Free Student Events Newcastle: What’s On Without Spending

Free entry always. One of the UK’s major contemporary art galleries and it does not charge a penny. There is no excuse for not going regularly. The programme changes throughout the year and the building itself – a converted industrial flour mill on the Gateshead bank of the Tyne – is worth experiencing. The rooftop viewing platform is the best free view in the northeast.

Free and on the edge of the university campus on Barras Bridge. Natural history, Hadrian’s Wall archaeology, and a planetarium (small charge for planetarium shows). Genuinely interesting and overlooked by most students who walk past it daily. The Egyptian mummy collection and the Roman Cavalry sports helmet are both worth seeing.

The free foyer performances at the Glasshouse run throughout the year and cover a range of music styles. No ticket required. The building also runs lunchtime concerts at low cost and occasional free community events. The foyer is also a pleasant space to sit and work during the day.

The Quayside market runs on Sundays along the Quayside between Mosley Street and the Swing Bridge. Free to browse, lively in good weather, and a good way to spend a Sunday morning before the afternoon sets in. Food stalls, vintage clothing, crafts, and general market goods.

Both Newcastle and Northumbria universities run public lecture programmes that are open to all students and often free to attend. Topics range from science and technology to arts, politics, and social issues. The lecture series listings are published on university websites each term. These are often better than they sound.

The Cluny on Lime Street and the Cumberland Arms in Byker both put on regular free or low-entry-cost live music nights. Not every night is free but many midweek performances carry no charge. Both venues are central to the Newcastle live music scene for a reason.