Newcastle: What’s On This December

Overflowing with excitement, Christmas cheer, friendly faces, an array of activities and shows, Newcastle is the perfect city to get into the Christmas spirit - browse below our top picks of events and things to do this December.

Family Fun

Take the little ones to Once upon a Christmas Time at The Discovery Centre in Newcastle and you’ll be as popular as Santa Claus. Step into this magical winter wonderland and be instantly transported into a real life fairy tale. This unforgettable two-hour experience is packed full of festive fun and will have the kids utterly mesmerised. There’s a fairy tale ice palace, where they’ll meet princes and princesses, their imaginations can fly on the magic carpet ride, they’ll watch in wonder at the Christmas lantern Parade, and the all singing and dancing chorus, will have even the most grown-up of grown ups, throwing their inhibitions to the wind and joining in.

Leonardo Hotel Newcastle is just a 6 minute walk from the Discovery Centre.

Walk in the air

No matter how old or young you are, the classic animated Christmas tale, The Snowman is a heart melting tear jerker that leaves you literally walking on air. As an extra special Christmas treat Howard Blake’s magical score will be accompanied live by the Royal Northern Sinfonia Orchestra, so bring the whole family along to watch it on the big screen at The Sage Gateshead. It begins with an interactive rendition of the traditional rhyme ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’ – and teddies are invited to join in!

Get your skates on

Nothing beats a whirl on the ice to get you into the Christmas spirit - grab the kids, call your friends, get your skates on and head down en mass to Newcastle's outdoor ice rink in Times Square. There’ll be non-stop festive tunes on air, so you can show off your moves; spin, twirl, go backwards, fall over forwards, get back up, fall over again. Yes you’ll be freezing cold, maybe you’ll have a bruise or two on the outside, but here’s betting you’ll feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside.

Shopping

Grainger Market is the perfect place to do your last minute Christmas shopping, set in a beautiful Grade I listed building – it’s a charming traditional indoor market selling everything from fresh meat and veg to hand made jewellery and gifts. It’s run solely by independent traders so you’ll really feel the sense of community spirit. And once you’ve shopped your heart out, pop over to one of the many food stalls for a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie, after all, shopping is a hungry business.

The market is open every day in December apart from Sundays.                                           

Festive Fenwick’s

Spread across five floors is Fenwick's Newcastle, one of the largest luxury department stores in the country – the first floor is entirely devoted to women’s fashion housing every designer label you can think of, and the ground floor boasts one of the biggest beauty halls in the whole of Europe. The store was founded way back in 1882 and is the ultimate shopping destination of Newcastle. Discover how the magic of Christmas has been created through the years at Fenwick Newcastle. What goes on behind the scenes when creating the famous Christmas window? What toys have been the most popular at Christmas time through the years? Find out at Fenwick's unwrapped at Discovery Museum

It’s panto time

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without panto and the stunning Tyne Theatre and Opera House is bringing family fun to Newcastle with the classic Arabian tale of Aladdin, running from 4^th December for the rest of the month.

If you’re keen to explore this beautiful Northern city this winter, take a look at our Leonardo Hotels Christmas Special Deal and book a break away in Newcastle or Newcastle Gateshead.