Home / Relaxed sessions
Photo: Grey Street, Newcastle by Graham Robson, CC BY-SA 2.0
Sessions where the lights are softer, the sound is lower and nobody minds if you move around or need a break. Dates come from each venue, and we mark them when they've passed.
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- Relaxed Santa visit · Murton, Seaham
Relaxed Santa Sessions
Every Saturday, 10:00am to 10:30am, during the grotto run (7 Nov to 24 Dec 2026)
- Adapted
Relaxed event · Newcastle upon TyneThe 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 TyneThe 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 event · Middlesbrough
Classical Café: The Snowman
Sun 29 Nov 2026, 3:00pm (doors 2:15pm)
- Adapted
Relaxed screening · Newcastle upon TyneRelaxed 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
- 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 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 · Ponteland
Santa's Quiet Grotto
Fri 4 Dec 2026, 2:10-5:30pm; Tue 8 Dec 2026, 9:10am-12:30pm (10-minute slots)
- Adapted
- Carer ticket
- Visual guide
- Relaxed Santa visit · Stockton-on-Tees
Santa's Quiet Grotto
Fri 4 Dec 2026, 2:10-5:30pm; Tue 8 Dec 2026, 9:10am-12:30pm (10-minute slots)
- Adapted
- Carer ticket
- Visual guide
Relaxed Santa visit · AshingtonFestive Tales: Relaxed Sessions
5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 Dec 2026, 3:00pm (30 minutes)
- Adapted
- Carer ticket
- Visual guide
- Relaxed event · Hexham
The Snow Globe (every show relaxed)
Every show from 5 to 31 Dec 2026 is relaxed; show times vary between 10am and 4pm
- Adapted
Relaxed panto · Newcastle upon TyneJack and the Beanstalk: Relaxed Performance
Sun 6 Dec 2026, 12:00pm (a second relaxed show is Wed 6 Jan 2027, 12:00pm)
- Adapted
- Relaxed Santa visit · Cambo, Morpeth
Quiet Father Christmas Experience
Sun 13 Dec 2026 and Tue 22 Dec 2026, 10:00-11:00am (arrive 15 minutes early)
- Adapted
- Carer ticket
- Relaxed event · Newcastle upon Tyne
The Snow Queen: Relaxed Performances
Tue 15 Dec 2026, 1:30pm; Mon 28 Dec 2026, 6:00pm
- Adapted
- Relaxed Santa visit · Darlington
SEND Santa Experience
Tue 22 Dec 2026, 4:00-4:30pm (ages 8 and under); 4:30-5:00pm session for ages 9+ is fully booked
- Adapted
- Carer ticket
- Relaxed event · Gateshead
The Snowman in Concert: Relaxed Performance
Wed 23 Dec 2026, 2:00pm (relaxed and BSL interpreted)
- Adapted
Relaxed panto · SunderlandThe Further Adventures of Peter Pan: Relaxed Performance
Mon 28 Dec 2026 (time not shown on listing)
- Adapted
Theatre · Stockton-on-TeesARC Stockton
- Quiet times
- Quiet room
- Queue help
- +1
Arts centre with theatre, cinema and music. Runs relaxed performances and screenings with a chill out space, queue free entry and free companion tickets.
- Climbing · Billingham
Billingham Forum (Tees Active)
- Quiet times
- Quiet room
- Sensory map
- +3
Billingham Forum offers low sensory times on request and has a sensory guide covering light, noise and smells. Its climbing wall runs a monthly Quiet Climb for autistic children with no music, small numbers and a quiet area, and carers go free.
Theatre · Bishop AucklandBishop Auckland Town Hall
- Carer ticket
The town hall's Eden Theatre seats carers free, accepting the CEA card or Access Card as proof. Staff will also try to seat people with additional needs in a suitable spot.
- 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 · Murton, SeahamDalton Park
- Quiet times
- Sensory kit
- Changing Places
Outlet shopping centre near Seaham. Holds twice weekly quiet mornings, lends sensory bags and publishes its other quieter times.
Theatre · DarlingtonDarlington Hippodrome
- Quiet times
- Visual guide
- Carer ticket
Restored Edwardian theatre in Darlington town centre. Offers relaxed performances, a visual guide written for autistic visitors and a free companion ticket.
- Swimming · Darlington
Dolphin Centre SEN Toddler Swim
- Quiet times
The Dolphin Centre in Darlington runs a toddler pool session for children with special educational needs on the first Tuesday of each month. It costs £4 on the current price list and the October half term 2026 timetable lists the next one.
- 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.
Sport · Chester-le-StreetDurham Cricket, Banks Homes Riverside
- Quiet room
- Queue help
- Changing Places
The ground has a bookable sensory room overlooking the pitch, a quieter entrance on request and a Changing Places toilet. Space in the sensory room is limited, so contact the club first.
Shopping · Newcastle upon TyneEldon 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.
- Theatre · Durham
Gala Durham
- Quiet times
- Quiet room
- Carer ticket
- +1
Durham's theatre and cinema in Millennium Place. Runs relaxed performances with a chill out space, trained staff and a free personal assistant ticket.
- 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 · 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.
- Soft play · Stanley
Krazy Kingdom SEND Play Sessions
- Quiet times
This soft play centre at Annfield Plain, near Stanley, closes to the general public on the first Tuesday evening of each month for children with special educational needs and disabilities. Siblings can come too. Its page was last updated in 2024, so check the date before you go.
Shopping · GatesheadMetrocentre
- 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.
- Theatre · Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough Theatre
- Quiet times
- Carer ticket
- Staff training
Council run theatre in Linthorpe with touring shows and panto. Offers some relaxed performances and a free personal assistant ticket; warns in advance about strobes and haze.
Sport · Newcastle upon TyneNewcastle 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.
- 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 · HexhamQueen's Hall Arts
- Quiet times
- Quiet room
- Queue help
- +1
Queen's Hall offers relaxed performances where it can, with a chill-out space, house lights up and no foyer music. Carers go free and you can arrange a look round beforehand and ask to skip the queue.
- 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.
Theatre · Stockton-on-TeesStockton Globe
- Visual guide
- Carer ticket
The restored Globe will email you a visual story showing what happens on a visit. Joining the free access scheme lets you book an essential companion seat alongside your own.
- 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.
Theatre · GatesheadThe 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
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 TyneTyne 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
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.
- Cinema · Cramlington
Vue Cramlington
- Quiet times
Vue at Manor Walks in Cramlington shows an autism friendly film at 10.30am on the last Sunday of each month. Tickets are booked through the normal Vue listings.
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