Kids Venues

Arbeia Roman Fort and Museum

South Shields

Open: 10.00am-5pm Mon-Fri, 11am-4.15pm Sat, 2pm-5pm Sunday. Free. One of the few sites where you can actually watch excavations in progress throughout the summer months. There is a fine reconstruction (full size) of the fort's West Gate, and on some of the special event days you can sample Roman food or watch re-enactments of training.

Arc

Stockton-on-Tees

ARC leaves no theatrical rock unturned staging some of the finest, groundbreaking, heart-warming, electrifying, funny and innovative theatre and spoken word the nation has to offer. From the wonderfully obscure to the dramatically captivating, no promising or highly acclaimed performance escapes this wonderful venue.

Beamish -The North of England Open Air Museum

Beamish, Co. Durham

Open: 10am-5pm daily. Adults £17.50, conc. £13, children (5-16) £10, under-5s free, family tickets £32 (1 adult 2 children)/£46 (2 adults 2 children) in summer. Tickets are valid for 1 year unlimited trips. Winter prices are reduced. This unique, open-air museum provides a living, working experience of life as it was in north-east England between the early 1800s and early 1900s. Set in over 300 acres of beautiful countryside, Beamish is replete with working trams, replica streets and more.

Billy Sheil's Farne

Northumberland

Open: April-Sept daily trips to Farne Islands - 1st sailing 10am, Oct - cruises only, Nov-Mar by appt. only. Landings. £10/£7 Cruise £8/£6 Check out the seal and bird colonies as you hit the waves. Commentary available and cruises to Holy Island can be arranged £12/£7.

Bishop Auckland Town Hall

Bishop Auckland

This Grade II listed building occupies a prime site in the Market Place in Bishop Auckland and is the premier arts venue for the people of South West Durham and beyond. Every strand of the arts is represented in our comprehensive programme - theatre, music, literature, dance, visual arts and practical craft workshops are all featured on a regular basis. The best in small-scale professional touring theatre – Hull Truck, NTC, Quondam, Reform and many more - visit to delight audiences in our very own Eden Theatre where we also screen films on a regular basis. Music features strongly and is always well received with artists of the calibre of Snake Davis and Vin Garbutt regular visitors. The McGuinness Gallery offers high quality, regularly changing exhibitions, while our award winning 'Book It' programme offers a variety of author and literary events.

Chesters Walled Garden

Hexham, Northumberland

This 2-acre 18th century garden is sheltered on three sides by woodland and open on the fourth to stunning views of the Tyne Valley. For 200 years the garden provided the fruit and vegetables for Chester’s House but it is now laid out as a unique herb garden. Open: March-Oct 10am-5pm daily. Nov-mid March opening hours depend on the weather and it is advisable to telephone before visiting.

Crowtree Leisure Centre and Wellness Centre

Sunderland

Get in shape at the sports hall, where you can play football, basketball, volleyball, netball, badminton and table tennis. There are also squash courts for hire to really get the heart rate going.

Dance City

Newcastle upon Tyne

There’s something for you at Dance City whether you’ve been dancing all your life or you are a complete beginner. Choose from over 70 weekly classes for all ages to keep fit, socialise or learn something new, from contemporary to hip hop, ballet to ballroom, belly dancing to pilates and even classes for bumps and babies. Dance performances by companies from all over the world are presented throughout the year, featuring contemporary dance, physical theatre, ballet, world dance and family-friendly dance productions.

Darlington Hippodrome

(formerly Darlington Civic Theatre) , Parkgate, Darlington

The Darlington Civic Theatre first opened its doors on Monday 2nd September 1907 as the New Hippodrome & Palace of Varieties under the leadership of Managing Director Signor Rino Pepi, an internationally renowned ‘protean’ or quick change artist.

Diggerland

Co. Durham

Less museum and more theme park, Diggerland offers visitors the unique opportunity to ride in dumper trucks and – unsurprisingly – diggers ‘til their heart’s content. Amateur construction workers are also afforded the chance to take photos and learn about the metallic contraptions that they’re driving. On-site too is The Dig Inn, a restaurant to grab a bite in between bouts of digging and generally mucking around. Open: Summer 10am-5pm. Telephone for winter opening. Prices: Adult/over threes £15/ OAPs £7.50; carers and Under-3s free.

Dolphin Centre

Darlington

Famous 4.15

Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear

Famous 4.15 is homed at The Famous Building, Newcastle's creative hub for the performing arts. Offering singing, dancing and drama training for children and young people, as well as studio space for hire for business and creative and adult classes.

Kielder Castle

Hexham, Northumberland

Open: Daily from Easter to October 10am-5pm. Nov – weekends only 11am-4pm, Dec – daily up to Christmas 11am-4pm.