What to do in Newcastle when it rains
Newcastle and Gateshead pair riverside galleries with covered markets and lively venues — ideal when the North Sea wind brings rain.
Museums
Spend a few hours in the city's museums — many are free, and a rainy day is the perfect excuse to take your time.
- Newcastle Castle The Black Gate, Castle Garth, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 1RQ, UK
- Discovery Museum Discovery Museum, Blandford Square, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4JA, UK
- Great North Museum: Hancock Barras Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4PT, UK
- Life Science Centre Life Science Centre International Centre for Life Times Square, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4EP, UK
- Laing Art Gallery New Bridge St W, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8AG, UK
- Seven Stories The National Centre for Children's Books 30 Lime St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 2PQ, UK
- Victoria Tunnel Tours Ouseburn Valley, 51 Lime St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 2PQ, UK
- Shipley Art Gallery Prince Consort Rd, Gateshead NE8 4JB, UK
Art galleries
Duck into the art galleries; they're quiet, warm and rarely busier than on a wet day.
- The Biscuit Factory 16 Stoddart St, Shieldfield, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 1AN, UK
- Laing Art Gallery New Bridge St W, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8AG, UK
- Hatton Gallery King's Rd, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8QB, UK
- Shipley Art Gallery Prince Consort Rd, Gateshead NE8 4JB, UK
- Hancock Gallery 2 Jesmond Rd W, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4PQ, UK
- Shieldfield Art Works 1 Clarence St, Shieldfield, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 1YH, UK
- Castle Fine Art, Newcastle 61-67 Grey St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 6EF, UK
- High Bridge Works 39 High Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 1EW, UK
Indoor shopping
Hit the covered shopping streets and centres — everything under one roof.
- Metrocentre St. Michaels Wy., Metrocentre, Gateshead NE11 9YG, UK
- Eldon Square Percy St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7JB, UK
- The Gate Newgate St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4XQ, UK
- Yellow Mall, Metrocentre Metrocentre, Gateshead NE11 9XZ, UK
- Trinity Square Trinity Square, Gateshead NE8 1AG, UK
- Red Mall, Metrocentre St. Michaels Wy., Metrocentre, Gateshead NE11 9YG, UK
- Gosforth Central Gosforth Shopping Centre, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 1JZ, UK
- Eldon Garden Shopping Centre Percy St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RA, UK
Food halls
Settle into a food hall and work your way around the stalls while the rain blows over.
- Tesco Extra 1 Trinity Square, Gateshead NE8 1AG, UK
- Grainger Market Grainger St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 5QQ, UK
- Tesco Express 16 Clayton St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 5PU, UK
- Tesco Express Tesco Stores Ltd, One Trinity Gardens, Broad Chare, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 2HF, UK
- Tesco Express Stoddart St, Shieldfield, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 1TB, UK
- Tesco Express Tesco, 27 Percy St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4PW, UK
- Tesco Express Barrack Rd, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4BT, UK
- Tesco Express Tesco Express, 15 Saville Row, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8JE, UK
Live music
Find an afternoon or early-evening gig; the city is known for its venues.
- O2 City Hall Newcastle Northumberland Rd, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8SF, UK
- Theatre Royal 100 Grey St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 6BR, UK
- Tyne Theatre & Opera House 109-113 Westgate Rd, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4AG, UK
- Northern Stage Barras Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RH, UK
- Gosforth Civic Theatre Gosforth Civic Theatre, Regent Farm Rd, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 3HD, UK
- Live Theatre 27-29 Broad Chare, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3DQ, UK
- People's Theatre Stephenson Rd, Newcastle upon Tyne NE6 5QF, UK
- Boulevard 3-9 Churchill St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4HF, UK
Venue suggestions powered by Google — tap a name for the map, and always check opening times before you go. 40 places listed; the list refreshes regularly.