Autism friendly Tyne and Wear: days out & sessions

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Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland and the Tyneside coast: museums, theatres, cinemas and shopping centres with relaxed times.

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41 places

Museum · Newcastle upon Tyne
Great North Museum: Hancock
- Quiet times
- Quiet room
- Visual guide
- +3
Natural history and archaeology museum with a planetarium, dinosaurs and Hadrian's Wall gallery. Offers relaxed early openings in the holidays, a visual story and video tour, and free loan of ear defenders and sensory bags.
Museum · Newcastle upon Tyne
Discovery Museum
- Visual guide
- Changing Places
- Calmer times
Big free museum of Tyneside science, industry and social history, home of the Turbinia. Has an up to date visual story, a Changing Places toilet and a sensory kit for SEND school groups.
Museum · Newcastle upon Tyne
Laing Art Gallery
- Sensory map
- Changing Places
- Calmer times
City centre art gallery with Victorian paintings and changing exhibitions. Publishes a sensory map of the building and names its quietest hours.
Museum · Newcastle upon Tyne
Life Science Centre
- Quiet times
- Sensory map
- Visual guide
- +4
Hands on science centre with a planetarium and seasonal ice rink. One of the strongest offers in the region, with monthly relaxed Sundays, a visual story and sensory map made with the North East Autism Society, and sensory bags to hire.
Attraction · Tynemouth
Tynemouth Aquarium
- Carer ticket
- Calmer times
Seafront aquarium (formerly Blue Reef) with seals, otters and an underwater tunnel. Offers free carer entry and mostly single level displays; no sensory sessions are listed.
Sport · Newcastle upon Tyne
St James' Park Autism Friendly Stadium Tour
- Quiet times
- Visual guide
- Carer ticket
- +1
Newcastle United's monthly stadium tour adapted for autistic fans, covering dressing rooms, media suite and pitchside. Pre visit photos and video help people prepare, and a carer goes free.
Cinema · Newcastle upon Tyne
Tyneside Cinema
- Quiet times
- Quiet room
- Carer ticket
Independent heritage cinema in the city centre. Runs regular relaxed screenings, sends a social story after booking and can arrange a pre visit to the building.
Theatre · Newcastle upon Tyne
Theatre Royal Newcastle
- Quiet times
- Quiet room
- Visual guide
Grade I listed city centre theatre hosting touring shows and the annual panto. Offers relaxed panto performances with a chill out space and a social story.
Theatre · Newcastle upon Tyne
Northern Stage
- Quiet times
- Sensory kit
- Carer ticket
- +1
Producing theatre next to the universities with family Christmas shows. Offers relaxed performances, ear defenders on loan, free companion tickets and familiarisation tours.
Theatre · Sunderland
Sunderland Empire
- Quiet times
- Sensory kit
- Carer ticket
Large Edwardian theatre hosting West End tours and panto. Has a relaxed panto date, free sensory bags and companion tickets through the ATG access scheme.
Shopping · Gateshead
Metrocentre
- Quiet times
- Sensory kit
- Staff training
One of the UK's largest shopping centres. Holds twice weekly quiet hours across taking part shops, with sensory backpacks available.
Attraction · Gateshead
Treetop Golf Metrocentre
- Quiet times
Indoor jungle themed mini golf inside the Metrocentre. Runs a monthly quiet session with reduced noise and lighting, aimed at autistic players and families.
Museum · Wallsend
Segedunum Roman Fort
- Quiet room
- Carer ticket
- Changing Places
- +1
Excavated Roman fort at the end of Hadrian's Wall with a museum and viewing tower. Offers free entry for a companion and trained staff, but no sensory sessions are listed.
Museum · Gateshead
Shipley Art Gallery
- Sensory map
- Changing Places
- Staff training
Gateshead gallery of art, craft and design. Normally has a free sensory room and publishes sensory maps; check the room has reopened before visiting.
Museum · South Shields
South Shields Museum and Art Gallery
- Sensory kit
- Changing Places
- Staff training
Town centre museum of local history and art on Ocean Road. Lends sensory backpacks and has trained staff and a 3D map to preview the layout.
Nature · Washington
WWT Washington Wetland Centre
- Visual guide
A wetland reserve with hides and paths where you can download a picture guide to the site before you go. Staff can suggest routes that avoid steep slopes and will help with things like gates or carrying a tray.
Museum · South Shields
Arbeia Roman Fort
- Sensory kit
- Changing Places
- Staff training
This reconstructed Roman fort lends sensory backpacks with noise cancelling headphones from its reception desk, against an ID deposit. The museum building is level inside, and the page notes its pre-visit information is being revised.
Gallery · Gateshead
BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art
- Quiet room
- Visual guide
- Sensory kit
- +2
The free contemporary art gallery on Gateshead Quays offers visual stories for the building and its exhibitions, sensory bags and a sensory room. Shop music can be turned off on request, and carers get free tickets to paid events.
Attraction · Whitburn, Sunderland
Souter Lighthouse and The Leas (National Trust)
- Changing Places
A clifftop lighthouse with mostly level coastal paths, and a Changing Places toilet opposite the café. The tower itself is climbed by a steep spiral staircase.
Gallery · Newcastle upon Tyne
Hatton Gallery
- Sensory map
- Changing Places
- Staff training
A free university art gallery whose access map shows where light, noise, smells and temperature change. All public areas have level access, and the nearest Changing Places toilet is in a nearby university building.
Theatre · Gateshead
The Glasshouse International Centre for Music
- Quiet times
- Quiet room
- Sensory kit
- +2
The Glasshouse runs relaxed concerts through the year with lights up, open doors and a chill-out room nearby. You can borrow ear defenders, ask for a quiet space, book a pre-visit and be seated early to skip the crowds.
Theatre · Newcastle upon Tyne
Tyne Theatre and Opera House
- Quiet times
- Carer ticket
This Victorian theatre gives carers a free ticket for every show when booked through the Box Office. Relaxed performances depend on the touring production, so check each event page for the label.
Cinema · Newcastle upon Tyne
Star and Shadow Cinema
- Changing Places
This volunteer-run cinema in Heaton has a Changing Places toilet and step-free ramps to most spaces. Its site says nothing about relaxed screenings, so ask before you go.
Sport · Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle Falcons, Kingston Park
- Sensory kit
- Carer ticket
The Falcons hire out sensory packs with ear defenders and fidget toys on matchdays for a refundable deposit. A free companion ticket is available with benefit evidence.
Trampoline · Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle Trampoline Park and Gym (Better)
- Quiet times
- Carer ticket
Every Thursday afternoon the trampoline park runs SEND jumps with the sound effects, flashing lights and loud music switched off. Carers go free but need to book their ticket online.
Swimming · Gateshead
Heworth Leisure Centre (Better)
- Quiet times
- Staff training
Heworth runs SEND swims with less noise and softer lighting, and a carer can get in the water too. Lessons use visual aids and trained instructors.
Swimming · Blaydon
Blaydon Leisure Centre (Better)
- Quiet times
Blaydon's pool has SEND swim sessions kept to smaller numbers. Check the centre timetable for the current slot.
Shopping · Newcastle upon Tyne
Eldon Square
- Quiet times
- Visual guide
Newcastle's main city centre shopping centre runs weekly quiet hours with the North East Autism Society, when shops turn the music down and dim the lights. A planning guide is available before you go.
Soft play · Felling, Gateshead
Felling Family Hub SEND Soft Play and Outdoor Play
- Quiet times
Gateshead Council's family hub on Felling High Street runs a weekly soft play and outdoor play session for children with SEND. It takes place on Thursday afternoons.
Swimming · Dunston, Gateshead
Dunston Leisure Centre SEND Swim
- Quiet times
- Carer ticket
- Changing Places
- +1
Dunston's pool has a weekly SEND swim on Wednesday evenings which the council describes as quieter and relaxed. The centre also has a Changing Places toilet and a poolside hoist, and carers go free.
Swimming · Jarrow
Jarrow Community Pool SEND Family Swim
- Quiet times
- Carer ticket
South Tyneside Council runs a free swim every Saturday at Jarrow Community Pool just for families with a child or young person with SEND. Families must book in advance and adults stay in the pool with their child.
Relaxed panto · Newcastle upon Tyne
Jack and the Beanstalk: Relaxed Performance
Sun 6 Dec 2026, 12:00pm (a second relaxed show is Wed 6 Jan 2027, 12:00pm)
- Adapted
Relaxed panto · Sunderland
The Further Adventures of Peter Pan: Relaxed Performance
Mon 28 Dec 2026 (time not shown on listing)
- Adapted
Relaxed event · Newcastle upon Tyne
The Snow Queen: Relaxed Performances
Tue 15 Dec 2026, 1:30pm; Mon 28 Dec 2026, 6:00pm
- Adapted
Relaxed event · Newcastle upon Tyne
The Christmas Sorting Office (every show relaxed)
21 Nov 2026 to 2 Jan 2027; most days 10:30am and 12:30pm, some 3:00pm shows
- Adapted
Relaxed Santa visit · Newcastle upon Tyne
The Santa Experience: Relaxed Sessions
Sun 22 Nov 2026, 10:00-11:45am and 3:30-5:15pm; Sun 6 Dec 2026, 11:45am-1:00pm
- Adapted
- Carer ticket
Relaxed Santa visit · Birtley
Santa's Quiet Grotto
Fri 4 Dec 2026, 10-minute slots 2:10-5:30pm; Tue 8 Dec 2026, 9:10am-12:30pm
- Adapted
- Carer ticket
- Visual guide
Relaxed Santa visit · Rowlands Gill, Gateshead
Visit Father Christmas at Gibside Stables: Relaxed Timeslot
10:35-11:10am on 29 Nov and 5, 6, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 Dec 2026
- Adapted
- Carer ticket
Relaxed event · Gateshead
The Snowman in Concert: Relaxed Performance
Wed 23 Dec 2026, 2:00pm (relaxed and BSL interpreted)
- Adapted
Relaxed screening · Newcastle upon Tyne
Relaxed Christmas films at Tyneside Cinema
Elf: Sun 29 Nov 2026. The Polar Express: Sun 6 Dec and Sun 13 Dec 2026. The Grinch (2018): Sun 20 Dec 2026. All at 10:30am in the Roxy screen
- Adapted
- Carer ticket
Airport · Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle International Airport
- Booked help
- Quiet room
- Visual guide
Newcastle has a sensory area at Gate 31 and quieter seating at Gates 19 and 31 after security. Its hidden disability pages do not mention the Sunflower lanyard.