Pop into Segedunum between 1-4pm during Wallsend Local History Week (30 June - 6 July) for a special screening of three Amber film productions. These films, capturing key historical moments in the area, will be running on a loop, allowing you to drop in at any time to watch.

Films being screened:

1. Wallsend 72 (Amber Films, 1972)
2. Launch (Amber Films, 1974)
3. The Art of Shipbuilding (Amber Films, 2018)

Don't miss this opportunity to explore Wallsend's rich history through the lens of Amber Films.

Museum opening times: 11am-4pm

Ticket prices:

Adult: £11 (£9 without optional donation)
Concessions: £9 (60+ years & under 21s - £7 without optional donation)
Child aged 4 and under: FREE 

Please consider purchasing a donation ticket to support the museum. 

Train running days: Please check Ticketsource for train running times. 

We regret that currently we are unable to offer wheelchair access to our carriages as the door openings are restricted to 55cm.  Wheelchair users must be able to self-transfer onto the passenger carriages to ride on our heritage trains. As a heritage railway, we are exempt from certain aspects of the Equality Act. For further help or information, please visit our access information page.

This event is part of our Ways to Play programme of free and low-cost family-friendly activities.

Make your ‘Ways to Play’ adventure a great value day out by travelling to our venues by the Metro and / or Ferry.  

Up to three children aged 11 and under can travel for free on the Metro and the Shields Ferry with a fare-paying adult. Metro is the convenient, fast and frequent way to get to your favourite attractions and now it’s even more affordable. Find out more

Ways to Play is sponsored by Tyne and Wear Metro.

Making a triumphant return after an eight-year hiatus is the one-of-a-kind Consett No.10. Originally built in-house for Consett Steelworks in 1958 using recycled components from steam locomotives, No.10 has been painstakingly restored by volunteers from the North Tyneside Steam Railway Association, including a full re-wire and brand-new batteries.

Joining the line-up are home fleet favourites: ex-British Rail locomotives 03078 and 08915, completing an impressive roster of four diesel engines. Expect a packed weekend featuring an intensive timetable with double headers, demonstration freight trains, and the chance to step inside the cabs of these iconic machines. 

A fun-filled 1 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. 

Discover the gallery with your little ones, and support their early development in a fun and relaxed way. In these sessions, families will discover the artworks, get creative with a range of art materials, and explore the gallery together. There will be stories, songs, and fun creative activities - all designed to actively engage pre-schoolers with the gallery.

First, we'll gather for stories and singing. No need to sit still for long though - we'll be going exploring, doing treasure hunts around the gallery, and playing creatively to help us discover the artworks on display. At each session, your child will make something to take home, using a wide range of art materials, including ones that they may not have tried before.

After the session, please enjoy the gallery at your leisure. We provide space for families to enjoy a packed lunch. If you want a cafe, the nearest is at Gateshead Central Library, just along the street.

•  Activities designed for 2-5 year olds, but younger accompanying siblings also welcome.
• Please book a ticket for all children who will be participating. Sibling discount available.
• One adult per participating child, due to space restrictions.
• Disabled parents may bring a PA or Carer for support - please book relevant ticket.
• Sessions run fortnightly on Tuesdays, with a break for school holidays.

Parent/carer reviews:

'Excellent session, well planned short activities for the children. Lovely interaction with the children and parents. Thank you very much.'

'Lovely session. Well paced and very interactive - our first time but we'll come again'.

The Cell Detectives are going to show how our brain received signals from both our eyes and our ears to keep track of something we're looking at and show how we can trick the brain by spinning around in a swivel chair!

We're going to talk about how different parts of the brain do different jobs, like seeing, moving, and feeling, and we'll discuss how scientists found out how the brain works. We'll get hands-on by injuring some jelly brains and try to figure out what parts of the brain would be effected, what symptoms we'd expect, and why it's important to always look after your brain

These sessions are a chance to develop your English in a friendly and informal setting.

We will use the art collections in the gallery and local history as inspiration for our discussions.

The nearest stop on the Tyne & Wear Metro is Gateshead Interchange.

Bus service 52 from Gateshead Interchange stops outside the Shipley Art Gallery.

10am - 2pm every Wednesday. 

Meet inside of the museum entrance. 

Free, all materials provided. No experience necessary. 

Refreshments provided.

Step into the spotlight with Queer Bodies – a fashion showcase celebrating bold perspectives from some of the North East’s fiercest queer designers.

This is a night of unapologetic expression, style, and pure queer joy — featuring collections from HAUS PASTICHE, Christopher Niari, Reese Wetherspoon, Leviathanne, Love Duluxe Erotica, Newcastle Ballroom Community and Mutha Tucka.

Our popular Early Years Storytime Group gives families and carers with pre-school children the opportunity to meet regularly throughout the year. 

Join us every Friday (during term time) to read a story together, and take part in a hands-on activity. 

There are extra books and toys available for you to stay and play on the Upper Ground Floor of the Cutter building and the Winding House Café after the session.  

Discover the Laing with your little ones and support their early development in a fun and relaxed way, exploring a different theme each week. Each session involves a warm up with movement and motion, gallery exploration with fun interactive activities, a practical art activity with various materials, and a short story time. 

There is a different theme each week, but please note that the theme for the Monday and Friday session each week will be the same. 

This activity aims to be fully inclusive and anyone with additional needs is welcome. Sessions are aimed at 1-5 year olds.

If you'd like to have an informal conversation with tutor or member of the team before booking please email learning@laingartgallery.org.uk. 

Can't make these sessions? Our sister venue, the Shipley Art Gallery in Gateshead, runs Crafty Kids sessions aimed at 2-5 year olds, on Tuesdays during term time. The sessions follow a similar format to Little Artists and are led by friendly Early Years specialists. Find out more about Crafty Kids.

Join us for a monthly Saturday art class for 7-12 year olds and their grown ups. 

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. 

Session Themes:
17 May: 'Gods Eyes' weaving and decorative patterns

14 June: Ships on the Tyne, Futurist painting

12 July: Insect screenprint

No session in August 

13 September: A clay receptacle based on objects and paintings in the gallery

18 October: Spooky castle in charcoal

15 Nov: Create a colourful Rangoli for Diwali

13 Dec: Winter animals step-by-step

Accompanying adults are encouraged to join in - the class is a great opportunity for families to enjoy creative time together. 

Our artist has extensive experience of working with young people including those with SEND and Neurodiversities. We understand that some young people may be older than 12 but find the class age appropriate due to SEND - please contact Hannah.Mackay-Jackson@twmuseums.org.uk if this applies to you.

These sessions will be designed to be welcoming and inclusive for all. 

Acrylic pouring is a fascinating way to make abstract art. During the first session, you'll pour liquid acrylic paint onto a surface and tilt it gently, making the paint flow into a completely unique abstract design. You'll return for the second week to add embellishments and resin seal your piece. The result will be a unique and decorative, fully functional serving board (30 x 24.5 x 1.5cm) which is food safe.

Amaze your guests by serving food on one of the following themed boards:

1. Seascape themed with marine life. Polymer clay will be provided to create the decorations, along with other embellishments, including locally sourced sea glass. 
2. Lava themed with locally sourced sea coal and real lava rock. 
3. Rock geode themed. Geodes are hollow rocks, in which masses of crystals are secluded. Recreate a slice through a geode using paint and crushed sea glass, glitter, and resin. 

Artist Rebekah Scott will guide you through the process. The finished serving board will be fully functional and ready to collect from Shipley Art Gallery from Saturday 26 July. 

Additional information: 

• This is a two week course. You must attend on both days. 
• You must choose between the morning or afternoon sessions and you must attend at the same time on each date.
• Suitable for ages 16+

The Laing Art Gallery's newest temporary exhibition is With These Hands, which explores the representation of craft in paintings, drawings, and prints from 1750 to the present day. The exhibition is on display from 17 May - 27 September 2025.

The Shipley Art Gallery is hosting an accompanying craft programme focusing on workshops where you can try your hand at different crafts featured in or related to the exhibition. 

The Acrylic Pouring Course is part of the With These Hands events programme. 

The North East of England Classic and Pre War Automobiles club (NECPWA) will be back at Woodhorn with their amazing array of classic cars. 

Get an up close look and meet the owners of the vintage vehicles. 

Woodhorn is a host venue for this event. If you'd like to find out more about your car, please visit NECPWA's website for more information.

Woodhorn Wildlife

In this session, join us to meet the Woodhorn Weeders, an Age UK group who are developing the nature areas on our site. Find out what they do, what their plans are for the future and learn how to make seed bombs with them before taking part in a bug hunt with our Learning Team.

Recommended for children working at ages 6+. Parents/guardians are welcome to decide if it’s appropriate for younger children. This activity will take place outside so we recommend wearing suitable clothing. Some of our outdoor surfaces may be uneven but will be accessible by wheelchair.

Collections Care and Careers

In this session we’ll find out about jobs in the museum looking after our collections. Meet our curator and find out how our mining banners are being conserved, get a behind the scenes look at our collections storage area then get hands on and try out some paper conservation and object care techniques yourself!

Recommended for children working at ages 7+.  This workshop aims to be hands on, it does require some fine motor skills to create and remove marks on paper but there is very little reading or writing involved.

Feel free to contact us if you have any queries about the suitability of our workshops by emailing stemnld@northeastmuseums.org.uk

For Terms and Conditions and information on planning your day, visit the Woodhorn Museum website.

While you're here, why not relax in our café with a hot drink and take part in free activities at our mini museums stations?

In Discovery Nights: Unplugged we'd like you to join us to relax and unwind for an after-hours break from screens, distractions and the daily grind. 

This 'digital detox' evening will give you space to read, draw, write, craft and listen with like-minded people. 

With a bar, chilled-out music and a host of non-digital activities on offer, there’s never been a better time to ditch your phone and make real connections.

Bar and snacks available.

Featuring

• New archive material on show in Tyne & Wear Archives 
• Mini meditations with Jodie from Breathe
• Second Chance Book Exchange - give your books a second life at our cosy book swap
• Play Retro board games - fancy a round of Buckaroo, Connect 4, or Dominoes?
• The Amateur Ancestor, Justine Boussard, as she shares a short story of the journey through time and place of a tiny seed.
• Pub-style quiz with comedian Si Beckwith
• Self-led sketching – sit and draw an historic item of clothing
• Try your hand at embroidery
• Mindful crafting with Nature Makers to make your own Mindful Mandala using locally collected sea glass.

Part of the Steam to Green: A North East Energy Revolution adult event programme.

An inclusive art class held on the first Saturday of every month for 7-12 year olds and parents.  

Participants will have the opportunity to work with professional art educators, working in a different medium or with a different technique each month. 

This group aims to be fully inclusive and anyone with additional needs is welcome. If you would like to have an informal conversation with the tutor before attending then please contact the Laing learning team on learning@laingartgallery.org.uk. 

Run in partnership with Arts Connect.

Use Lego and plastic components to build a model, then programme it using an iPad. Using Scratch block coding, you’ll be able to make your model move, make noise, light up, play music, and more! You’ll learn coding, digital literacy, problem solving, and critical thinking – all through play!

• Suitable for ages 5 – 12, no experience necessary
• Children must be accompanied by an adult
• No admittance to under 5s – this includes accompanying siblings

Please note, it is not possible to take your model home as the parts will be used for other workshops.

Join Roman Boot Camp

Victor the Veteran will be talking about life on a military campaign and recruiting for the Roman army. Get your hands on Roman armour, helmets, shields and swords and join Victor's boot camp. Will you make the grade?

Don't forget to make a Roman Shield at our family activity whilst you're here.

A great day out for all the family!

This activity is part of our Ways to Play programme of free and low-cost family-friendly activities.

Make your Ways to Play adventure a great value day out by travelling to our venues by Metro and / or Ferry.  Up to three children aged 11 and under can travel for free on the Metro and the Shields Ferry with a fare-paying adult. Metro is the convenient, fast and frequent way to get to your favourite attractions and now it’s even more affordable.   

Ways to Play is sponsored by Tyne and Wear Metro

Nearest Metro station to Segedunum: Wallsend

Every Roman soldier would paint their shields with something that was important to them or to their unit. Try designing and creating your own shield.

Don't forget to check into Victor the Veteran's bootcamp whilst you're here.

A great day out for all the family!

This activity is part of our Ways to Play programme of free and low-cost family-friendly activities.

Make your Ways to Play adventure a great value day out by travelling to our venues by Metro and / or Ferry.  Up to three children aged 11 and under can travel for free on the Metro and the Shields Ferry with a fare-paying adult. Metro is the convenient, fast and frequent way to get to your favourite attractions and now it’s even more affordable.   

Ways to Play is sponsored by Tyne and Wear Metro

Nearest Metro station to Segedunum: Wallsend

We are delighted to share this lovely opportunity to create your own clay artwork inspired by the Great North Museum: Hancock's clay artefacts and to speak to an expert about ancient Greek and Egyptian clay artefacts.

Rebuild Hadrian's Wall activities allow families to enjoy creating clay artworks together and take it away with them on the day.

Come and join us at Let’s Party. Trust me, you will leave full of knowledge and laughter!  

If you want to delve deeper into the world of clay, Handy Helpers is for you, offering the chance to ask our curator questions about some clay artefacts.

All materials will be provided, so don't hesitate to join us!

This event was created by three students on the Museum Studies and Curating Art course at Newcastle University.

Created by Art Explora and the British Museum, Time Odyssey is an exciting new interactive learning experience which takes families on a quest through their local museum physically and virtually. 
 
Felix a Future Centurion from Roman Britain, Cheng a trainee scribe from Ancient China, Revna a Viking of the Sea and Hori a Tomb Painter from Ancient Egypt are lost in time. They need your help to find their way home! Can you complete the challenges around the museum, and return them through the SuperMegaPortal? You'll need to work together, using the tablet we provide, to explore the museum galleries and gather energy from powerful objects in the museum’s collection! 
 
Time Odyssey is played on a tablet and uses gaming techniques and impressive AR technology, to engage and learn through the power of play! 
 
On your Time Odyssey journey you must collect four Timeless Treasures to equip your character and help them return home. Choose the character you'd like to help and work as a family to find objects, locate place names and photograph special items from the museum collections. With each challenge completed, you will gain energy. Once you’ve gathered enough energy, you will open a time portal which you will use to return your character back to their original period! A member of our team will show you how the app works before setting you off on your way. Before you leave, you must return the tablet back to this member of staff. 
 
Useful information

• A tablet is given for every 2 – 3 children. 1 adult per group will also have a tablet. 
• You will be able to work through the time adventure in your own time, with a deadline to hand back in your equipment. 
• We will allocate you a time slot for collecting your tablets and finding out how to play the game. We'll let you know where to complete the different challenges and show you how to get started. 
• When you have completed your challenges and hand back the tablet, you'll get a small prize. 
• The reading levels required mean that children aged younger than 8 will probably need some support to play the game. 

About Art Explora 

Art Explora is a UK charity which aims to increase access to arts and culture and develop new opportunities for engagement and participation with the arts. They work in partnership with artists, cultural organisations and communities, embracing all art forms, to create transformative cultural experiences. 

About 1UP Studios

Created by digital learning specialist 1UP Studios, the experience combines cutting-edge technologies, including augmented reality (AR) and AI segmentation, with educational and creative activities. Quest uses a game-based learning approach to develop multidisciplinary skills, self-confidence and teamwork. 

1UP Studios is a new kind of digital agency founded by architects, technology pioneers, game developers and creative strategists. The team specializes in using immersive technologies such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) to create original three-dimensional digital experiences that connect people to a place through play . 

Funders

Free, drop in.

11am-1pm and 1:30-3pm

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This event is part of our Ways to Play programme of free and low-cost family-friendly activities.

Make your ‘Ways to Play’ adventure a great value day out by travelling to our venues by the Metro and / or Ferry.  

Up to three children aged 11 and under can travel for free on the Metro and the Shields Ferry with a fare-paying adult. Metro is the convenient, fast and frequent way to get to your favourite attractions and now it’s even more affordable. 

Find out more

Ways to Play is sponsored by Tyne and Wear Metro

A family fun event during the school holidays. Be inspired and explore the power of potential energy and to build your own elastic-band racing car.

Make adaptions to your car and test how far and fast you can make it travel. 

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Ways to Play 

This event is part of our Ways to Play programme of free and low-cost family-friendly activities.

Make your ‘Ways to Play’ adventure a great value day out by travelling to our venues by the Metro and / or Ferry.  

Up to three children aged 11 and under can travel for free on the Metro and the Shields Ferry with a fare-paying adult. Metro is the convenient, fast and frequent way to get to your favourite attractions and now it’s even more affordable. 

Find out more.

Ways to Play is sponsored by Tyne and Wear Metro.

‘Make and Muse’ takes place in the Laing’s unique gallery setting. Parents and kids will learn about art surrounded by our collections, then enjoy a dynamic craft activity in the exhibition space.

Each two-hour session begins with a friendly and engaging tour led by one of the Laing’s expert learning facilitators, who will introduce you to an artwork, artist, or theme from the current exhibitions. After chatting about the work, settle into the ambience of the gallery with a hands-on craft activity inspired by the art around you.

'Make and Muse' is a chance for young people aged 13–16 to explore art in depth, combining discussion and hands-on making in the gallery itself.

Each 2-hour session begins with a talk led by one of the Laing’s expert learning facilitators, who will explore a particular artwork, artist, or theme currently on display. The tour encourages close looking and conversation, offering insight into the ideas behind the work and the context in which it was made.

After the tour, experiment creatively and reflect on the works around you with an art making activity in the gallery space.

Enjoy early access to the Great North Museum: Hancock for a quieter, more relaxed experience. 

This relaxed session is for autistic visitors, visitors with learning disabilities or sensory and communication disorders, along with their families and carers. Or anyone else who feels they need a quieter experience of the museum. If that's not you, please visit after 10am. 

You can also enjoy a free 15-minute planetarium show - sign up at the Welcome Desk on the day (limited capacity).

Join us for a taught art class for 7-12 year olds and their grown ups. 

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.  

Upcoming sessions are:

• 22 July: Mask Making: Make a Mardi Gras mask, using collage and colourful papers. Mardi Gras is a carnival celebration, where parade performers wear flamboyant, decorative masks. Brazil, Venice and New Orleans play host to some of the holiday’s most famous public festivities, drawing thousands of tourists and revellers every year. Although Mardi Gras has its origins in Christianity, this is a non-religious activity. Our focus will be on colourful and decorative mask making, in a way that is inclusive for all.

• 29 July: Hand Puppets: Make a card construction face that you can put your fingers in, to make the face move. Think of a character for your puppet and decorate with coloured paper, pens, pencils and felt tips.

• 12 August: Tiger drawing: Starting with simple shapes, build up your drawing into a magnificent image of a tiger. Each step will be demonstrated by the artist, so no one is left behind. There will also be photocopies to use. Finish your drawing with coloured pencils.

• 19 August: Artstraw Figures: Use wire and art straws to make a movable figure. We'll also explore images of costumes and fashion to design an outfit. There will be coloured paper and collage material to use, and also some fabrics. Add details using coloured pencils and felt tips.

• 26 August: Weaving: Using lolly sticks and wool, make a colourful God's Eye based on Mexican and South American traditional designs. Steeped in local mythology, these have proven popular objects throughout the world. The wool is woven around the sticks to produce striking strips of colour.

Our artist has extensive experience of working with young people including those with SEND and Neurodiversities. These sessions will be designed to be welcoming and inclusive for all.

• Suitable for ages 7 - 12. 
• Each child must have a child's ticket and children cannot attend on an adult's ticket.
• We understand that some young people may be older than 12 but find the class age appropriate due to SEND - please contact Hannah.Mackay-Jackson@twmuseums.org.uk if this applies to you.
• All children must be accompanied by an adult. Accompanying adults need an adult's ticket.
• Accompanying younger siblings and babies cannot be admitted. 
• You're welcome to bring a packed lunch or snack.
• Classes run every Tuesday in the summer holidays except 5 August. You can book one-offs or the whole series.

The session will be most suited to participants who are learning at an age of 5 or under. There will be an interactive story, and songs followed by some simple exploratory play experiences which relate to the story theme. There will also be an opportunity to feel a museum object.

Please note: This session has a small capacity; if your circumstances change and you can no longer attend, please get in touch with the learning team at learning@greatnorthmuseum.org.uk so that we can offer the space to our waiting list.

We also offer Relaxed Mouse Tales sessions with early Museum entry on Tuesdays during the holidays from 9-10.20am. These sessions are designed for families who need a quieter environment. Free, booking required. 

Relaxed Mouse Tales is a session aimed at families who may require a quieter environment to enable them to participate. This could include autistic visitors, visitors with adhd, learning disability, anxiety or other medical conditions which mean sitting or concentrating for long periods of time without moving; or coping with larger groups of people can be difficult. The session will be most suited to participants who are learning at an age of 5 or under. There will be an interactive story, and songs followed by some simple exploratory play experiences which relate to the story theme. There will also be an opportunity to feel a museum object.

9am - 9.45am 
Access to the museum galleries. This is to enable you to enjoy a quieter experience of the museum galleries before the session begins. 

9.45am - 10.20am
Mouse Tales Session.

Become an archaeologist every Wednesday at our indoor dig site, Time Quest, The Dig. 

Uncover 2000-year-old Roman artefacts and learn about life at Arbeia, South Shields Roman Fort.

Explore reconstructed excavation sites, piece together pottery, examine coins, and discover your finds with the help of museum staff.

This activity is part of our Ways to Play programme of free and low-cost family-friendly activities.

Make your Ways to Play adventure a great value day out by travelling to our venues by Metro and / or Ferry.  Up to three children aged 11 and under can travel for free on the Metro and the Shields Ferry with a fare-paying adult. Metro is the convenient, fast and frequent way to get to your favourite attractions and now it’s even more affordable.   

Ways to Play is sponsored by Tyne and Wear Metro

Nearest Metro station to Arbeia: South Shields

Join us for a children's art workshop for ages 4-11. Come and explore your creativity through painting!

This event is part of our Ways to Play programme of free and low-cost family-friendly activities.

Make your ‘Ways to Play’ adventure a great value day out by travelling to our venues by the Metro and / or Ferry.  

Up to three children aged 11 and under can travel for free on the Metro and the Shields Ferry with a fare-paying adult. Metro is the convenient, fast and frequent way to get to your favourite attractions and now it’s even more affordable. 

Find out more

Ways to Play is sponsored by Tyne and Wear Metro.

Every Wednesday of the Northumberland school holidays, join our Learning Team and take part in these free, family activities throughout the day. 

Come and explore Woodhorn's Wild Wood, have a go at craft activities and pick up a map for the Wild Trail, where you can create a unique piece of art as you find brass rubbing posts around the grounds. 

We are excited to share this lovely opportunity to create your own artwork inspired by the new exhibition featuring models from 19th century glassmakers Leopold and Rudolf Blaschka in the Great North Museum: Hancock, Imitating Life. 

Imitating Life is an exhibition featuring the museum’s collection of glass marine invertebrate models from the renowned Blaschka family. The exhibition also includes invertebrate spirit specimens, fungi models, and an excerpt from the short film Fragile Legacy, directed by David O. Brown. 

The Blaschkas made incredibly detailed, delicate glass models of invertebrate sea creatures through the second half of the 19th century. Bought by universities and museums across the world, they were a beautiful tool for teaching weird and wonderful underwater creatures.  

We are very lucky to be joined by professional artists and makers from Sunderland University Glass and Ceramics course to teach people the skills and techniques necessary to create your own beautiful work of art.  

Please note that we will be using translucent clay in this workshop, not glass, which will need to be fired in your home oven after the event. Details of how to do this will be given out at the event. 

All materials will be provided, and a bar will be available to purchase drinks. 

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.

For an extra charge, there is an option to add early drop-off available from 9.30am and late pick up until 4pm. Please note this additional cost is per child. 

Parents/Carers will need to fill out a registration form for each child attending. The information gathered in these forms is essential to the wellbeing of your child and the success of these sessions, failure to submit these forms may result in your booking being cancelled.

Join us for an art workshop for young people aged 11-18. Try your hand at painting and get inspired by the exhibition 'Study for a Painting'.

This event is part of our Ways to Play programme of free and low-cost family-friendly activities.

Make your ‘Ways to Play’ adventure a great value day out by travelling to our venues by the Metro and / or Ferry.  

Up to three children aged 11 and under can travel for free on the Metro and the Shields Ferry with a fare-paying adult. Metro is the convenient, fast and frequent way to get to your favourite attractions and now it’s even more affordable. 

Find out more

Ways to Play is sponsored by Tyne and Wear Metro.

Explore the nature of flight and make and fly your own gliders, paper aeroplanes and twirling helicopters with our simple paper makes.

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Ways to Play 

This event is part of our Ways to Play programme of free and low-cost family-friendly activities.

Make your ‘Ways to Play’ adventure a great value day out by travelling to our venues by the Metro and / or Ferry.  

Up to three children aged 11 and under can travel for free on the Metro and the Shields Ferry with a fare-paying adult. Metro is the convenient, fast and frequent way to get to your favourite attractions and now it’s even more affordable. 

Find out more.

Ways to Play is sponsored by Tyne and Wear Metro.

Take a free guided tour of the Fort site with one of our volunteers who bring the story of Arbeia to life with their in-depth knowledge of Roman history.

Through the course of its history, Arbeia has taken on several guises: from the Roman Emperor's HQ for the Scottish invasion to a busy cosmopolitan port. It has hosted dramatic tales of murder and fire, and holds the key to ancient love stories. A huge supply base for the Roman army, it housed 600 Roman troops and is said to be the birth place of the Northumbrian King Oswin. 

Today, Arbeia is home to some of the finest full-scale Roman reconstructions and archaeological finds in the UK.

Not suitable for children aged 5 or younger.

Come along to Family Crafting on Thursdays during the summer holidays. 

Each day has a different theme and our friendly staff will be on hand to guide you. A variety of materials will be available for you to make something truly unique and creative. 

Session themes: 

• Thursday 24 July: Make a delicious ice cream picture using watercolours.
• Thursday 31 July: Make a seaside scene using a paper plate and coloured paper.
• Tuesday 5 August: Use watercolours to create a calming abstract artwork featuring circular patterns. 
• Thursday 7 August: Be inspired by the patterns in the gallery, and make a striped or patterned picture using tissue paper.
• Thursday 14 August: Make a portrait with colourful hair, using folded and cut paper.
• Thursday 21 August: Be inspired by the bird pictures on display, and make your own tropical bird using paper and feathers.
• Thursday 28 August: Make a sunset silhouette picture, using pastels and paper.

This event is part of our Ways to Play programme of free and low-cost family-friendly activities.

Make your ‘Ways to Play’ adventure a great value day out by travelling to our venues by the Metro and / or Ferry.  

Up to three children aged 11 and under can travel for free on the Metro and the Shields Ferry with a fare-paying adult. Metro is the convenient, fast and frequent way to get to your favourite attractions and now it’s even more affordable. Find out more

Ways to Play is sponsored by Tyne and Wear Metro.

Enjoy a full day at the gallery where 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.

For an extra charge, we also have the option to add early drop-off available from 9.30am and late pick up until 4pm. Please select which days you would like to add these when purchasing your general ticket. Please note this additional cost is per child. 

Parents/Carers will need to fill out a registration form for each child attending. The information gathered in these forms is essential to the wellbeing of your child and the success of these sessions, failure to submit these forms may result in your booking being cancelled.

A special treat for young children, where they can listen to a story read by Amy, the Early Years lead at the museum. Then, little ones can get stuck into crafts and play activities inspired by the themes of the story. 

Part of Discovery Museum's Tiny Sparks programme for young children.

Stories:

- Friday 25 July - The Cat, the Mouse and the Runaway Train by Peter Bently 

- Friday 1 August – Ten Little Pirates by Michael Brownlow and Simon Rickerty

- Friday 8 August - The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle     

- Friday 15 August - The Story Machine by Tom McLaughlin

Riffing off the title of David Bomberg's painting (presented in Gallery 4), Study for a Painting (Exhibition) proposes its own compositional study of the form and functions of an exhibition. Within this speculative space, the exhibition brings together a range of artworks that outline formal and media-specific concerns of painting, suggesting overlaps and drawing affinities between historical works and contemporary practices. 

Situated alongside 5 artworks from the Hatton Gallery collection including Kurt Schwitters' Merz Barn Wall are new and existing artworks by 12 artists and lecturers from the Fine Art Department. The collective works highlight important pedagogies in practice-based learning, not least the agency of artist-teachers. 

For the last 100 years the Hatton Gallery and its collection has been central to the Fine Art Department as both a space for presenting practice and a teaching resource inspiring and informing learning. The section of work by David Bomberg and Antoni Tàpies recognises the enduring agency of the collection as a primary source of encounter with physical artworks, whilst works by Mary Webb and Fred Brookes - both former students of the department - signify an interconnectivity between the past and the present. 

Collection works serve as cornerstones around which exhibition has evolved, inviting dialogue and encouraging further associative connections between traditional practices to painting, picture making and contemporary practices. 

Critic Isabelle Graw has suggested that painting has long since moved beyond a 'medium specificity'. Study for a Painting (Exhibition) invites a reflexive conversation around the conventions, definitions and limitations of what painting is and can be, offering paintings that both follow and break convention in their use of traditional medium and form, presented alongside practices which integrate a range of materials and techniques, blurring the boundaries between painting and other art forms. 

As an experimental model and literal 'study for a painting' exhibition, the curatorial process prioritises speculative juxtapositions between artworks, informing surprising connections between practices and media. 

Matt Antoniak | Katie Cuddon | Nick Fox | Catrin Huber | Chris Jones | Rachel Maclean | Paul Merrick | Christian Mieves | Jane Millican | Narbi Price | Erika Servin | Tracy Tofield 

Curated by Matthew Hearn on behalf of the Fine Art Department as part of the FA 100 celebrations. 

Every fourth Sunday of the month between 10-11am is Quiet Hour, when there are fewer visitors in the museum and we turn down the sound in our exhibitions and displays. 

We also have ear defenders available for you to borrow, as some of the experiences around the museum can be quite noisy. 

The First Cohort of Tungrians originated from what is now Belgium. This re-enactment group portrays the men and families of the Tungrian Auxiliaries of the early second century - come along to meet Roman auxiliary soldiers, a Romano-British lady and some of her children.

Visit their encampment to see a living history display of food and cooking, a medical kit, arms and armour and some parts of everyday life on the Wall. Learn all about the armour and equipment on display which children can try on or perhaps carry out some drill exercises.

We'll also be joined by The Coastal Grind, serving drinks and snacks.

11am - 4pm, heritage train rides also running alongside demonstration freight trains.

Please note, on this weekend, there is a museum entry charge of £5 for adults and £3 for children.

Book your train ticket here.

These special Little Artists sessions are held during the summer holidays and welcome siblings up to the age of 7.

Please note that activities are still focused around kids age 1-5, but friends and siblings are welcome to participate.

Discover the Laing with your little ones and support their early development in a fun and relaxed way, exploring a different theme each week.

Each session involves a warm up with movement and motion, gallery exploration with fun interactive activities, a practical art activity with various materials. The session concludes with a snack and story time, which is included in the ticket price. 

Session themes: 

28 July: Do some paper marbling, make a Gillian Ayres inspired collage, and make an abstract print

11 August: Do some balloon printing, spray bottling stencilling, and foam shape prints 

18 August: Make 3D paper playgrounds and a Henri Moore inspired clay sculpture with beads and mosaic pieces

• This activity aims to be fully inclusive and anyone with additional needs is welcome.  
• Please wear clothing suitable for messy play. You may like to consider bringing a spare change of clothing.
• If you'd like to have an informal conversation with a tutor or member of the team before booking please email learning@laingartgallery.org.uk

Find out what archaeologists do with an object once it has been removed from the ground. Have a go at finding, sorting and recording your precious finds.

CBA Festival of Archaeology 2025

A great day out for all the family!

This activity is part of our Ways to Play programme of free and low-cost family-friendly activities.

Make your Ways to Play adventure a great value day out by travelling to our venues by Metro and / or Ferry.  Up to three children aged 11 and under can travel for free on the Metro and the Shields Ferry with a fare-paying adult. Metro is the convenient, fast and frequent way to get to your favourite attractions and now it’s even more affordable.   

Ways to Play is sponsored by Tyne and Wear Metro

Nearest Metro station to Segedunum: Wallsend

This event is part of our Ways to Play programme of free and low-cost family-friendly activities.

Make your ‘Ways to Play’ adventure a great value day out by travelling to our venues by the Metro and / or Ferry.  

Up to three children aged 11 and under can travel for free on the Metro and the Shields Ferry with a fare-paying adult. Metro is the convenient, fast and frequent way to get to your favourite attractions and now it’s even more affordable. Find out more

Ways to Play is sponsored by Tyne and Wear Metro.

A family fun challenge using robots! Can you design a contraption that allows your robot to carry a boat full of pennies across the water? 

Explore different materials and test out your designs and see which works best. 

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Ways to Play 

This event is part of our Ways to Play programme of free and low-cost family-friendly activities.

Make your ‘Ways to Play’ adventure a great value day out by travelling to our venues by the Metro and / or Ferry.  

Up to three children aged 11 and under can travel for free on the Metro and the Shields Ferry with a fare-paying adult. Metro is the convenient, fast and frequent way to get to your favourite attractions and now it’s even more affordable. 

Find out more.

Ways to Play is sponsored by Tyne and Wear Metro.

Collective canvas painting and collage on the museum lawn, help to decorate four large canvases, inspired by the objects in the museum. These will be displayed in our packed lunch area after the summer holidays. 

Join us for a children's art workshop for ages 4-11. Come and have a go at basic printmaking, rubber stamping and block printing. 

This event is part of our Ways to Play programme of free and low-cost family-friendly activities.

Make your ‘Ways to Play’ adventure a great value day out by travelling to our venues by the Metro and / or Ferry.  

Up to three children aged 11 and under can travel for free on the Metro and the Shields Ferry with a fare-paying adult. Metro is the convenient, fast and frequent way to get to your favourite attractions and now it’s even more affordable. 

Find out more

Ways to Play is sponsored by Tyne and Wear Metro.

Join us for an art workshop for young people aged 11-18. Have a go at monoprinting. 

This event is part of our Ways to Play programme of free and low-cost family-friendly activities.

Make your ‘Ways to Play’ adventure a great value day out by travelling to our venues by the Metro and / or Ferry.  

Up to three children aged 11 and under can travel for free on the Metro and the Shields Ferry with a fare-paying adult. Metro is the convenient, fast and frequent way to get to your favourite attractions and now it’s even more affordable. 

Find out more

Ways to Play is sponsored by Tyne and Wear Metro.

In this family fun holiday event, children can explore a range of ship themed handling objects, take part in floating and sinking experiments and built origami boats to take home. 

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Ways to Play 

This event is part of our Ways to Play programme of free and low-cost family-friendly activities.

Make your ‘Ways to Play’ adventure a great value day out by travelling to our venues by the Metro and / or Ferry.  

Up to three children aged 11 and under can travel for free on the Metro and the Shields Ferry with a fare-paying adult. Metro is the convenient, fast and frequent way to get to your favourite attractions and now it’s even more affordable. 

Find out more.

Ways to Play is sponsored by Tyne and Wear Metro.

Come along to the museum and create a new species of animal from recycled materials, that has evolved to survive our changing climate and environmental conditions. This is a fun way to learn about evolution and how species have adapted over time to thrive in their environments. 

This event is part of our Ways to Play programme of free and low-cost family-friendly activities.

Make your ‘Ways to Play’ adventure a great value day out by travelling to our venues by the Metro and / or Ferry.  

Up to three children aged 11 and under can travel for free on the Metro and the Shields Ferry with a fare-paying adult. Metro is the convenient, fast and frequent way to get to your favourite attractions and now it’s even more affordable. Find out more

Ways to Play is sponsored by Tyne and Wear Metro.

George Horton, a self-taught artist from South Shields, became one of the most renowned painters of the North East in the early 1900s, celebrated for his watercolours of coastal scenes. Despite a challenging upbringing and no formal training, his talent earned him spots in prestigious exhibitions, including the Royal Academy and the Paris Salon.

Horton’s artistic journey began with determined practice, sketching old works at his local library despite his father’s disapproval. An early fascination with portraiture led him to acquire a human skull for anatomical studies, which resulted in his estrangement from home at seventeen.

A move to South Shields marked a new chapter, where he found support through his marriage. A transformative honeymoon to Holland sparked his lifelong passion for the Dutch landscape, inspiring countless sketching trips.

While beloved in France and Holland, Horton struggled to gain wider recognition in England, partly due to his late entry into the London art scene. Nevertheless, his devotion to art remained unwavering throughout his 68-year career, painting purely for the love of his craft.

This exhibition offers a chance to rediscover Horton’s legacy and celebrate the passion and perseverance of George Horton. 

Five years ago COVID-19 came to our shores. The first confirmed cases were in York, in late January 2020, and the patients were treated at the high-level isolation unit at the RVI in Newcastle. On 23 March Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a televised address to the nation, and lockdown regulations came into effect across the UK three days later.

This display features some of the things the museum collected to represent COVID-19 and the massive impact the pandemic had on all of our lives.

Learn how to play popular medieval board games and have a go at creating your own heraldry-inspired bookmark or shield to take home. Plus, enjoy all the usual favourites in our mini museum – from brass rubbings to children’s dress-up costumes.

Colouring in tables will be located in the Living Planet gallery for the duration of the summer holidays for a spot of mindful relaxation.  

The Pop Up Ashington Group Hut, designed by artist Imogen Cloët, is inspired by the hut in which the Ashington Group met to make and talk about their artworks. 

Over the six weeks of summer holidays, there will be a changing programme of activities: 

Saturday 19 July - Sunday 3 August: 

Create your own football pennant 

The North East's passion for football stretches across the whole of the region, whether you support Newcastle United or Sunderland AFC, or a local team like Ashington AFC, Bedlington Terriers or Blyth Spartans.