Discover free and affordable family adventures at North East Museums this summer.

Families across the region can look forward to exciting, budget-friendly adventures at their favourite cultural attractions, thanks to Ways to Play - an ongoing collaboration between North East Museums and Tyne and Wear Metro.

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The popular Ways to Play programme invites children to get active, creative and imaginative with a variety of engaging, affordable experiences designed to make the school holidays memorable. 
This summer, families can enjoy a varied programme of family events, from creative workshops to one-of-a-kind experiences, offering something to engage children of all ages.

Highlights from Summer events programme include: 

• Let’s Play: Under 7 Activities and the experience of being a Mam at South Shields Museum & Art Gallery on now until Saturday 8 August
• Meet the Tungrians at Arbeia South Shields Roman Fort on Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 August
• Things That Go at Discovery Museum from Saturday 1 August
• Hadrian Celebration event at Segedunum Roman Fort on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 August
• Dinky Dinosaur Adventure Day at Stephenson Steam Railway on Bank Holiday Monday 31 August

With rising costs affecting many households, the opportunity for families to make savings on travel costs makes visiting museums and galleries more affordable. 

Many North East Museums venues are easily accessible via Metro, Bus or Shields Ferry. During school holidays children under 11 can travel free on Tyne and Wear Metro, the Shields Ferry and buses when accompanied by a fare-paying adult. 

Discovery Museum, Great North Museum: Hancock, Laing Art Gallery, and Woodhorn Museum are participating in the UK Government’s Great British Summer Savings scheme. This means prices on kids' menu items have been reduced in the cafés at these venues from 13 July – 1 September 2026.

Ways to Play has won several awards, including the Best Arts and Business Partnership at the North East Culture Awards in 2022 and the Not-for-Profit Marketing Award at the North East Marketing Awards the same year. It was also shortlisted for Partnership of the Year at the Museum + Heritage Awards in 2023.

Play spaces, trails and family-friendly exhibitions: 

• Until 8 Aug: Let's Play play space at South Shields Museum & Art Gallery (FREE)
• All summer: Tiny Tyneside play space at Discovery Museum, Newcastle (FREE)
• All summer: Playspace at Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle (FREE)
• All summer: Mouse House play space at Great North Museum: Hancock, Newcastle (FREE)
• All summer: Treasure Trail at Great North Museum: Hancock, Newcastle (FREE)
• All summer: Treasure: Hidden, Lost, Found exhibition at Great North Museum: Hancock, Newcastle (FREE)
• All summer: Following the Eagle exhibition at Segedunum Roman Fort, Wallsend (KIDS GO FREE)
• All summer: Roman Herbs Trail at Segedunum Roman Fort, Wallsend (KIDS GO FREE)
• Opens 1 Aug: Things That Go exhibition at Discovery Museum, Newcastle (FREE)

Hands-on learning experiences:

• 20 Jul: Victor the Veteran at Segedunum Roman Fort, Wallsend (KIDS GO FREE)
• 22, 29 Jul + 5 Aug: LEGO® Coding Workshop at Shipley Art Gallery, Gateshead
• 22 Jul: Archaeology Day at Great North Museum: Hancock, Newcastle (FREE)
• 23 Jul + 6, 20 Aug: Time Odyssey: A Family Adventure at Great North Museum: Hancock, Newcastle (FREE)
• 29 Jul + 5, 12, 19 Aug: Mouse Tales Storytime (for under 5s) at Great North Museum: Hancock, Newcastle (FREE)
• 19 Aug: After the Fire: Hands-on Archaeology at Arbeia, South Shields Roman Fort (FREE)

Outdoors and active fun:

• 22,29 Jul + 5 Aug: Step Outdoors: Stay and Play at Stephenson Steam Railway, North Tyneside (FREE)
• Thursdays and Sundays all summer: Heritage Train Rides at Stephenson Steam Railway, North Tyneside
• Wednesdays all summer: Wild Wednesdays at Woodhorn Museum, Ashington (KIDS GO FREE)

Indoor crafts activities and events: 

• All summer: Arts and Crafts in the Pop Up Ashington Group Hut at Woodhorn Museum, Ashington (KIDS GO FREE)
• 15-31 Jul: Make your own Manacles at Hexham Old Gaol (KIDS GO FREE)
• Mondays all summer: Marvellous Mondays at Segedunum Roman Fort, Wallsend (KIDS GO FREE)
• Tuesdays all summer: Free Family Crafts at South Shields Museum & Art Gallery (FREE)
• Tuesdays all summer: Family Crafting at Shipley Art Gallery, Gateshead
• Tuesdays all summer: Treasure Tuesdays at Great North Museum: Hancock, Newcastle (FREE)
• Wednesdays all summer: Art workshops (for 4-11 year olds) at Hatton Gallery, Newcastle (FREE)
• Wednesdays all summer: Discover a Story + Crafts at Discovery Museum, Newcastle
• Wednesdays all summer: Family craft sessions at Arbeia, South Shields Roman Fort (FREE)
• Thursdays all summer: Art workshops (for 12-18 year olds) at Hatton Gallery, Newcastle (FREE)
• 23, 28, 30 Jul + 4, 6, 11, 13, 18 Aug: Art Camp (for 7-12 year olds) at Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle
• 23, 28, 30 Jul + 4, 6, 11, 13, 18 Aug: Make and Muse: Family Crafting Tour (for 7-12 year olds) at Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle
• 23 Jul: Metro Hat Making at Stephenson Steam Railway, North Tyneside (FREE)
• 27 Jul: Chinese Painting on a Paper Plate at Hatton Gallery, Newcastle (FREE)
• 27 Jul + 7, 10 Aug: Little Artists Plus (for under 7s) at Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle
• 30 Jul + 6, 20 Aug: Holiday Art Class (for 7-12 year olds) at Shipley Art Gallery, Gateshead
• 30 Jul + 13, 20, 27 Aug: Time Travel Club at Discovery Museum, Newcastle (FREE)
• 1 Aug: Saturday Art Class (for 10-15 year olds) at Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle
• 6 Aug: Make a Train Track at Stephenson Steam Railway, North Tyneside (FREE)
• 8 Aug: Family Art Class at Shipley Art Gallery, Gateshead
• 13 Aug: Make a Train Station Artwork at Stephenson Steam Railway, North Tyneside (FREE)
• 24 Aug: Make a Roman copper emblem at Segedunum Roman Fort, Wallsend (KIDS GO FREE)

Relaxed sessions for those with sensory needs: 

• Wednesdays all summer: Relaxed Early Opening at Great North Museum: Hancock, Newcastle (FREE)
• 29 Jul + 5, 12, 19 Aug: Relaxed Storytime at Great North Museum: Hancock, Newcastle (FREE)
• 26 Jul + 23 Aug: Sound Down Sunday at Hexham Old Gaol (KIDS GO FREE)
• 26 Jul + 23 Aug: Sound Down Sunday at Woodhorn Museum, Ashington (KIDS GO FREE)