Visiting the Angel of the North with children

The Angel of the North looks very different up close – and children will turn Antony Gormley’s colossal sculpture into a playground.

Why visit the Angel of the North?

Antony Gormley’s Angel of the North is perhaps the most extraordinary and beloved piece of public art in Britain. Standing on a hillside in Gateshead, easily seen from the A1, this giant sculpture has become a symbol of northeastern England.

Gormley’s sculpture is 20 metres high, made of weathering steel and has a wingspan of 54 metres. It was completed in 1998 and stands on the site of a former colliery.

It’s worth pulling off the A1 to see the Angel of the North properly. If it looks big from the road, then it feels even bigger up close. The Angel of the North is powerful, indisputably impressive, and activates the wow factor in most people who see it.

The Angel of the North with kids

For adults, the unexpected delight of the Angel of the North is the signage explaining how it was brought to the site and assembled in a Herculean coordinated effort.

Children, though are most likely to enjoy interacting with it, using the base as a slide and chasing each other around the back.

The hill is prime rolling down territory, and there are some small woodland patches at the bottom that are ripe for exploring and making impromptu dens in.

Angel of the North review: The best bit

Pulling over for a closer look at the Angel of the North makes you see one of Britain’s best-known landmarks in a very different way. The curves and the detail become much more prominent – Gormley’s sculpture is not just about size.

Infants, juniors or secondary?

Younger children will enjoy running and playing at the foot of the statue, but even the most cynical teenager is likely to concede that the Angel of the North is one cool giant.

Angel of the North entry prices

The car park next to the Angel of the North is free to use.

Prices were last checked and updated on 9 October 2024.

Full day, half day or a couple of hours?

A visit to the Angel of the North will generally last around half an hour to an hour – not least because there are no toilets on site.

Attractions near the Angel of the North

Nearby attractions that can be combined with a visit to the Angel of the North include:

• Seven Stories in Newcastle.
• The Discovery Museum in Newcastle.
• Newcastle Castle.
• The Beamish open air museum in Stanley, County Durham.

Nearby cities

The Angel of the North is in Gateshead, six-and-a-half miles south of central Newcastle.

To get there from the south on the way into Newcastle, come off the A1 at the junction with the A167 and head towards Gateshead. The car park next to the Angel of the North is a few hundred metres up the A167. Alternatively, take the Angel 21 bus from Eldon Street in Newcastle.

Other cities within a 90 minute drive of the Angel of the North include Carlisle, Sunderland and Durham.

Is it open on Mondays?

The Angel of the North is open daily – there are no barriers shutting it off at night either.

More information

For more information, visit the Gateshead Council website.