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Free things to do in Newcastle upon Tyne

7 places in Newcastle upon Tyne with free entry or no charge, based on guide listings and map data.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

Free things to do in Newcastle upon Tyne

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    Discovery Museum

    Science and engineering museum including Turbinia designed by Sir Charles Parsons in 1894, the world's first turbo-powered ship.

    Mon-Fri 10AM-4PM, Sat Sun 11AM-4PMFree

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    Gallery North

    The gallery was established in 1977 within Northumbria University and has rotating exhibitions. The University's permanent art collection is for teaching and research, and not generally on public display. However the Woon Gallery, opened in 2018, is a long-term loan of Asian (mostly Buddhist) art.

    Wed-Sat 10AM-4PMFree

  3. See

    Great North Museum: Hancock

    Contains fossils, mummies, stuffed animals and local history exhibits.

    Mon-Fri 10AM-5PM, Sat 10AM-4PM, Sun 11AM-4PMFree

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    Laing Art Gallery

    Traditional art gallery built in 1901 in sort-of Edwardian Baroque. It has artistic local glass, silverware and ceramics and a notable collection of 18th and 19th century British paintings. (Contemplate the fiery Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah before heading out for a night on the town.) "The Blue Carpet" is the tiled street installation outside, expensively fitted in 2001 but only then did they realise they'd made it green. 20 years of skateboarders and other urban wear and tear have turned it blue-grey.

    Mon-Sat 10AM-4:30PMFree

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    Side Gallery

    Documentary photography gallery and archive. The gallery also has a 50-seater cinema showing independent films, but as of 2025 this is closed since 2023 due to funding difficulties.

    Thu-Fri 11AM-5PM, Sat-Sun noon-5PMFree

  6. See

    The Biscuit Factory

    Britain's biggest original art store is with two floors of exhibition space and artist's studios. The commercial gallery sells paintings, drawings, prints, sculpture, photography, ceramics, jewellery and glass by contemporary artists hailing from all over the world.

    Wed-Sun 10AM-5PMFree

  7. See Not mapped

    Hatton Gallery

    An art gallery founded in 1925 within Newcastle University, and redeveloped in 2017. It has 3500 exhibits from the 14th century to modern work.

    Mon-Sat 10AM-5PMFree

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Newcastle upon Tyne (CC BY-SA 4.0).