Newcastle Castle for families
The keep of Newcastle Castle gives children licence to explore a maze of staircases in the centre of the city.
Why visit Newcastle Castle?
Newcastle Castle is, fairly predictably, the building that gives Newcastle its name. It’s not the most amazing castle in the world, but it is strikingly central, and really easy to build into a wider itinerary in Newcastle.
The original castle was a wooden affair on the site of a former Roman fort next to the River Tyne. That was built in 1080, although the keep you can see today was build under King Henry II between 1172 and 1175. The keep is linked by a wooden bridge to the Black Gate, a 13th century barbican, but the rest of the castle is no longer visible.
Newcastle Castle with kids
The museum sections of Newcastle Castle try their best, but children are just not going to be that interested in which family owned the castle during which period.
Educationally, the castle is a bit of a dud. When it comes to exploration, however, it’s an absolute hit. It’s possible to book tours of Newcastle Castle, but for kids, visiting independently and being allowed to roam freely around the keep. They’ll nosy down passageways, scamper up staircases, test their strength against heavy wooden door and keep making discoveries. One minute, it’s a petite chapel, the next prison cells or a medieval toilet.
Newcastle Castle review: The best bit
It’s worth plodding – or charging, if you’re young and energetic – up the seemingly endless stairs to the roof of the Newcastle Castle keep. It’s about 25 metres tall, but offers splendid views over the city, Tyne river and neighbouring Gateshead.
Infants, juniors or secondary?
Any kid – likely infant or junior age – that just likes running around and being nosy will find something to enjoy about Newcastle Castle. Older children that have seen more impressive castles elsewhere are likely to be a tougher crowd.
Newcastle Castle entry prices
Tickets for Newcastle Castle cost £12.50 for adults and £8.20 for children. A family ticket covering two adults and up to three children cost £35.25. However, season tickets allowing unlimited entry for a year cost just a pound more.
Really weirdly, if you buy the £12.50 ticket through Viator, it acts as an annual pass. So it works out cheaper to go through the third party site. I get a small commission if you do it this way, too.
Prices were last checked and updated on 4 December 2024.
Full day, half day or a couple of hours?
Budget an hour or two for Newcastle Castle, then head off to see the city’s other attractions.
Attractions near Newcastle Castle
Nearby attractions that can be combined with a visit to Newcastle Castle include:
- The Angel of the North in Gateshead.
- Seven Stories in Newcastle.
- The Discovery Museum in Newcastle.
- The Beamish open air museum in Stanley, County Durham.
Nearby cities
Other cities within a 90 minute drive of Newcastle Castle include Carlisle, Sunderland and Durham.
Is it open on Mondays?
From April to October, Newcastle Castle is open seven days a week. From November to March, it’s open five days a week, closing on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Either way, it’s usually a good bet for keeping kids occupied on a teacher training day.
More information
For more information, visit the Newcastle Castle website.
