Today: light rain · 15°C
A wet day — perfect for indoor exploration
Wet weather
A rainy-day pick
Setting
Indoor
Entry
Free / cheap
Who for
Ages 3–16
The Great North Museum: Hancock is a family-friendly museum in Newcastle upon Tyne, offering a vast collection of natural history, world cultures, and ancient civilizations. Highlights include a giant T. rex skeleton, a living planetarium, and interactive galleries where kids can touch real fossils and learn about dinosaurs. Top exhibits: 'Land of the Pharaohs' with mummies, 'Living Planet' with taxidermy animals, and 'Story of the North East'. Age suitability: Best for ages 3–16, but toddlers enjoy the hands-on areas and giant animal displays. Facilities: On-site café, gift shop, baby changing, and accessible toilets. Buggy-friendly with lifts.
Practical tips: Entry is free (donations welcome). Allow 2–3 hours. The planetarium shows have limited capacity – book on arrival. Check website for special holiday events and workshops.
What parents should know
The Great North Museum: Hancock is a family-friendly museum in Newcastle upon Tyne, offering a vast collection of natural history, world cultures, and ancient civilizations.
Best timing
Book planetarium shows on arrival
Planetarium shows have limited capacity. Arrive early and book your slots at reception to avoid disappointment.
Value
Free entry makes it budget-friendly
Admission is free with donations welcome, so you can visit for as long as you like without pressure to cram everything in.
Must do
Hands-on fossil areas keep younger children engaged
Kids can touch real fossils in interactive galleries. This is brilliant for toddlers and younger children who need something tactile.
Location and map
Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to tell other parents what it's really like.
Sign in to leave a review
Opening hours
Seasonal details
Plan your visit
Nearby adventures
See all →
Exhibition Park
Exhibition Park is a large, family-friendly park in Newcastle upon Tyne, offering a range …
Leazes Park
Leazes Park is Newcastle upon Tyne's oldest public park, opened in 1873. It offers a large…
The Biscuit Factory
The Biscuit Factory is the UK's largest independent contemporary art gallery, set in a bea…
Newcastle Castle
Newcastle Castle is a medieval fortress that includes the 12th-century Castle Keep and the…
Laing Art Gallery
The Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle upon Tyne holds a collection of 18th- and 19th-century …
Seven Stories, the National Centre for Children's Books
Seven Stories is the UK's first museum dedicated entirely to children's literature. Locate…
Jesmond Dene
A beautiful wooded valley park in Newcastle upon Tyne, perfect for a family day out in nat…
Tyneside Cinema
Tyneside Cinema is a historic independent cinema in Newcastle upon Tyne, originally opened…