What to do in Newcastle upon Tyne when it rains
Grey skies over Newcastle upon Tyne are a chance to go deep on its museums and galleries, poke around an indoor market, and find the cosiest café in town.
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
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
Historic sites
Explore the indoor historic sites and their covered galleries.
- Newcastle Castle The Black Gate, Castle Garth, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 1RQ, UK
- Jesmond Dene Falls Ouse Burn, Tyne and Wear, UK, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 2EY, UK
- Newcastle Swing Bridge Bridge St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3RG, UK
- Dunston Staiths Teams, Gateshead NE8 2GS, UK
- All Saints Church Akenside Hill, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3UF, UK
- Chinese Arch St Andrew's St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 5SE, UK
Covered markets
Browse the covered market — street-food stalls, local makers and somewhere dry to graze for an hour.
- 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
Cafés
Claim a window seat in a cosy café and watch the rain instead of walking in it.
- The Glasshouse International Centre for Music St Mary's Square, Gateshead NE8 2JR, UK
- Asda Gateshead Supercentre Metro Centre, Gibside Way, Gateshead NE11 9YA, UK
- Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art The Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, S Shore Rd, Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead NE8 3BA, UK
- Saltwell Park E Park Rd, Low Fell, Gateshead NE9 5AX, UK
- Asda Byker Superstore Unit 5, Shopping Park, Fossway, Byker, Newcastle upon Tyne NE6 2XP, UK
- Asda Gosforth Superstore Hollywood Ave, Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 5BU, 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
Venue suggestions powered by Google — tap a name for the map, and always check opening times before you go. 36 places listed; the list refreshes regularly.