Choose the kind of wet-weather outing your children need: active indoor play, a museum to explore or a shorter stop with books and art. This guide includes free and paid choices, so compare cost, town and age guidance before deciding how far to travel.
Indoor does not guarantee a quiet visit or an entirely sheltered journey. Check busy sessions, booking, facilities and any outdoor sections with the venue. If keeping costs down is the main priority, follow the cheap and free indoor guide.
Compare 11 places by town, cost, weather and age
Cost bands are a guide. Free entry can still mean paid parking, exhibitions or activities. Age tags are broad suggestions; check the venue’s exact limits and facilities.
| Place | Town | Entry and extras | Weather | Age guidance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dorman Museum | Middlesbrough | Free Admission to the museum is free. | Indoors | Babies, Toddlers, Children, Teenagers |
| Discovery Museum | Newcastle upon Tyne | Free | Indoors | Babies, Toddlers, Children |
| Hancock Museum | Newcastle upon Tyne | Free | Indoors | Toddlers, Children, Teenagers |
| Seven Stories | Newcastle upon Tyne | Free | Indoors | Babies, Toddlers, Children |
| Life Science Centre | Newcastle upon Tyne | High (£££) — guide only; check official prices | Indoors | Babies, Toddlers, Children, Teenagers |
| Baltic | Gateshead | Free | Indoors | Babies, Toddlers, Children, Teenagers |
| The Word | South Shields | Free | Indoors | Babies, Toddlers, Children, Teenagers |
| Newcastle City Library | Newcastle upon Tyne | Free | Indoors | Babies, Toddlers, Children, Teenagers |
| Shipley Art Gallery | Gateshead | Free | Indoors | Toddlers, Children, Teenagers |
| The Hullabaloo | Darlington | Creative Play is free and drop-in, subject to space. Most shows are paid and need booking. Hullabaloo admission and booking | Indoors | Babies, Toddlers, Children |
| Prudhoe Soft Play | Prudhoe | Low (£) — guide only; check official prices | Indoors | Babies, Toddlers, Children |
11 places worth exploring
Active play indoors
Play & soft playPrudhoe Soft Play
Prudhoe, NE42 5DQ
OpenA nature-themed soft-play area at Prudhoe Waterworld, with climbing, slides and a sensory space designed especially for younger children. Sessions are timed and should be booked in advance; check availability rather than relying only on centre opening hours.
- Low cost
- Indoor
- Babies
- Toddlers
- Children
A good shout when the kids need to burn off some energy and the weather has other ideas.
Museums and science to explore
Museums & galleries |Family attractionsDorman Museum
Middlesbrough, TS5 6LA
Opens today at 10:00A free Middlesbrough museum with varied galleries that work well for a shorter rainy-day visit. Families can move from space and natural-history displays to stories of Middlesbrough through time, alongside the museum's standout collections of Linthorpe Art Pottery and Christopher Dresser design. There is also a Victorian-style tearoom and museum shop, making it easy to combine the galleries with a relaxed break.
- Free entry
- Indoor
- Babies
- Toddlers
- Children
- Teens
A Middlesbrough indoor museum option with free admission. Check current exhibitions and family activities before travelling.
Museums & galleriesDiscovery Museum
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4JA
Opens today at 11:00A free family museum in Newcastle with local history, science and hands-on displays to explore at your own pace. It is a useful indoor option for a rainy day and works well for families who want plenty to discover without needing to plan a full-day visit.
- Free entry
- Indoor
- Babies
- Toddlers
- Children
A great rainy-day choice with local history, hands-on displays and plenty to have a mooch around.
Museums & galleriesHancock Museum
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4PT
Opens today at 11:00Explore natural history, ancient cultures and the stories of the North East at this family-friendly museum. Children can discover fossils, animals, mummies and hands-on displays while adults enjoy the wider collections and changing exhibitions.
- Free entry
- Indoor
- Toddlers
- Children
- Teens
Dinosaurs, natural history and ancient cultures mean there’s plenty to catch the eye, whatever your little explorer is into.
Museums & galleriesLife Science Centre
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4EP
Opens today at 10:00An interactive science centre with hands-on exhibits, live demonstrations, experiments, making activities and the North's largest planetarium. The programme changes throughout the year and frequently includes activities designed for preschool children, families and teenagers. Standard admission includes the principal science-centre activities and planetarium shows, although spaces are allocated on a first-come basis.
- Higher cost
- Indoor
- Babies
- Toddlers
- Children
- Teens
A good one for curious kids who like pressing buttons, trying things out and asking how everything works.
Books, art and shorter cultural visits
Libraries & story timeSeven Stories
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 2PQ
Opens today at 10:00A brilliant home for children’s books and storytelling in Ouseburn. Families can explore interactive floors, discover new stories and join performances, workshops and events designed to make reading and imagination come alive.
- Free entry
- Indoor
- Babies
- Toddlers
- Children
Ideal for book-loving bairns who fancy stories, imaginative play and creative things to get stuck into.
Sensory & inclusive play |Museums & galleriesBaltic
Gateshead, NE8 3BA
Opens today at 10:00Explore contemporary art across the galleries of BALTIC, with changing exhibitions and striking views over the River Tyne. The open spaces, family activities and creative displays make it an accessible cultural visit for adults and children alike.
- Free entry
- Indoor
- Babies
- Toddlers
- Children
- Teens
A flexible Quayside stop with contemporary art and family activities to dip in and out of.
Libraries & story timeThe Word
South Shields, NE33 1JF
Opens today at 10:00A free cultural venue and library overlooking the River Tyne, with books, interactive exhibitions, family activities, creative facilities and regularly changing events. There is also an on-site café, although its hours are slightly shorter than the main building's. Some workshops and ticketed events need to be booked separately. Check the events programme before visiting to see what is currently available.
- Free entry
- Indoor
- Babies
- Toddlers
- Children
- Teens
Books, exhibitions and creative activities make this a handy place to escape a wet day in South Shields.
Libraries & story time |Heritage & castlesNewcastle City Library
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8AX
Opens today at 09:00A welcoming city-centre library with children’s books, quiet spaces, family activities and regular events. It is a useful indoor stop for reading, relaxing and finding something creative to do in Newcastle.
- Free entry
- Indoor
- Babies
- Toddlers
- Children
- Teens
A central indoor stop for children’s books, library spaces and whatever activities are happening that day.
Museums & galleriesShipley Art Gallery
Gateshead, NE8 4JB
Closed – opens TuesdaySee paintings, sculpture and design from the gallery’s collection, with displays that make art approachable for families. Look out for changing exhibitions and activities that encourage children to notice, imagine and create.
- Free entry
- Indoor
- Toddlers
- Children
- Teens
A manageable gallery visit for families who fancy looking at art together without committing to a full day out.
Family attractionsThe Hullabaloo
Darlington, DL1 1SG
Closed – opens WednesdayA theatre and creative play venue designed especially for children and families. It offers changing play installations, performances, creative activities, a story corner and a family-friendly café. Visiting the building and some play activities can be free, while performances and bookable sessions have their own prices and times. Check the current programme before travelling.
- Low cost
- Indoor
- Babies
- Toddlers
- Children
A family-friendly cultural stop with creative and performance-led activities to explore alongside the current programme.
These are hand-picked suggestions rather than every matching result. Follow each activity for opening times, location and practical details.
Explore all activitiesMore ways to plan your day
Pick the kind of day that suits you
Museums and galleries are handy when you want to have a wander at your own pace, while soft play and indoor attractions are a better shout when the kids need to burn off some energy. Libraries and cultural venues can be just the ticket for a shorter, calmer stop.
- Fancy something quieter? Try a library, gallery or museum.
- Got plenty of energy to burn? Start with play or a family attraction.
- Check whether exhibitions, classes or events need booking separately.
Keep your rainy-day plan flexible
Choose one main indoor activity and keep a café, library or short walk nearby as a back-up. That way, you’ve got options if the weather clears up or everyone is ready to move on sooner than expected.
Before you head off
- Have a quick look at booking requirements and current opening arrangements before setting off.
- Check the venue’s age guidance and what’s on, not just the headline opening hours.
- Take layers even for indoor visits — you’ll still need to get there, queue up and possibly nip between stops.
- Use the activity finder to compare indoor options by price, age fit and visit length.
Keep exploring
Compare cheap and free indoor days out
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