15+ Ideas for a Child-Free Day Out in Newcastle

Thanks so much to Martha for this guest post about visiting Newcastle, child-free, for the first time after the 6 weeks holidays. Let's take a look at their suggestions for making the most of your day without little ones around. Over to Martha........

They call it the six weeks holiday, but it feels so much longer than that. Technically ours was nearly eight, what with a juicy ten-day isolation to kick things off.

We had a great time of course; beaches, parks, road trips, gallons of hot chocolate, ice cream goatees, sleepovers, grandparents, museums, you name it. So, Mam and Dad are tired. And that is putting it mildly.


The first week back at school meant binging on all the podcasts and programmes I hadn’t been able to consume while Disney+ enjoyed its summer residency on our telly. I love Bluey but by mid-August I was clamouring for a swear word!


Now it’s the second week back and I feel almost recovered, and old routines are slotting into place. I am ready to do something fun, and most importantly, grown-up between the hours of 9-3. 

So, I’m looking for a decidedly adult celebration now the kids are back in school, and we can all enjoy a few hours of peace and quiet and a few uninterrupted thoughts (until October half term anyway). Firstly, I’m reading my book on the Metro! Secondly, I want to spend an hour browsing breakables, trinkets, and knickknacks. I want to find the shops I would least like to take my kids into.

The Best Shops to Visit without Kids

City Centre

Retro: Vintage clothes in small aisles on High Bridge. Find out more here. 

The Glamorous Owl: Jewellery, glassware, and ceramics. All extremely happy to be kept safe from tiny grasping fingers. Find out more here. 

Gateshead

The Baltic: Busy shelves ideal for browsing without someone tugging on your shirt. Find out more here. 

Heaton

Block & Bottle: Meat and beer, so many glass bottles! Find out more here. 

Jesmond

Fern Avenue Antique Centre: A veritable Aladdin’s Cave. Find out more here. 

Something Good: Advocating sustainable living, nothing is packaged. A proper mature pick ‘n’ mix. Find out more here. 

Ouseburn

Mushroom Works: Homeware, jewellery, clothes, and gifts. Find out more here. 

Biscuit Factory: Full of delicate pottery. Find out more here. 

Obviously, big-hitters like the Baltic, Side Gallery and Laing are great places to get your grown-up on and soak up some culture. But they are also super family friendly, I know I can have a lovely time there with my kids. No, I really want to do something they would hate! 

Without little legs or pram accessibility to worry about walking suddenly doesn’t seem such an arduous task. The Hidden Newcastle App invites you to discover a different side of the city. It’s free to download, offering insights into unusual and the sometimes-dark history of the city.

The app isn’t perfect (and actually you might struggle if you have a very new phone, but my luddite existence meant that it was readable on mine), but if you want to add an unusual slant to your urban walk then it might be just the thing. Covering even half of the sites mentioned would certainly rack up some miles. 

And, if after 18 months of walks means you’re desperate for a faster way to get around, you can rent an e-scooter to whizz through the city centre. And that’s completely 18+ and you need a driving license so definitely no kids!

The summer holidays saw a lot of pizza and fish finger sandwiches in our house, and lots of toast for Mam who needed something quick and portable!

A saunter through Grainger Market, unhindered by fussy eaters, is exactly what I need. Maybe something spicy from SnackWallah, a vegan Rueben from Magpye, or Dim Sum from Nan Bei, and a cake I don’t have to share from Pet Lamb Patisserie.

For something fancier, the Magic Hat Café is an incredible venture doing its bit to help eliminate food waste. Exceptionally tasty food using ingredients that would otherwise have ended up in landfill. I had a Shakshuka followed by a Northern Rye orange knot which was one of the most delicious things I’ve ever eaten. 

After lunch, two hours in Meeple Perk (Newcastle’s first café of its kind) with their extensive range of boardgames, drinks and food is just be the hard reset we all need. And with only eight people allowed in at once the atmosphere is calm and relaxing. Prices and menus can be found on their website. 

If you wanted something more decadent to do with your slice of free time then Blackfriars offers a history tour, followed by a three-course lunch (with wine!). For those who miss crafting with the kids but want something more challenging, then Glamorous Owl silverwork workshops start at £39 for two people and you get to come home with your own piece of jewellery.

I know everyone’s kids are different, but I’ve written this after six (but eight really!) long weeks of wrangling a three-year-old whirlwind and a delicate but accident-prone seven-year-old, both of whom hate food, listening, waiting or compromise so these six hours milling round Newcastle was bliss.

And I’m not suggesting that you could fit all of my suggestions into 6 hours, but even if you manage one, what a victory it would be!

Other posts you may enjoy: 

• Fenwick's Rooftop Restaurant Breakfast Review & Menus
• Blackfriars Set Lunch Menu Review & Photos 
• 7 of the Best Spa Day Deals in Newcastle 
• The Best Cocktail Happy Hour Deals in Newcastle 
• 11 Fun Date Ideas in Newcastle 
• 5 Independent Coffee Shops in Newcastle 

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