After-School Clubs in Newcastle City Centre: Term-Time Activities for Children

Families who live in or near Newcastle city centre are often surprised by how much is on their doorstep once the school day ends. The centre has few primary schools of its own, but it is home to the city's big cultural venues, and several of them run regular term-time clubs for children and teenagers, some of them completely free.

This guide covers weekly clubs and classes that run through the school year, sorted by type. Most need booking or an application, and the popular ones fill up early, so it is worth getting in touch at the start of term.

Drama and theatre

Two of the city's best-known theatres run groups for young people, and both are free to take part in.

Live Theatre on Broad Chare, just off the Quayside, runs Live Youth Theatre for 10 to 16-year-olds. Groups meet weekly in term time from 6pm to 8pm: the 10 to 13s have a Tuesday and a Wednesday group, and the 14 to 16s meet on Wednesday or Thursday evenings. The year has a clear shape, with the autumn term spent learning theatre-making and performance skills, the spring term creating a show for an audience, and the summer term building on what has been learnt. The theatre fundraises to keep youth theatre free. Sign-up opens in the summer holidays before sessions start in September, and if your child's group is full you can join a mailing list to hear when a place comes up. Older teenagers can move on to Live Young Company for 17 to 25s.

Best for: Free, weekly and with a real show at the end of it: the standout club for drama-loving 10 to 16-year-olds.

Northern Stage at Barras Bridge, by Haymarket Metro, focuses on what happens behind the curtain. Its Young Creatives group for 13 to 17-year-olds meets after school, recently on Tuesdays from 4.30pm to 6pm, with hands-on workshops in set design, technical theatre, props, costume and directing, plus a free ticket to see a show together. It is free, no experience is needed, and the theatre may help with public transport costs. Young Creatives runs in blocks rather than all year, with the next one due in April and May 2027, and Northern Stage also runs ten-week Young Directors and Young Designers courses and a Young Technicians group for the same age group. All need an application through the Northern Stage Taking Part pages.

Best for: Ideal for teenagers who are curious about theatre but would rather build the set than stand on it.

Dance

Dance City on Temple Street, near the Centre for Life and Central Station, is the North East's National Dance Agency, and it runs a term-time programme of weekly classes for children and young people aged 4 to 17. Most of the children's timetable is on Saturdays, so it suits families who want a weekend activity rather than a rush after school. Recent classes include Pop Steps and Ballet Primary for 4 to 6-year-olds, contemporary, breaking and ballet for 7 to 11s, and hip hop, teen ballet and contemporary fusion for 12 to 17s, at £9.50 a class at the time of writing. The autumn term runs from September to mid-December. Classes are booked online, and the centre also puts on occasional workshops, including aerial sessions on trapeze and cocoons.

Best for: A big choice of dance styles under one roof, and a good fit for families who prefer a Saturday-morning activity.

Swimming lessons

Learning to swim is one of the most useful things a child can do, and a well-established option for weekly lessons in the city centre is SwimNE at Sport Central. SwimNE is an independent swim school that teaches at Northumbria University's Sport Central, off Northumberland Road, every Saturday and Sunday. Classes take children aged 4 and over through stages 1 to 10, from complete beginners to pre-competitive swimmers, in small groups. At the time of writing lessons at Sport Central cost £33.22 a month by direct debit over a 39-week teaching year. Private one-to-one lessons are also available for children who need extra support.

Best for: Weekend lessons in a proper 25-metre pool, with a clear path from first splashes to competitive swimming.

Free clubs at the library

Newcastle City Library on New Bridge Street West runs a free Lego Club in term time on Thursday afternoons from 4pm to 6pm. It is for children aged 4 and over, all the bricks are provided, and there is no need to book, so it is an easy, no-commitment way to fill an hour after school. Children must be supervised by a parent or carer. The Children and Families Newcastle site lists clubs and events for school-age children.

Best for: Free, drop-in and right in the middle of town: perfect for a rainy Thursday.

Wraparound care and school clubs

If you need childcare rather than a hobby, start with your child's own school. Most primary schools run a breakfast club, after-school club or both, and many offer their own sports, music and arts clubs during term. Because there are very few primary schools in the city centre itself, most children who live in town go to schools in neighbouring areas, so ask your school office for its wraparound arrangements and prices. The Children and Families Newcastle website also has a childcare section to help you find registered providers.

Tips for choosing a club

• Book early. The free youth theatre groups and the most popular dance and swimming classes fill up quickly at the start of the school year.
• Check the day and time. Many central clubs run on weekday evenings or at weekends rather than straight after school, so think about how your child will get there.
• Ask about trial sessions. Some providers let children try a class before committing to a full term.
• Think about the journey. Haymarket, Monument and Central Station are all close to the venues in this guide, which makes the Metro a good option for older children travelling on their own.

Do you run a children's club or class in the city centre? Get in touch and we will consider adding it to this guide.