North East Museums

23/06/2026

Bus company Stagecoach is sponsoring Discovery Museum’s new transport-themed exhibition, Things That Go.

Stagecoach is one of the UK’s largest bus operators and provides services across the North East, including to and from our museums and galleries.

Whether it rolls, flies, or floats, there’s something to spark every little explorer’s imagination in the new exhibition at Discovery Museum. Learn and play together in this colourful destination for curious kids and their grown-ups.

19/06/2026

The Hoppings Funfair opens at Newcastle’s Town Moor on 19 June.

It started as a Temperance Festival in 1882. These photos from the collections show The Hoppings through the decades.

1. Chris Cornwell in front of ‘Frankenstein’s Castle’, about 1972
2. Children eating toffee apples, June 1973
3. Henry Wharton at the Hoppings, 1940s
4. Aerial view of the Hoppings, 1964
5. Chris Cornwell and his mother Jean standing in front of a ghost train, 1975/76
6. Barbara Chadwick posing for the camera at the Hoppings, 1940s
7. Show row scene, about 1975/76, including shows ‘Outer Limits’ and ‘George the Gentle Giant’ 
8. Reuben Barnett and his niece Shirley in front of the family coconut shy, about 1938
9. Ron Taylor’s boxing and wrestling booth, 1980s
10. Children enjoying a slide, June 1973.

16/06/2026

Blandford House, home of Newcastle’s Discovery Museum, was completed in 1899.

It was a warehouse - a distribution centre for over 100 Co-operative stores operating throughout the North East.

However, the building also included grocery, clothes, shoes, furniture and stationery departments, mock shop-front displays, a large dining hall, salesrooms and offices.

During the 1930s, embellishments reflecting the art deco style of the day were made, such as a new marble-finished entrance, walnut-panelled Directors’ Suite and decorative plaster ceiling mouldings.

That’s the part of the building you’re seeing here and we’d take a guess that this lift was either installed or updated at the same time to reflect the art deco style.

It’s still used by staff daily.

12/06/2026

Tunes in June returns for 2026 🎶
Live music + sunshine + a Roman fort = your perfect summer afternoon. Bring a picnic, relax on the grass and enjoy four Saturdays of live music this June.

13 June – The Black Corner Band, free entry
20 June – Rivelino, tickets on sale now, £2 - £5 per person
27 June – Amateur Ornithologist, free entry

✨ Most events FREE (donations welcome)
✨ Starts around 1pm
✨ Family-friendly
✨ Coffee van on site

👉 Tap the link in bio for full details and tickets.
Tag who you’re bringing 👇

08/06/2026

06/06/2026

We are very sorry but 'Tunes in June: The Gaslighters' on Saturday 6 June has been cancelled.

Tunes in June concerts on 13, 20 and 27 June are not affected.

04/06/2026

03/06/2026

Dame Catherine Ann Cookson: 20 June 1906 – 11 June 1998. Famous novelist, born 120 years ago this month.