Newcastle City Library

About Newcastle City Library

Newcastle City Library was designed by Ryder Architecture and opened to the public on 7 June 2009 at a cost of £24 million, replacing the 1960s building on the same New Bridge Street site. It was officially opened by Elizabeth II that November. Inside there is a marble-floored atrium, a 185-seat performance space, an exhibition space and a cafe, and the whole building is free to enter and free to join whether or not you live in the city.

The top floor houses the Local Studies and Family History service, which is the place to go for maps, newspapers, photographs and parish records covering Newcastle and Northumberland, and its upper levels give good views across the city rooftops. There is a children's library on a lower level, which makes the building one of the better free wet-weather options in the centre with young children. It stands next to the Laing Art Gallery, about three minutes from Monument Metro, and closes on Sundays.

Featured in These Guides

Blog posts and guides that feature Newcastle City Library.

How to Find a Good Tradesperson in Newcastle City Centre

Hiring a plumber, electrician or builder for a city-centre flat? How to check Gas Safe, NICEIC and TrustMark credentials, compare quotes, get the right consents in Grainger Town and where to turn if a job goes wrong.

How to Find a Tutor in Newcastle City Centre

Language classes on Gallowgate, adult courses from Newcastle College and the council, dance and drama for all ages, and how to check a private tutor before the first lesson in central Newcastle.

Business Support in Newcastle City Centre: Free Advice, Funding and Workspace

Where to find free business advice, funding and workspace in Newcastle city centre, from the Business and IP Centre at the City Library to the Growth Hub, PNE, the Chamber and NE1.

Best Places to Work Remotely in Newcastle City Centre

Where to work remotely in Newcastle city centre, from a pay-as-you-go coworking desk on College Street to laptop-friendly coffee bars, a heritage cafe with free WiFi and two very different libraries.

Summer Holiday Activities in Newcastle

What reliably runs in Newcastle city centre every summer holiday, from museum programmes and the library reading scheme to holiday camps, free outdoor festivals and the free HAF clubs, plus where to check each year's dates.

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

Term-time clubs and classes for children in central Newcastle, from free youth theatre on the Quayside and at Haymarket to dance at Dance City, weekend swimming lessons and a free Lego club at the City Library.

Museums in Newcastle: A Guide to the City's Collections and Galleries

From free natural history and art galleries to the castle keep and the Ouseburn's tunnels and children's books, here is where to find Newcastle's museums and what each one suits.

Baby and Toddler Groups in Newcastle City Centre

The city centre is short on traditional church-hall toddler groups, but it has some of the best free early-years sessions in Newcastle. A guide to baby and toddler sessions in and around the middle of town, from museum play sessions and library rhyme times to the Farrell Centre, and how to find a neighbourhood group.

Newcastle City Council Services: A Practical Guide for the City Centre

Bins, council tax, parking permits, blue badges and the Civic Centre in one place. A plain-English guide to dealing with Newcastle City Council if you live or work in the city centre.

Rainy Day: Indoor Things to Do in Newcastle City Centre

A round-up of the best indoor attractions in Newcastle city centre for a wet day, from four free museums and galleries to bowling, crazy golf and the shops. Plenty to do without a coat.

Things to Do in Newcastle City Centre

A complete guide to the city centre: how it fits together, what to do with two hours or a full day, and where to go for museums, the Quayside, food, shopping, children, sport and the seasonal calendar.

Free Things to Do in Newcastle City Centre

Newcastle has four free museums and galleries, a Grade I listed covered market, two miles of medieval town wall, a thousand acres of common land and a free organ recital every Monday. Here is what genuinely costs nothing, and what used to be free but is not any more.

Halloween in Newcastle City Centre

Halloween 2026 falls on the Saturday at the end of half-term. A free augmented-reality quest at the Great North Museum, ghost tours at Newcastle Castle, a spooky night at the Discovery Museum, the Tyneside's horror all-nighter and a full prom night at the Star and Shadow.