This post shares 10 FREE days out which are close to a Metro Station. If you don't live near a Metro Station, many offer bus connections and some stations have free/paid car parks too if you'd like to park and ride.
Don't forget, kids aged 11 and under travel for free by Metro with a fare paying adult. All day, every day and they don't need a ticket. Find out more/check the t&cs here.
If you like to plan in advance and budget for days out over school holidays, I highly recommend using a Pop Pay As You Go Card of downloading the Pop app if you have an Android phone for your own tickets. Tap in and out of stations and the best fare will automatically be calculated for you.
You top up your card in advance so you could pre-load with £ when you can and save it for future days out.
Read on for maps and itineraries for how to spend your day.
1 - South Shields
South Shields is a brilliant place for a free day out and there is loads to do, all within walking distance of the Metro Station.
You top up your card in advance so you could pre-load with £ when you can and save it for future days out.
Read on for maps and itineraries for how to spend your day.
10 Free Days Out Near a Metro Station
- South Shields (ideal for a rainy/sunny/mixed weather day)
- Discovery Museum & The Common Room (ideal for a rainy day)
- Jesmond Dene and Pets Corner (ideal for a sunny day)
- Sunderland Winter Gardens and Museum (ideal for a rainy day)
- Ouseburn Farm & Seven Stories (ideal for a day of mixed weather)
- Great North Museum & Exhibition Park (ideal for a day of mixed weather)
- Richardson Dees Park (ideal for a sunny day)
- North Tyneside Coast (ideal for a sunny day)
- Rising Sun Country Park (ideal for a sunny day)
- Shiremoor Adventure Playground (ideal for a sunny day)
*of course there is nothing to stop you enjoying indoor attractions on a sunny day and outdoor attractions when it rains, in fact, they are usually much quieter if you do this.
All of the places mentioned in the list require no pre-booking with the exception of some special events. Please note, some of the blog posts linked were written during the pandemic when pre-booking was still required.
- Metro Station: South Shields (+ various walking lengths)
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| Arbeia Roman Fort |
South Shields is a brilliant place for a free day out and there is loads to do, all within walking distance of the Metro Station.
If you'd like to visit all of the places mentioned, you will walk around 2 miles with little stop offs at each attraction.
Indoor attractions include the Word (where you'll find a range of interactive exhibitions, lots of books and fantastic views) and South Shields Museum & Gallery which is another lovely free museum and includes a small reptile house.
Outdoor attractions include North and South Marine Park (both with fab playgrounds and an ideal place to stop for a picnic), Arbeia Roman Fort which is a real hidden gem and of course the beach.
I'd recommend visiting in this order: The Word-South Shields Museum-South Marine Park-The Beach-North Marine Park-Arbeia Roman Fort.
2 - Discovery Museum & The Common Room
The Discovery Museum features lots of hands on fun including a Science Maze with interactive activities and engaging local history exhibitions.
The Discovery Museum often hosts additional free events during school holidays and weekends so do check their website to see whats on and the Common Room hosts a range of STEM workshops and activities across the year, again usually free (but you usually require a ticket).
3 - Jesmond Dene & Pets Corner
4 - Sunderland Winter Gardens & Museum (+ Mowbray Park)
Ouseburn Farm is a charity with sheep, pigs, chickens and a range of small animals including a tortoise who likes to roam around. You can pop in during opening hours and say hello to the animals. Sometimes you are able to hold/pet them and ask the keepers some questions too.
Take a look around the farm in this blog guide (although please note, this post was written during the pandemic and there is no longer an entrance fee and you don't need to book).
Seven Stories is now FREE to visit and honestly I feel like we are so lucky to have this attraction here in the North East. There are multiple floors of beautiful and engaging exhibitions all based around children's stories and books. We love it!
You can read a blog guide to Seven Stories here and check their website for up to date info here.
6 - Great North Museum & Exhibition Park
Exhibition Park is just along the road from the museum and a real hidden gem in Newcastle. You'd never believe you were in the city as you stroll around.
There are lovely playgrounds, sports courts, table tennis tables (hire equipment from the cafe for a £5 refundable deposit), walks and a skate park. Urban Green who manage the park often run free events for kids in the summer too.
Don't miss the FREE mini train that runs next to Wylam Brewery on the first Sunday of every month. Kids will love it. Here is a guide to visiting Exhibition Park.
7 - Richardson Dees Park
Richardson Dees Park is a lovely park in Wallsend with a fab playground, skate park, sports pitches, duck pond, sand and water play, gardens and more. It's easily somewhere you can spend a few hours on a nice day.
Wallsend Hall Grounds next door are lovely for a walk too.
Read North East Family Fun's full guide to visiting here.
8 - North Tyneside Coast
9 - Rising Sun Country Park
Rising Sun Country Park is a varied day out with a playground and visitor centre, woodland walks and trails to follow, ponds and wildlife hides plus a free to visit community farm.
Read a guide to visiting here.
10 - Shiremoor Adventure Playground
It's not like a normal playground and is only open at set times and these change. Some sessions are dedicated to families with additional needs.
Once you have checked the opening hours, it is free to visit and you don't need to book. It's a brilliant place with an adventure playground alongside a wide range of activities including things like toasting marshmallows, rollerskating, grooming farmyard animals and preparing vegetables.
You can read a full blog guide to visiting here.
Indoor attractions include the Word (where you'll find a range of interactive exhibitions, lots of books and fantastic views) and South Shields Museum & Gallery which is another lovely free museum and includes a small reptile house.
Outdoor attractions include North and South Marine Park (both with fab playgrounds and an ideal place to stop for a picnic), Arbeia Roman Fort which is a real hidden gem and of course the beach.
I'd recommend visiting in this order: The Word-South Shields Museum-South Marine Park-The Beach-North Marine Park-Arbeia Roman Fort.
- Here is blog guide to South Shields Museum
- Read a blog guide to Arbeia Roman Fort here
- There is a blog guide featuring 15 things to do in South Shields here
- And just for fun, here is a throw back post from 2014 featuring a day out in South Shields
- Metro Station: Central Station (+ 10 minute walk)
The Discovery Museum features lots of hands on fun including a Science Maze with interactive activities and engaging local history exhibitions.
The Discovery Museum often hosts additional free events during school holidays and weekends so do check their website to see whats on and the Common Room hosts a range of STEM workshops and activities across the year, again usually free (but you usually require a ticket).
Read North East Family Fun's blog guide to visiting the Discovery Museum here and check for the most up-to-date information over on their website here.
There is a blog guide to visiting the Common Room here and check for the most up-to-date information over on their website here.
There is a blog guide to visiting the Common Room here and check for the most up-to-date information over on their website here.
3 - Jesmond Dene & Pets Corner
- Metro: West Jesmond (+ 25 minute walk)
You can read a blog guide to visiting Jesmond Dene and Pets Corner here.
We love Jesmond Dene! It's a beautiful place for a walk through the woods with a little bridge to play pooh sticks on and a waterfall too.
There is a small enclosed playground for little ones, picnic tables, loads of grass and Pets Corner where you can visit a range of animals all completely free (although donations are of course welcome).
We love Jesmond Dene! It's a beautiful place for a walk through the woods with a little bridge to play pooh sticks on and a waterfall too.
There is a small enclosed playground for little ones, picnic tables, loads of grass and Pets Corner where you can visit a range of animals all completely free (although donations are of course welcome).
4 - Sunderland Winter Gardens & Museum (+ Mowbray Park)
- Metro : Park Lane (+ 9 minute walk)
Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens are a lovely option for a rainy day. There's a museum with interesting exhibits and the Winter Garden is home to some pretty cool dinosaurs too.
It's worth checking what's on over summer as they regularly host free / super low cost events too.
Mowbray Park is just next door to the gardens and worth a walk around before you head home.
- Metro Station: Manors (+ 12 minute walk)
Ouseburn Farm is a charity with sheep, pigs, chickens and a range of small animals including a tortoise who likes to roam around. You can pop in during opening hours and say hello to the animals. Sometimes you are able to hold/pet them and ask the keepers some questions too.
Take a look around the farm in this blog guide (although please note, this post was written during the pandemic and there is no longer an entrance fee and you don't need to book).
Seven Stories is now FREE to visit and honestly I feel like we are so lucky to have this attraction here in the North East. There are multiple floors of beautiful and engaging exhibitions all based around children's stories and books. We love it!
You can read a blog guide to Seven Stories here and check their website for up to date info here.
- Metro Station: Haymarket (+14 minute walk)
I love that the Great North Museum features so many varied exhibitions. It's one of those places where there really is something for everyone.
From animals and dinosaurs to beautiful gems and crystals or ancient mummys and Hadrian's Wall, it's certainly an ecclectic mix. The Mouse House is a lovely little space for little ones too.
There's a guide to visiting the museum here and check their website for the most up to date information here.
From animals and dinosaurs to beautiful gems and crystals or ancient mummys and Hadrian's Wall, it's certainly an ecclectic mix. The Mouse House is a lovely little space for little ones too.
There's a guide to visiting the museum here and check their website for the most up to date information here.
Exhibition Park is just along the road from the museum and a real hidden gem in Newcastle. You'd never believe you were in the city as you stroll around.
There are lovely playgrounds, sports courts, table tennis tables (hire equipment from the cafe for a £5 refundable deposit), walks and a skate park. Urban Green who manage the park often run free events for kids in the summer too.
Don't miss the FREE mini train that runs next to Wylam Brewery on the first Sunday of every month. Kids will love it. Here is a guide to visiting Exhibition Park.
7 - Richardson Dees Park
- Metro: Wallsend (+10 minute walk)
Richardson Dees Park is a lovely park in Wallsend with a fab playground, skate park, sports pitches, duck pond, sand and water play, gardens and more. It's easily somewhere you can spend a few hours on a nice day.
Wallsend Hall Grounds next door are lovely for a walk too.
Read North East Family Fun's full guide to visiting here.
8 - North Tyneside Coast
- Metro: Cullercoats / Tynemouth / Whitley Bay
The North Tyneside Coast is a fab place to visit. You are spoilt with beaches and you can walk or take the Metro between Whitley Bay, Cullercoats and Tynemouth.
As well as the seaside, there are some nice parks to enjoy too including one in Cullercoats overlooking the sea, Whitley Bay Park and my personal favourite, Northumberland Park in Tynemouth.
If you fancy a walk, the walk from Whitley Bay to St Mary's Island is around 2 miles each way. It's impossible to get lost as you can see the lighthouse from the beach. It's a fab spot for rockpooling and seal spotting (do check the tide times if you'd like to cross onto the island).
As well as the seaside, there are some nice parks to enjoy too including one in Cullercoats overlooking the sea, Whitley Bay Park and my personal favourite, Northumberland Park in Tynemouth.
If you fancy a walk, the walk from Whitley Bay to St Mary's Island is around 2 miles each way. It's impossible to get lost as you can see the lighthouse from the beach. It's a fab spot for rockpooling and seal spotting (do check the tide times if you'd like to cross onto the island).
9 - Rising Sun Country Park
- Metro: Palmersville (+17 minute walk)
Rising Sun Country Park is a varied day out with a playground and visitor centre, woodland walks and trails to follow, ponds and wildlife hides plus a free to visit community farm.
Read a guide to visiting here.
- Metro Station : Shiremoor (+ 9 minute walk)
It's not like a normal playground and is only open at set times and these change. Some sessions are dedicated to families with additional needs.
You can read a full blog guide to visiting here.
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