Ways to Play: May Half Term Events and Activities
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.
Highlights from May’s events programme include:
Enjoy Interactive Storytime at Great North Museum: Hancock
Take a Teddy Bear Train Ride at Stephenson Steam Railway
Get up close to Birds of Prey at Woodhorn Museum
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.
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.
May Half Term Event Programme by venue:
Discovery Museum:
Tiny Sparks
- Spark your young child’s imagination in these hands-on creative sessions inspired by the objects on display in the museum, delivered by the museum's Early Years lead. These Tiny Sparks sessions are the perfect way to introduce young children age three to five to simple concepts of science and history, inspiring the next generation of problem solvers and story tellers.
Friday 22 May | 10.30-11.30am and 1-2pm | Free, drop in | Tickets £3.50, book now
Discover a Story
- Little ones can listen to a story and then explore associated crafts and play experiences in Discovery Museum's new Tiny Tyneside area. These fun sessions encourage imagination, creativity and early learning.
Wednesday 27 May | 11am - 2pm | Free, drop in | Tickets £3.50, book now
Build a Lego City
- Celebrating the great city we live in by recreating Newcastle and Gateshead by making new buildings, and bridges across the Tyne. Get creative and add to our LEGO™ city, design a cardboard building an explore different bridge designs with support from The Discovery team and ESH group.
Tuesday 26 May | Various times available | Join in for £1.50, book now
Time Travel Club: Building Bridges
- Get hands-on and up close to historical documents - discover more about different types of bridges and then have a go at making your own.
Thursday 28 May | Various times available | Free, drop in
K’Nex Creations Build a Bridge
- Get your thinking caps and busy fingers ready for this free family event designed to spark creativity and flex your problem-solving skills. Using the construction toy K'Nex, we want you to create a bridge to help us celebrate the 150 year anniversary of the Swing Bridge.
Friday 29 May | Various times available | Free, booking required | Learn more
Great North Museum: Hancock:
Mosstroopers Storytime
- The Moss Troopers return to the museum to bring history into the present day. During this event you’ll find out about the Anglo Saxons, learn about Anglo Saxon food, music, and culture and hear some stories that bring this medieval time in history to life.
Friday 29 May | 10.30am - 2.30pm | Free, drop in | Learn more
Mouse Tales - Storytime for under 5s and their families
- Join us for an interactive story, songs, related playtime, and a special opportunity to handle a museum object.
Tuesday 26 May | 11-11.45am and 1-2pm | Free, booking required | Book your Mouse Tales session
Time Odyssey: A Family Adventure
- A new interactive learning experience which takes families on a quest through the museum.
Tuesday 26 May | Various times slots available | Free, booking required | Book your Time Odyssey
Sketches and Scribbles
- An informal drawing session for families looking at some of the museum handling collections.
Wednesday 27 May | 11am - 3pm | Free, drop in | Find out more
Treasure Museum Trail
- Join our exciting new treasure trail! Explore the museum to find treasure, solve puzzles, and claim prizes. This trail is part of our latest exhibition, Treasure: Hidden, Lost, Found.
Until Sunday 20 September | open during museum opening hours | Free, drop in | Learn more
Shipley Art Gallery:
Crafty Kids
- A fun-filled one-hour session led by our friendly Early Years specialist, Steph. Each session is based around a theme found in the artworks, such as colour, texture, line, and animals, which are designed for 2–5-year-olds.
Tuesday 12 May and 19 May | 10.30-11.30am | Tickets £3 | Book for Family Art Class
Family Art Class
- At each session you'll be taught by a professional artist, and will try different techniques such as watercolours, ceramics, mixed media, drawing and more. Accompanying adults are encouraged to join in - the class is a great opportunity for families to enjoy creative time together.
Saturday 16 May | 10.30am - 12 noon, 1-2.30pm | Tickets £4.50 | Find out more and book
Family Crafting
- Decorate a paper plate face, and add paper or wool for hair. Create the body using cardboard and create an outfit for your person. Your person can sit on a shelf or be displayed on the wall.
Tuesday 26 May | 10.30-11.45am | Tickets £3 | Find out more
Holiday Art Class
- In this class you'll learn artistic techniques and work on a finished piece to take home. Each session has a different theme. Accompanying adults are encouraged to join in - the class is a great opportunity for families to enjoy creative time together.
Thursday 28 May | 10.30am - 12 noon, 1-2.30pm | Tickets £4.50 | Book for Family Art Class
South Shields Museum & Art Gallery:
Free Family Crafts
- Join the museum every Tuesday during the school holidays for free family craft activities inspired by current exhibitions and artworks from the collection. During half term, families can create a watercolour painting inspired by the rivers, steams and sea around them.
Tuesday 26 May | 11am - 12.30pm and 1pm-3pm | Free, drop in | Find out more
Stephenson Steam Railway:
Teddy Bear Train Rides
- Bring your favourite bear along for a heritage train ride! The Mosstroopers will be bringing the magic of the woodland to life with their Woodland Animal Stories puppet shows! Join Reynard the Fox, Isengrim the Wolf and other charming critters for Animal Tales throughout the day - each show lasting around 10 minutes.
Monday 25 May | 11.30am, 12.30pm, 2pm and 3pm | Tickets from £7 | Book your space
Heritage Train Rides
- Take a nostalgic journey with a four-mile return trip along the historic route once taken by coal trains from the collieries to the River Tyne. Step back in time as you travel in a vintage 1950s passenger carriage and soak up the sights and sounds of a bygone era.
Sunday 24, Sunday 31 May | 11.30am, 12.30pm, 2pm and 3pm | Tickets £7 | Book for Heritage Train Rides
Family Planting Activity
- In celebration of National children’s gardening week, join us and plant your own seed, take it away with you and watch it grow.
Thursday 28 May | 11am - 3pm | Free, drop in | Find out more
Woodhorn Museum:
Whippet, Whippet
- Come along and create your own colourful take on one of the North East’s most loved dog breeds – the whippet! A favourite companion of pitmen beyond the colliery, whippets hold a special place in local history.
Woodhorn Museum | Saturday 23 May - Sunday 31 May | Included with Annual Pass | Find out more
Early Years Storytime Group
The museum’s popular Early Years Storytime Group gives families and carers with pre-school children the opportunity to meet regularly throughout the year. Join the team every Friday (during term time) to read a story together and take part in a hands-on activity.
Woodhorn Museum | Friday 15 May and 22 May | Included with Annual Pass | Find out more
Birds of Prey
- Discover the fascinating world of birds of prey and see spectacular displays with the team from Ridgeside Falconry.
Woodhorn Museum | Wednesday 27 May | 11am – 3pm | Included with Annual Pass | Find out more
Segedunum Roman Fort:
Herb Planting and trail
- The Romans loved to grow herbs which they put into their meals to make them taste better. They brought many herbs to Britain! Have a go at planting your own Roman herbs to take away - how well will yours grow?
Segedunum Roman Fort | Monday 25 May | Free, drop in | 11am – 3pm | Find out more
Step Outdoors – Stay and Play
- Come down to the Fort for free, fun, and inclusive activities for children under five and their parents or carers, with exciting outdoor play, cosy indoor spaces, free refreshments, and the chance to meet other local families.
Segedunum Roman Fort | Wednesday 20 and 27 May| Free, drop in | 11am – 3pm | Find out more
Arbeia, South Shields Roman Fort:
Family Craft Sessions
- Design and make your own colourful Roman style vase. Use bright tissue paper to decorate your vase that’s perfect for displaying flowers at home – no water needed.
Arbeia, South Shields Roman Fort | Wednesday 27 May | Free, drop in | 11am – 3pm | Find out more
Laing Art Gallery:
Art Camp (7-10 year-olds)
- Young people are welcome to explore the galleries, talk about art, and create their own work in sessions led by a professional arts educator. Experiment with materials, learn new skills, and create a dynamic set of works in the Laing's Art Studio.
Laing Art Gallery | Wednesday 27 May | 10am - 3pm | £35 per day | Book your space
Make and Muse Family Crafting (7-12 year-olds)
- Make and Muse takes place in the Laing’s unique gallery setting. Parents and kids will learn about a
