Leisure & Lifestyle

You can find lots of things to get involved in here. Whether it’s a day out, a regular activity, class or hobby that you’re looking for there’s something for everyone.

If you want to see what’s happening this week or in your area visit our Events & Activities section.

All leisure & lifestyle articles

As an adult, your health is important. Here’s a list of easy tips to help you stay fit, healthy, and feel better overall

helping you to plan your visit to Newcastle so you know where public and accessible toilets are available

Help to plan a trip to Newcastle and find places to visit that are accessible

Newcastle is committed to being an age-friendly city and has an age friendly partnership. Newcastle celebrates Ageism Action Day on 20 March and international older person day throughout October.

Airport assistance is available if you have mobility issues or a disability. Assistance can be arranged before you fly to help make your travel easier.  Book early to ensure everything is in place.

Being active is key to leading an independent life. Doing a little bit of activity regularly can make a real difference to your health.

People who call at your home unexpectedly or call you on the telephone might not always be who they say they are.

carers can apply for funding to help improve their health and wellbeing. It can be used to take breaks and opportunities that give them choice, independence and control.

There’s so much going on in Newcastle for babies, children and young people. Find out what’s going on near you.

Tyne and Wear has several cinemas, showing everything from Hollywood blockbusters to low-budget, independent films. You can choose from large, multi-screen cinemas to smaller, more intimate venues.

These are a great way to get involved in local activities. Here’s a handy list of community centres and hubs in Newcastle, so you can find out what’s happening near you.

There are a number of day services to choose from in Newcastle including lunch clubs, social activities, fitness classes and much more.

You’ll be surprised how far you can travel using your concessionary travel pass. Here are a few suggestions of where you can travel to on public transport.

Newcastle is committed to becoming a Dementia Friendly city.

Many charities and community groups are collecting donations from the public to help support refugees and asylum seekers.

You may have been driving for years, but there are some things that you need to think about as you get older and your circumstances change.

English as a second language or other language (ESOL) classes can help you to learn English. There are a range of classes and sessions available in Newcastle.

The European Union Settlement Scheme requires all non-UK and non-Irish European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals to apply to stay in the UK.

It can be useful to think of positive ways to overcome any feelings of loneliness that you may be experiencing.

Looking to connect and make new friends? There are many places to meet up with people in Newcastle.

Taking exercise, or doing some form of physical activity, can be an enjoyable way to spend your leisure time, as well as being of great benefit to your health.

There are lots of venues and lunch clubs in Newcastle. Some offer discounts for older people or a tailored service such as lunch clubs where you can socialise with other like minded people.

A list of charities and voluntary groups where you can get free food parcels when you can’t afford to buy food.

Looking for a hot meal or low cost food in Newcastle? Find voluntary groups and charities that cook meals for the community across Newcastle.

There is a great variety of art and culture in Newcastle Upon Tyne and the North East, from traditional arts and crafts to modern, digital and multimedia art. You can find galleries, arts festivals, arts organisations and groups in the community in this article.

Gardening is good for you. It is therapy and fitness rolled into one.

Research improves the health and social care provided by the NHS and others. Advancing medicine to find new cures and better treatments for future generations. It also helps to improve diagnosis, prevention and quality of life for everyone. In some cases it can change lives, or even save lives.

How to get involved in research, share your experiences to improve services or speak up for your your community This may be called activism, involvement, engagement, co-production or collaboration.

There are lots of groups and activities that you can enjoy in Newcastle. Trying a new activity or groups is a great way to meet new people, get out and about and be active.

Other useful and reliable online information services in Newcastle

There are a range of organisations that provide interpreting and translation services in Newcastle

How to spot and raise any concerns that someone is being radicalised

A learning disability is a life-long condition. It affects a person’s ability to communicate or to do everyday things. People with a learning disability find it harder than others to learn, understand and communicate.

see the list of leisure centres in the city and find one near you.

There are a number of support services and groups for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender, Queer/Questioning and other identifying (LGBTQ+) people in Newcastle.

There are 14 Council libraries and 4 independent libraries in Newcastle, all offering a wide range of services. Becoming a member of a Council library is free.

Taking up learning opportunities at any age can enhance your life and help you to feel healthier and happier. there are lots of courses to choose from in Newcastle.

If you are finding it difficult to prepare your own meals and have no other way of getting a main meal, you may want to consider applying to have hot meals delivered to your home.

Mental health is about how we think, feel and behave. 1 in 4 people in the UK have a mental health problem which affects their daily life, relationships or physical health.

Ways to save money at Christmas, help the environment or a good cause.

There’s lots of museums and attractions to visit in Tyne and Wear. Some are free to visit and regularly have new exhibitions.

If you want to get involved and sing or play an instrument yourself, here is information on some of the organisations that can help you.

There are many music venues in and around Newcastle, playing host to a wide variety of musical performers. We have listed some of these venues here. There are also a couple of local magazines that will keep you up to date with acts and venues.

Neighbourhood Watches are ran by volunteers to help make sure the area remains safe and to prevent crime. There may be a Neighbourhood Watch in your local area.

If you have a problem with noise in your neighbourhood there are several courses of action you can take, depending upon the seriousness of the problem.

There are plenty of green spaces in and around Newcastle upon Tyne, where you can take a walk, ride a bike, use the play/exercise facilities and enjoy the fresh air. Some of the parks also feature part of the Hadrian’s Way. Here’s a handy list of those in Newcastle and close by.

If you are planning to travel abroad, or in some cases within the UK, you are required to have a valid UK passport.

There are some precautions that you can take to help reduce your chances of being a victim of crime, assault or violence.

Information on what to think about before getting a pet and where you can find support to help you look after your pets.  There’s also information on pet friendly places such as pubs and cafes.

find ways to have fun and be active in Newcastle. Find groups, activities, parks and more near you.

There are many different faiths that are celebrated in Newcastle. You can find a number of places of worship and communities here.

There are several types of problems that you may experience in your neighbourhood. You may have noisy neighbours, or you may be experiencing verbal abuse or threats from someone in your area.

There is so much to do online from arts to gardening, from music to a new skill – here are some quick links to keep you occupied whilst at home.

Recycling – what it means and how you can make a difference to our environment by recycling, composting and reusing materials.

A list of religious and cultural festivals that are observed or celebrated in Newcastle Upon Tyne.

Home security is the best way to reduce your chances of being burgled. Some basic tips are listed in this section. Many of them are common sense, but they could make all the difference to the safety of your home.

A lot of crime is against cars, motorbikes and bicycles; either the theft of them, or from them. Most of this crime can be prevented by following some simple tips, which are detailed in this section.

Self-care and self-management for people with a disability are terms that are used regularly in today’s society, particularly by the NHS and associated health and social care organisations. There are services and benefits that can help too.

Sleep is an essential process that our bodies and minds need in order to function.  This article explains why sleep is important and what can affect it.

a helpful list of equipment and aids that you can buy to help make life easier.

Social Prescribing is where you are prescribed activity or exercise to improve your physical and mental health. It may be used in place of medication or alongside treatment.

Broadband and mobile networks can run slower when lots of people and devices are connected to them. Whether you’re working from home, streaming music, TV or films, gaming or making video or internet calls, there are things you can try to speed up your internet connection.

What’s going on in and around Newcastle over the school summer holidays for adults, children and young people

If you are seeking asylum in Newcastle there are a number of local services that can help with support and advice.

Identifying as a LGBTQ+ person can sometimes lead to harassment, bullying, hate crime or discrimination (treated less by others because of who you are). You have rights and support is available if you are experiencing problems.

There are a range of support groups in Newcastle that help, advise and support people through difficulties including offering emotional support to those people dealing with illness, social isolation, end of life or a long term condition.

 

This article explains the housing and support services that are available for people with a learning disability or autism.

There are many swimming pools in Newcastle. Find one near you.

Information to help you to plan a short break or holiday that takes into account your interests and needs.

The Elders Council of Newcastle is the older people’s forum in Newcastle. It is a voluntary organisation run by and for older people in Newcastle. They work to get the voice and views of older people heard in our city.

Newcastle has excellent theatre venues, attracting many popular artists and touring productions. Many of the venues we have listed here offer concessions for older people

Whether you live in Newcastle or are just visiting, there are many ways to enjoy a great day out in Newcastle and the surrounding areas of Tyne and Wear and Northumberland

Vandalism and graffiti can contribute greatly to the fear of crime. Find out how to report it here.

Volunteering is a great way to learn a new skill or develop an existing one, meet new people and have fun.

Walking is good for you. It is therapy and fitness rolled into one.

There are many ways that you can deal with crime or community safety issues. This section explains some of these, giving contact details of those who can help.