Newcastle Summer Events and Activities

Staying in the city over the summer? Here's our guide of top events and activities taking place in and around Newcastle.

There are loads of great free and paid activities going on. From free kayaking on the River Tyne to great food offers at over 100 eateries for restaurant week! Check out our top picks below. 

Restaurant Week // 5-11 August

NE1's 'Restaurant Week' returns to the city this August. A great opportunity to make big savings on eating out and try somewhere new. Over 100 restaurants have come together to offer heavily discounted deals on food and drink (priced between £15-£25). Some venues on the list include The Muddler, MyDelhi, Horticulture, Kafeneon, Gaucho and more. Our top pick is the £15 deal at Pizza Punks which includes: a woodfired pizza, side and drink! Find out more.

Hannah Perry Exhibition // all summer 

Explore the new Hannah Perry immersive exhibition titled 'manual labour' at the Baltic Newcastle. Perry is well known for her installations of media and sculpture. Her work predominantly explores the themes of industry, class and gender and shifting cultural values. The new exhibition at the Baltic includes mechanical sculptures, film, print and sound. Admission is free and it's a great reason to get down to The Quayside! Find out more.

Screen on the Green //22 July - 1 September

Check out 'Screen on the Green', a free open-air movie theatre outside 'Old Eldon Square' this summer! A large screen will takeover the greenspace with deckchairs. From Monday 22 July - Sunday 3 September, two films will be screened each day (starting at 12:00 and 15:00).  Each Thursday they will also be screening a blockbuster at 18:00, titles include La la Land, Godzilla x Kong and Mean Girls. You can find the full schedule and details here. 

Free Kayaking // 10 August 

Don't miss out on this free experience! Explore the sights of the River Tyne from the water's edge with a free kayaking tour. Tours include a guided talk with facts about the riverside area and its bridges. The tours are taking place Sunday 10 August at 11:30, 12:15, 13:00 & 13:45. To find out more and book your slot here.  

NOVUM Summer Festival // 8 August - 11 August

Novum is a new multi-artform music festival taking place at Newcastle Civic Centre. This year they have a jam-packed lineup of art, music and dance. The lineup includes Flamingods, DJ Yoda, Amelia Coburn and more. There are free and paid shows with tickets around £17 for some of the paid sets. Check out the full website and lineup to find out more.

Saltwell Park, Gateshead

Why not visit Saltwell Park? This large greenspace is located just over the river near Gateshead and has just won a Green Flag Award. Relax and enjoy the large grounds with plenty of picnic spots, jogging, tennis and basketball courts. Our top pick is Prism Coffee in the Almond Pavilion where you can grab a coffee or pastry. Saltwell Park is accessible via metro with a 12-minute walk from Gateshead station or grab the number 29 bus from Eldon Square. 

Lord of the Wings: Food Battle // 23 - 24 August 

Calling all foodies! Don't miss out on the ultimate chicken wing showdown, taking place at Wylam Brewery at Exhibition Park, Friday 23 August to Saturday 24 August. With 15 food vendors serving up the best wings around and craft beer serving from midday till late, it's the perfect spot to meet with friends. There will also be live DJs throughout the day. It is free entry and small plate tokens are £4 each. Find out more here. 

Great North Run 2024 // 8 September 2024

Spectate the largest half marathon in the world... Find somewhere along the 13.1 mile route of this year's Great North Run and cheer on 60,000 runners. Watch them head from the city centre out to South Shields. It is always a bustling day in the city. Elite runners will start from 10:30 and the red arrows will fly over for an aerial showcase. Find out more

Bamburgh, Northumberland 

Bamburgh has just been named the best seaside destination in the UK by 'Which?'. It boasts a stunning coastline of beaches and sand dunes with spectacular views of Bamburgh Castle. It is around an hour's drive from Newcastle. Perfect for a day on the beach to watch the sunset. If you pop into Bamburgh there's also the Grace Darling museum. Discover more about Bamburgh here.

Visit our Summer in Newcastle webpage for more events and activities taking place in the local area.