5 buildings to see in Newcastle

1. The Discovery Museum

Discover all about the life in Newcastle and Tyneside from the area’s renowned maritime history and world-changing science and technology right through to fashion through the eras and military history. The museum is bursting with lots of interactive displays which make it the perfect place to learn and to have fun. The displays are regularly updated and complemented by an array of free, fun learning activities and a changing programme of exhibitions.

One of the favourite exhibits in the Discovery Museum is Turbinia which dominates the entrance to the Museum. Invented on Tyneside, it is the first ship to be powered by a steam turbine, the 35 metre vessel was once the fastest ship in the world and now her history is brought to life in the Turbinia Story display, and has she sets the standard for a day out that it is guaranteed to be filled with breathtaking discoveries.

Click on this link to find out wgoing on at the Discovery Museum: http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/discovery/whats-on/events

2. Centre for Life

Life is an award-winning Science Centre in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne where one ticket will get you everything! Highlights include the only 4D Motion Ride in the North East – for safety reasons, visitors have to be at least 4ft/1.2 metres in height to use the Motion Ride. The North’s biggest planetarium, live theatre shows and the Curiosity Zone - 100% hands-on and full of exhibits that are designed to bring out your inner scientist.

 The Centre of Life also has a special area for the under 7s and a changing programme of exhibitions and events. From November to February, The Centre of Life hosts an outdoor ice rink in Times Square, just outside the Science Centre.Life Science Centre in Newcastle is a great day out for the whole family in Newcastle upon Tyne!

Click on this link http://www.life.org.uk/whats-on#.VM51TdKsWSo to find out what’s on whatever your age, including things to do for kids and parents, interactive science activities for everyone and special events for everyone from pre-schoolers to adults!

3. Great North Museum: Hancock

The Great North Museum: Hancock incorporates collections from the old Hancock Museum: the Natural History Society of Northumbria (NHSN), Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne (SANT) (Newcastle University’s Museum of Antiquaries), the Shefton Museum and the Hatton Gallery.

Highlights includes a life-size T-Rex dinosaur replica skeleton, a large-scale interactive model of Hadrian’s Wall, major displays showing the amazement and assortment of the animal kingdom, astonishing objects from the Ancient Greeks and mummies from Ancient Egypt, a life size elephant and a planetarium.

The Living Planet display houses hundreds of creatures and by using a mixture of touch screen technology and hands-on investigations, visitors van investigate these animals and find out where they live and hoe they survive in such extreme places as the arctic and the desert.

Love animal tanks and aquaria are combined into this major display where visitors can see wolf fish, pythons and lizards to name a few. The star objects include full size model of an elephant, a great white shark, a virtual aquarium, live animal displays, a polar bear, a giraffe and moa skeleton.

Click on this link to find out what’s on at the Great North Museum: Hancock http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/great-north-museum/whats-on/events

4. The Theatre Royal

Granted its Royal licence by King George III, the Theatre Royal Newcastle opened on Drury Lane off Mosley Street in 1788 and soon incorporated itself as one of England’s leading theatres. Three months before Queen Victoria arose on the throne in February 1837, the Theatre moved to Grey Street, a flagship building in Grainger and Dobson’s famous city plan. It features what is generally regarded as the finest Theatre façade in the UK, later combined with a fine 1901 auditorium by one of the great Theatre architects, Frank Matcham after the original interior had been destroyed by a fire in 1899.

The Grade I Listed Theatre today is both neo-classical monument and cultural engine with an annual audience of 350,000 and over 400 performances each year; the finest drama, the brightest West End musicals, the cream of the comedy circuit, award winning ballet and dance, family friendly shows, sensational opera – and (they think) the best Pantomime in the country!

Click on this link to find out what’s going on at The Theatre Royal: http://www.theatreroyal.co.uk/whats-on

5. Laing Art Gallery

The Laing Art Gallery’s exceptional art collection focuses on British oil painting, watercolours, ceramics, silver and glassware. The collection has a designated status in recognition of its national and international significance.

The highlights include outstanding pictures by William Holman Hunt, Edward Burne-Jones, Paul Gauguin and Victor Pasmore, together with an important group of paintings by 19^th-century artist John Martin, who was born and brought up in the North East. Lawrence Alma-Tadema and Daniel Maclise also a feature among the 19^th-century paintings, together with significant pictures by local artists TM Richardson, Ralph Hedley and CN Hemy. 20^th century artists include Laura Knight, Ben Nicholson, David Bomberg, and Gillian Ayres, and there is a growing contemporary collection.

From  the extensive decorative art collection, Beilby enamelled glass is of particular significance and there are fine pieces of Newcastle silver reaching 400 years. The local glass collection features Sowerby studio glass together with Davidson and Sowerby pressed glass. Maling ceramics from the 19^th and 20^th century form an important part of collection of Japanese decorative arts and prints.

Click on this link to see what’s going on at The Laing Art Gallery: http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/laing-art-gallery/whats-on/events