! THE GREAT PIRATE ADVENTURE
28th-28th June 2025
Venue: Utilita Arena
Address: NE4 7NA
Website: www.utilitaarena.co.uk
In PAW Patrol Live! “The Great Pirate Adventure,” Mayor Goodway is getting everything shipshape for a big Pirate Day celebration in Adventure Bay. When Cap’n Turbot falls into a dark & mysterious...
FIREMAN SAM LIVE
29th-29th June 2025
Venue: Customs House
Address: South Shields, NE33 1ES
Website: www.customshouse.co.uk/theatre
Norman wants to go on an adventure to impress his friends, so when two famous animal explorers arrive in Pontypandy, he decides to follow them into the mountains. But when Norman discovers a rare red squirrel,...