10 Places to Learn Something New in Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Newcastle Upon Tyne is northeast England's liveliest city when it comes to music and dance. Large and small theatres and halls in the city centre host light-hearted operetta, musical shows, and variety theatre. 

Newcastle Upon Tyne's grand old theatre is a triumph of Victorian architecture. Built in 1837 and renovated in 2011, it hosts visiting companies including Northern Ballet, Opera North, Rambert Dance Company, and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Northern Stage's resident company has built a reputation for contemporary drama. This modern theatre also hosts visitors such as the Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre of Scotland, as well as edgy experimental groups.

In the centre of Newcastle Upon Tyne, you'll find a long-established artistic legacy. Galleries and museums in this part of the city include the Laing Art Gallery, with a fine array of Victorian works. Pride of place at the city's flagship art collection goes to paintings by 19th-century masters. The work of contemporary artists and artisans from northeast England is celebrated in the Northern Spirit gallery.

The opening of BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art in 2002 kick-started Newcastle Upon Tyne's reputation as an exciting hub for visual arts. It also shifted the cultural centre of balance from the city centre to fast-regenerating Gateshead. A striking example of 20th-century industrial architecture, it's housed in a former flour mill on the south bank of the Tyne. 

You can expect to be surprised by the art on offer at BALTIC. With its constantly changing exhibitions and events, the venue has built a reputation for showing work that challenges and inspires, as well as infuriating more tradition-bound visitors.

For a taste of 21st-century art, visit BALTIC 39, the city-centre annex of BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art. It’s a hub of practicing artists. Here, you can admire the work of more than 30 resident artists.

Sage Gateshead is home to the Royal Northern Sinfonia, Britain's leading chamber music ensemble. It also hosts visiting companies like the Royal Northern Philharmonia and Royal Liverpool Philharmonia. Its Folkworks program promotes traditional music, song, and dance.

Looking for something educational to engage young minds or keep your kids happy on a rainy day? Try Discovery Museum – Newcastle-upon-Tyne's museum of science and technology. Its top attraction is Turbinia, once the fastest ship in the world. Other exhibits that kids will like include ship models and lots of hands-on, interactive displays.

If the kind of art that BALTIC celebrates isn't your cup of tea, you'll be happier at Shipley Art Gallery. This collection includes works by 16th-century and 17th-century Dutch masters and some fine Victorian portraits and landscapes.