Seven Stories
- Nicole Blacklock
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Visit Seven Stories, the National Centre for Children's Books
Tucked into a handsome converted warehouse in the Ouseburn Valley, Seven Stories is one of Newcastle's genuine cultural treasures, and it happens to be entirely free. This is the National Centre for Children's Books, home to original manuscripts and artwork from some of the nation's best loved children's authors, spread across several floors of galleries designed to be explored rather than simply looked at. It's the sort of place that quietly wins over even the most reluctant reader, and for a wild child who needs a little stimulation with their story time, there's plenty here to touch, climb into and get lost in.
The lowdown:
Where: 30 Lime Street, Ouseburn Valley, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 2PQ
When: Open every day except Wednesdays during term time, 10am to 5pm. During school holidays, it opens seven days a week. Please note times can vary depending on operations, so it's worth a quick check before travelling.
Cost: Free entry to all three floors of galleries, the bookshop and the coffee shop. Optional paid Storytimes, workshops and performances can be booked separately.
Parking: Parking is available along Lime Street, with further spaces in the Arches Car Park under Byker Bridge or the Ouseburn Central Car Park on Foundry Lane, NE6 1LH. Manors and Byker are the nearest Metro stations, both around a ten minute walk.
Why your wild child will love it: there's genuine freedom to roam here. Children can move between floors as many times as they like, and the galleries are designed for hands-on exploration rather than quiet contemplation. Combine it with a visit to Ouseburn Farm or a wander along the Quayside, both a short stroll away, for a full and thoroughly satisfying morning.
Contact: Full details at sevenstories.org.uk.