7 Reasons to Visit Great North Museum : Hancock

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Great North Museum is a free-to-visit museum in the heart of the city of Newcastle Upon Tyne. There's lots to explore and it's a fab place to spend a few hours with children of all ages (and it has to be said, I enjoy visiting as an adult too). 

Here's a quick overview of the museum galleries: 

• Living Planet - I love this gallery which is one of the museum's oldest exhibitions. You can explore the animal kington and see everything from elephants and albatross to lions and dodos. 
  
  
• Hadrian's Wall - This is a brilliant introduction to Hadrian's wall with a digital map spanning the length of the gallery, a huge array of artefacts including weapons, coins and clothes and interactive screens where you can learn more about the wall. 
  
  
• Fossil Stories - Here you'll find one of the museum's star attractions, a replica T-Rex skelton! He towers above the exhibition which also includes fossilised dinosaur footprints, dinosaur bones and fascinating fossils. 
  
  
• Crystals & Gems - This is the gallery I always remember as a child. Filled with glittering gems and minerals from across the globe. 
  
  
• Ice Age to Iron Age - Explore the tools, weapons and stories that span from the Ice Age to the Iron Age. 
  
  
• Anglo-Saxons - My kids spent ages learning about Anglo-Saxons at school and if yours are the same, they'll definitely appreciate a trip to this gallery where you'll discover how Anglo-Saxons were successful in Northumbria.You can admire ancient pots, jewellery and even Anglo-Saxon grave markers. 
  
  
• Explore! - This gallery is an ecclectic mix of pieces that bring past worlds back to life. You'll find something a little different and quirky items in here and definitely the unexpected... 
  
  
• Natural Northumbria - Another of my favourite galleries which shares the habitats, wildlife and landscapes of our region. It's a brilliant area where you can learn more about local wildlife. 
  
  
• Ancient Egyptians - This gallery is one I will always remember from my own childhood and I think it was probably my first introduction to museums. You can marvel at perfectly preserved Egyptian artefacts including jewellery, artwork and even a loaf of bread! There's also a mummified crocodile and entire coffins. 
  
  
• Roman Empire - My boys' favourite gallery is the Roman Empire section. It's only small but packs in lots of artefacts including Roman Coins. 
  
  
• Ancient Greeks - Described as one of the best Greek collections in the country, you can find an Ostrich egg, mini statues, fush plates, vases and more. 
  
  
• World Cultures - A mix of items collected across the world from the past 250 years. Expect a real melting pot of world cultures in here. 
  
  
• + a range of temporary exhibitions 

7 Reasons to Visit Great North Museum : Hancock 

1 - FREE to visit and engaging for all ages 

Great North Museum is FREE to visit an open daily from 10am (11am on Sundays). There's no need to book ahead - simply pop in during museum opening hours. Last entry is 15 minutes before 

One of the reasons I love Great North Museum is because they are constantly providing ways for visitors to engage with the museum and their collections. Children will love the spinner challenge - there are 6 to enjoy across the museum. Simply spin the wheel and complete the task using items in the gallery to find the answer / clues. 

There's also a FREE Murray the Mole Trail running until October 2025 - simply pick up a map from reception. It's great with four different trails to complete. Both fun and informative. Collect a sticker for every trail you complete. 

2 - Fantastic FREE drop in activities during school holidays 

Great North Museum always plan a host of FREE drop in activities across school holidays. Always worth keeping in mind if you're planning a day out in Newcastle. Most of the activities are indoors too so suitable for our ever-changing British weather. 

We have tried lots of activities at the museum over the years including meet the animals, puppet making, short theatre performances, adventure quests, sculpture workshops, meet the experts, STEM experiments, nature crafts, video games, dress up, placard making, living art and more.

Most recently we enjoyed a very relaxed session with Newcastle University Transplant Department where we designed our own island filled with ojects which were meaningful and special to us. 

You can check what's on here (link is regularly updated with new events) : https://greatnorthmuseum.org.uk/whats-on

3 - A 6 minute walk from Haymarket 

Great North Museum is a super easy 6 minute walk from Haymarket (buses and Metro) making it an ideal day out by public transport with mimimal walking involved. 

There's also a bike rack for up to 10 bikes outside of the museum and blue badge parking is available. 

Find out more & get the museum address : https://greatnorthmuseum.org.uk/visit-us/getting-here

4 - Excellent for under 5s 

Great North Museum feels super spacious and it's easy to navigate with a pushchair (there are lifts too). If you prefer, there is a buggy store area on the ground floor.

Facilities are excellent with baby change areas in male and female toilets on both floors plus a family changing area. The museum also has a supply of nappies and wipes if you're caught short. 

Little ones will absolutely love exploring the Mouse House which is a dedicated space for under 5s designed to introduce them to the museum's collections. There are bright and interactive areas to explore, things to spin, peek your head through, spaces to hide and dress up too.

Sometimes the Mouse House closes for short periods for group visits - check with the museum direct to check for upcoming closures if this is important to your visit. 

You can watch our video walkthrough of the Mouse House here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C9VI-LYoNZr/

Children's packed lunch deals are available in the museum cafe and when my children were little they loved visiting the resident dinosaur and saying hello to the animals in the Living Planet exhibitions. 

The museum organises a full programme of bookable activities for under 5s from Curious Crawlers (for pre-walking babies) to Nurture Nest (for pre-crawling babies) to Mouse Tales Story Time for Under 5s. 

Check what's on and book your place here: https://greatnorthmuseum.org.uk/whats-on

If the sun is shining, we love to combine a visit to the museum with Exhibition Park playground just behind the museum which is excellent (and has a small water play area so bring a change of clothes if this is your plan). 

5 - The best value Planetarium in the North East 

Credit: Great North Museum

Did you know there's a Planetarium inside Great North Museum? Showing up to 11 shows per day, tickets start at just £2.95 per person (accompanying under 3s go free). Current shows include Cosmix (all about how astronauts do their job), We Are Aliens (an epic hunt for alien life) and a classic visual and audio tour of the Universe. 

You can purchase Planetarium tickets from reception and check timings and what's on here: https://greatnorthmuseum.org.uk/whats-on/planetarium

6 - The museum is super accessible (including relaxed sessions) 

Great North Museum aims to be accessible to everyone and have a range of resources available. The museum is accessible for wheelchairs with ramps, lifts, voice announcers and braille indicators. Induction points are fitted across the museum, you can borrow a wheelchair, there are audio points with video and BSL and wheelchair spaces are available in the planetarium. 

The museum encourages anyone who requires support items to bring them along to the museum with them but you can also borrow ear defenders, sensory bags, wheelchair trays, torches, magnifying sheets, coloured overlay reading rulers from reception if required. 

I always find there to be lots of seating in the museum across all levels. 

You can find out more about museum access here: https://greatnorthmuseum.org.uk/visit-us/access-information or feel free to contact the museum with any specific enquiries. 

Credit :Great North Museum

Across school holidays, you can pre-book a free relaxed session to the museum which offers a quieter museum experience and is open to anyone who may benefit. Book a free relaxed session here: https://greatnorthmuseum.org.uk/whats-on/relaxed-early-openings

7 - There's a cafe, gift shop & brilliant facilities 

Credit: Great North Museum 

Great North Museum is packed with facilities to provide an enjoyable and stress-free visit to all. There are plenty of toilets including baby change and accessible toilets (with a shower and adult changing table). There are lockers (£1), designated packed lunch spaces and a lovely museum cafe serving sandwiches, jacket potatoes, snacks, cakes and children's lunch boxes. 

There's also a cafe pod directly outside the museum entrance serving ice creams, hot and cold drinks and snacks with picnic tables and lots of green space. I love sitting here with a coffee or picnic if the weather's nice. You'd never believe you're in the city centre (look out for the resident Rhino). 

The museum gift shop offers pocket money toys, books and a wide range of souveniers. It's a brilliant place to shop for birthday and christmas gifts too. 


Read more about the museum's facilities here: https://greatnorthmuseum.org.uk/visit-us/facilities

We love Great North Museum and visit a few times every year. We hope you enjoy a visit soon x