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Plan your Visit

Need help planning your visit? We've got everything you need to make sure your time with us is well spent.

Getting here

Newcastle is easy to reach – just three hours from London by train and with easy access to the A1(M).

You can download our campus and city map (PDF: 2.5MB) to find your way around the city.

The city-centre car parks can get very busy, so we recommend planning ahead and using public transport where you can.

Travelling by train

Newcastle Central Station has rail connections to many areas of the North East.

The University can easily be reached from Newcastle Central Station using the Metro. Haymarket Metro station is opposite the campus and only two stops from Central Station.

The campus is approximately 18-minutes' walk from the train station, please see directions below.

Taxi rank is also outside the station.

Rail travel links

  • National Rail - journey planning, live arrival and departure boards for UK stations
  • Metro - Tyne and Wear local rail service
Park and Ride

As the city centre is a busy place to park, another option is to park nearby and travel to the city centre using public transport.

Metro Park and Ride

Park your car at one of the Metro Park and Ride stations for only £1.20 and take a Metro to Haymarket station opposite the University.

Buy a Metro DaySaver ticket for unlimited travel. You can pay for this using cash or a card.

Newcastle Great Park and Ride

You can also leave your car at the Newcastle Great Park and Ride and then travel by bus, getting off at Barras Bridge, which is just next to the campus.

Visit the Park and Ride website for further information.

Travelling by car

Getting to Newcastle

Newcastle is easily accessible by road via the A1 from the north and south and the A69 from the west. A route planner may help you with your journey:

For sat-nav, we recommend using the postcode of one of the city-centre car parks or a park and ride option.

City-centre car parks

City-centre car parks are likely to be busy, so please allow extra time for your journey. 

Find out about car parking availability and costs on the City Council website

The following car parking is close to campus:

  • Claremont Road, NE2 4AN (2 minutes walk to campus)
  • Civic Centre (Saturday only), NE1 8PB (6 minutes walk to campus)
  • Morden Street, NE1 7RQ (6 minutes walk to campus)
  • Eldon Square Multi Storey, NE1 7RZ (7 minutes walk to campus)
  • Eldon Garden Multi Storey, NE1 7RT (7 minutes walk to campus)
  • Dean Street Multi Storey, NE1 1PG (15 minutes walk to campus)

There is also car parking available at Q Park Stowell Street, NE1 4YB (6 minutes walk to campus). 

Disabled parking on campus

We have a limited number of parking spaces on campus for disabled visitors. 

Please complete this form if you require disabled parking and we will be in touch to confirm available spaces. 
 

Places to eat

The Student Forum beside the Students' Union will host a food market of local vendors including Fire and Dough, Dosa Kitchen, Copper Ricebox, Dr Juice and an ice cream van. 

You can also grab a coffee and cake from The Grand, our campus café.

Opening times

The festival runs from 10:00 - 16:00 with activities spread across the whole day. Head to our Welcome Trailer to pick up your programme map from our friendly event staff.

Plan your day in advance by visiting our What’s On section, if you’re arriving from 10:00 we recommend heading straight to Hadrian Building for a wide range of drop-in activities.

Age suitability

The festival is aimed at families, but it is open to all, many activities are suitable for all ages with most of the programme aimed at 6 to 12-year-olds. The programme listings note the age suitability for all activities.

All under 18s must be accompanied by a parent or guardian

Children under 18 are the responsibility of their guardian/parents and signage across campus will alert adults of this. Activities have been suitably risk assessed.

Lost children and lost property 

For lost property, or if you become separated from your party please meet at the Welcome Trailer where staff will be able to help.

Filming and photography

Some photography and filming will be taking place on the day to appear in future Newcastle University printed and digital publicity. Please let the photographer or a member of staff know if you do not want to have your photo taken or be filmed.

Toilets

Toilets are available in the buildings hosting activities and our Students’ Union building, they are marked on the map along with accessible toilets. Ask one of our friendly staff where the nearest one is.

Further information about the Festival

Do I need to book?

80% of the Discover Festival programme does not require booking. For access to over 50 activities and live shows, you can just drop-in on the day. 
 
A small number of our activities and workshops require booking. Register your interest via the festival homepage to be the first to hear when bookings open in early May. 

Do you have baby changing facilities?

Baby changing facilities are available in Armstrong Building, Hadrian Building and our cultural venues. See our festival map for details.

Can I bring a picnic?

You can bring along a picnic and enjoy our dedicated picnic lawn, complete with deck chairs and games! You are also welcome to picnic on the Great North Museum: Hancock’s front lawn and use any of the seating areas on campus which are marked on our festival map.

Do you have first aiders on site?

If you or your child require medical attention, contact any member of staff who will then contact or direct you to St John’s Ambulance who will be based outside the Students’ Union Building.

Do you have a buggy park?

Discover Festival doesn’t have a designated buggy park, but space will be set aside at each venue (valuables left at owner’s own risk).

Great North Museum: Hancock and Farrell Centre also have designated buggy parks for your visit there.

Can I refill my water bottle on site?

Great North Museum: Hancock, Luther’s Bar in the Students’ Union and the Teahouse on Eldon Place can refill water bottles.

Do you have nursing rooms?

Breastfeeding is welcomed throughout the festival. You can also use a private breastfeeding area in the World Cultures gallery on the first floor of Great North Museum: Hancock, if you prefer.

Do you have any activities for under 6s?

There are some performances and activities suitable for all ages, and a family music making workshop for under 6s. GNM: Hancock also have an Under 5s zone called the Mouse House. Under 6s are very welcome to attend with your family group as you explore the festival.

Can I bring my bike or scooter?

Bikes, scooters, or the like are not permitted to be brought into or taken through the festival venues. Bike stands are available in various outdoor location across the campus including outside the Students’ Union Building and on Eldon Place opposite the Farrell Centre entrance.

Accessibility 

All venues will have accessible entrances. Please ask our friendly staff for support and directions.

Disabled Parking

We have a limited number of parking spaces on campus for disabled visitors.

Please complete this form if you require disabled parking and we will be in touch to confirm available spaces.

Accessible toilets 

Accessible toilets are marked on our festival map  
 
The nearest fully accredited Changing Places toilet is inside the Newcastle University campus. The toilet is located on the ground floor of the Daysh building, close to the main entrance of the University. It is accessible via radar key and can be accessed out of hours by prior arrangement through the University Security Service. Please call (0191) 208 6817.  

Further information about the Newcastle University campus Changing Places toilet

Pre-visit information 

You can access virtual tours to help orientate yourself around our campus before visiting.

Additional needs 

If you have a disability or any additional needs which we need to be aware of to ensure the event is accessible for you or members of your group, please complete this form and we will be in touch.  

We understand that each person’s experiences and requirements naturally differ. Discover Festival can be an excitable and busy environment, but we strive to make it enriching, rewarding and, when required, relaxing for our guests. 
 
If you are looking for a place to relax and get away from the busyness you can drop into the Percy Building foyer where there will be some relaxed ‘Storytime sessions’ throughout the day.

We also encourage visitors to bring any support items with them which they may find useful (for example ear defenders). 
 
This year we are also offering a quieter slot for our drop-in activities in Hadrian Building between 9:00 - 10:00. This relaxed session is for autistic visitors, visitors with learning disabilities or sensory and communication disorders, along with their families and carers. Or anyone else who feels they need a quieter experience. If that's not you, please visit after 10:00. To request a quiet slot please complete this form

Get in touch

Got questions? Get in touch with the festival team at: discover@ncl.ac.uk.

If you'd like any support accessing our venues or the Festival please contact the team ahead of joining us and we will be happy to help.