Whenever a trip to the UK is mentioned, London is the city that rolls off most tongues. Considering how accessible this is from all of the world’s airports, this hardly should come as a surprise.
However, if you are considering a UK visit this summer, let us throw another suggestion out there. This comes in the form of Newcastle and based in the completely opposite side of the country, it does involve a bit of transport (whether that is plane, bus, or train).
Logistically, there are positives though. Hotels in Newcastle tend to be much more affordable than the capital alternatives, whilst let us not forget that this is a true glimpse into UK life (rather than through tourist-tinted spectacles).
Following on from the above, here are four things that you can consider if you are thinking of visiting Newcastle with the kids:
A trip to the BBC
It might not be the national hub for the BBC, but BBC Newcastle allows tours, which really can whet the appetite for kids. Sure, it is local television, but most based in the US know all about the BBC which just makes one of these tours a bit more special. You can go behind the scenes and due to the fact that the tours are scheduled between live broadcasting programmes, it means that no tour is ever going to be the same.
Victoria Tunnel
Admittedly, this next suggestion is probably only going to appeal to slightly older children (or those which can at least make their imagination run wild).
The Victoria Tunnel was initially used to transport coal under the city, before then being converted into an air raid shelter during the Second World War. As such, it is immersed in history and the fact that you are walking underneath such a big and bustling city just adds to the excitement.
Life Science Centre
If the weather does not hold up, which is typically true in the UK, you can always resort to the Life Science Centre. This is one of the most intriguing attractions for kids and houses countless exhibitions around the year, as well as having a planetarium and 4D motion ride.
As the name suggests, it is all about bringing science to life, with hands-on workshops being provided to make science that little bit more enjoyable for little people.
Seven Stories
Regarded as the national home for children’s books, it will not come as a surprise to see that Seven Stories is one of the top attractions on the Newcastle to-see list.
The idea of the attraction is to bring to life some of the most famous books of all time. The likes of Jacqueline Wilson, Quentin Blake, and Philip Pullman have all had their work showcased there, with kids having the opportunity to dress up, get involved in craft activities and draw.
For those who are truly interested in books, the museum has one of the largest independent bookshops in the country as well. It is thought to have more than 50,000 different titles.
