Life Science Centre

We’re not like a museum where you’ll only find stuff in cases and be expected to look and not touch. At Life Science Centre, you’re encouraged to get stuck in: explore, create and have fun – whatever your age. Our friendly Science Explainers are always on-hand to answer questions – just look out for people wearing the Life-branded blue polo shirts.

Your science centre ticket gives you access to ALL of the daytime activities inside Life Science Centre (see below). There are no extra fees for exhibitions or for entry to the planetarium, live theatre shows and the Making Studios. You won’t find any hidden charges here!

Explore Life's interactive Zones - experience neurological tests in the Brain Zone and let little ones discover the Young Explorers’ Zone.

Everything below is included in your Science Centre ticket

Space Zone

Be inspired by the wonders of the Universe and how space exploration impacts our everyday lives in the brand new Space Zone.

The Making Studios

In the Making Studios, a range of interactive exhibits from selfie booths to poetry robots will help you tap into your inner creativity, while the studio spaces provide an opportunity to try your hand at a variety of hands-on making activities.

The planetarium

This is an immersive experience – once the lights are dimmed, the doors are shut and you’re sitting on one of the comfiest seats in the region, it’s easy to forget you’re still on planet Earth. We have shows that are tailored for different ages.

Live theatre shows

A changing programme of live theatre shows developed and performed in-house by our Science Explainers to explore a science topic with storytelling, demos and a bit of audience participation (not compulsory if you’re a wallflower).

Young Explorers’ Zone

This is a hands-on area designed to let children explore and create. There’s a little indoor garden with a tree house, a shop, a cafe, a kitchen – and even a recycling centre to teach children some good habits at an early age.

Brain Zone

Play memory games, step inside an optical illusion and (attempt to) interact with exhibits that require some mind over matter. Developed with the curriculum in mind, it's a fantastic resource for science students – particularly those on psychology courses.

Experiment Zone

Don a lab coat and try out some real science experiments. We provide the chemicals*, pipettes and conical flasks – you just need to bring your ‘A’ game for precise measurements and keen observations. (*Yes, real chemicals! Hence you must be 7+ to enter the lab.)

What's On

Exhibitions

Exhibitions Zones Planetarium Science Theatre Special Events

Space Zone

Be inspired by the wonders of the Universe and how space exploration impacts our everyday lives.It’s easy to forget we live on a spinning rock that is whizzing through space. The new Space Zone brings space close to home: find out how we’re already using space technology in our everyday lives and discover how the future of space exploration is being shaped right here in the north east of England.Highlights include:Launch your own rocket.Climb inside a mock-up model of part of the International Space Station.Watch shows on a digital globe displaying Earth, Moon and planetary satellite imagery.Touch a genuine ...

Perfect for 5+ Included in your science centre admission

Brain Zone

Explore what makes you 'you'. Find out how your brain works and how it controls so many of your body's functions – often without you even realising it. Play memory games, step into an optical illusion and (attempt to) interact with exhibits that require some mind over matter. Developed with the national curriculum in mind, the Brain Zone has much to offer psychology students, but it also offers broader science insights, such as how scientists carry out experiments when data is hard to capture. Don't miss: Sip of conflict – A drinking fountain disguised as ...

Perfect for 7+ (recommended) Included in your science centre admission

Experiment Zone

In the Experiment Zone YOU are the scientist! Lab coat up and experiment with real chemicals.Carry out practical experiments using real tools and materials.Work on your own, in a team, or enlist the help of a friendly Science Explainer.Meet real-life working scientists. See them at work and ask questions.Help in actual research projects taking place in the region's universities.Opening timesMonday - Friday: 11.00am - 4.00pm (last entry 3.30pm)Saturday: 10.00am - 5.00pm (last entry 4.30pm)Sunday: 11.00am - 5.00pm (last entry 4.30pm)The Experiment Zone is for ages 7+, we restrict access to under 7s for safety reasons. Children aged 12 and ...

Perfect for ages 7+ Included in your science centre admission

Making Studios

We all have a creative side – you don’t have to be an artist to be creative and imagination has no age limit.In the Making Studios, a range of interactive exhibits from selfie booths* to poetry robots will help you tap into your inner creativity, while the studio spaces provide an opportunity to try your hand at a variety of hands-on making activities – covering everything from sewing and soldering, to cardboard construction and coding. Opening timesMonday - Friday: 11.00am - 4.00pm (last entry 3.30pm)Saturday: 11.00am - 5.00pm (last entry 4.30pm)Sunday: 11.00am - 5.00pm (last entry 4.30pm)

Perfect for All ages Included in your science centre admission

Space Zone

Perfect for 5+ Included in your science centre admission

The Sphere

Part of our new Space Zone, the Sphere is a digital globe and show space where visitors can enjoy family-friendly presenter-led science shows.Show topics change regularly so there's always something new to learn!Currently showing: Climate EmergencyRight across the globe, people are declaring a climate emergency. But why? And are we running out of time to act?Humans have walked the planet for a mere fraction of Earth’s existence yet, due to our activities, the planet is changing at an unprecedented rate which pushes the natural balances of the Earth to its limits. With carbon dioxide levels increasing, what effect does ...

Perfect for 7+ (recommended) Included in your science centre admission

Young Explorers' Zone

Children learn through play – it’s how they make sense of the world. Our Young Explorers’ Zone for under-7s is designed to encourage open-ended play and to help children build their imagination and other key skills, whilst having fun! Activities include:Big blocks, which are just waiting to be crafted into something wonderful. Will your child design a rocket, a unicorn or something totally new?A sensory den, where smaller tots and babies can explore light, colours, shapes and sounds – tucked safely away from some of the more energetic play from older toddlers! A fresh take on soft play, with linkable pieces ...

Perfect for under 7s Included in your science centre admission

Naughty Monsters in the Sky

25 May 2019 - 22 May 2020 An exciting planetarium show for young children to explore a sky full of mysteries – are naughty monsters to blame?The sky is full of mysteries. Where does the Sun go at night? Why does the Moon change shape? Where do rainbows come from?Could it be naughty monsters playing tricks in the sky, or can we explain everything that we see with science? Find out in this exciting planetarium show for young children.

Perfect for under 7s Included in your science centre admission

Planetarium

Life is home to the North’s biggest and best planetarium.In our planetarium, the skies are darker, the stars are brighter, the planets are so clearly defined, it looks like you could reach out and touch them.Thanks to the most sophisticated digital technology available, you can:Experience the most immersive, absorbing journeys through space and the solar system.See stunning space films and visuals that you won’t see anywhere else in the region.Experience real-time Live Skies shows where you can find out what’s happening in space right now.Zoom through space and land on planets throughout our solar system.Journey through the stars and see ...

Perfect for All Ages Included in your science centre admission

Tales of a Time Traveller

19 October 2019 - 19 October 2020 Enter the planetarium to experience time travel!Enter the fluctuating world of time in this exciting new planetarium show and discover it’s not as easy to define as simply looking at a clock!We invite you to explore the far-reaching impact of time, from the lives of stars and the Big Bang to the impact of gravity here on Earth. You’ll be blown away!

Perfect for 7+ (recommended) Included in your science centre admission

Science Theatre

Awesome experiments and audience participation help to unravel science fact from science fiction in our fun, family-friendly shows. Shows change regularly and cover all sorts of science themes like dinosaurs, the weather, aerodynamics (with fake flying pigs as test pilots), reactions, chain reactions... the list goes on! The Science Theatre is equipped with an analogue induction loop. Shows are on at various times throughout the day, daily show times are available on arrival.

Perfect for all ages Included in your science centre admission

The Space Show

21 January 2020 - 10 May 2020 Take a seat and discover how satellites enable us to view the Universe in a different light in this family-friendly show. You’ll also find out how satellites work and affect our everyday lives here on Earth as our Science Explainers perform a variety of exciting live science demonstrations.

Perfect for 7+ (recommended) Included in your science centre admission

After Hours: Homage to Beetlejuice

Next Date: Thursday 29 October 2020, 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM This Halloween, we're paying homage to Beetlejuice. (With those black and white stripes, he's clearly a fan of Newcastle, too!)Adults take over Life Science Centre on the last Thursday night of the month. With no kids around, we can be bolder and more daring with the workshops and activities on offer.Highlights of A Homage to Beetlejuice:Head to the insect sushi bar and discover this food of the future!Monochrome optical illusions that are weirder than Beetlejuice’s pinstripe suit.Discover how insects play a crucial role in homicide investigations with a forensic entomology workshop.

Perfect for 18+

After Hours: The future is fungi

Next Date: Thursday 24 September 2020, 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM Discover the power of the 'shroom.Adults take over Life Science Centre on the last Thursday night of the month. With no kids around, we can be bolder and more daring with the workshops and activities on offer.Highlights of The Future is Fungi:Open your mind to psilocybin in a talk that looks at how psychedelics may offer a new treatment for depression.Discover how fungi offer eco-friendly alternatives to meat, leather and even packaging material. Want an eco-friendly burial - would you consider the mushroom burial suit?Light up your life as you explore glow-in-the-dark mushrooms and discover the chemistry of making ...

Perfect for 18+

Dame Stella Rimington: My life in MI5

Next Date: Monday 28 September 2020, 6:30 PM - 7:45 PM We’re kick-starting Life’s Spy Season with an evening with the former Director General of MI5. Dame Stella Rimington, who is known to billions of people worldwide as the role model for the character M played by Dame Judi Dench in the James Bond 007 films, will speak candidly about her life and career, including some personal anecdotes. The event is being held in the build-up to the highly-anticipated release of the 25th James Bond 007 film, No Time to Die, which will be released later this year. Dame Stella was appointed Director General of MI5 in 1992 ...

Perfect for 18+ Separate prices apply

I spy: Easter holiday fun

4 April 2020 - 19 April 2020 James Bond is back in cinemas later this year and we’re celebrating with a spy-themed spectacular for the school holidays. It’s sure to be a fun-packed family day out for all ages this Easter!Highlights:Go undercover! Create the perfect disguise to follow your suspects undetected.(Recommended for children aged 5+ years.)Start inventing! Build an alarm to protect treasure from intruders.(Recommended for anyone aged 9+ years.)Explore surveillance! Spies use satellite technology to track the baddies. Find out how else satellites are used to help us in our daily lives in the live show Destination Space.Be secretive! Make invisible ink to send secret ...

Perfect for All ages Included in your science centre admission

"Annual membership is very good value for money. The place is great for entertaining toddlers on a rainy day - we love the Pre-school Days!"

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Opening times

Important information
Life Science Centre is currently closed. This decision has been made in the interests of health and wellbeing of our staff and visitors. Its is a preventative measure only; Life is not aware of any specific risk to its visitors or staff in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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