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£5 Universal Credit tickets

Little Girl Being Held By Mum Looking Amazed At A Stegasaurus.

Enjoy a full day at Life Science Centre for just £5 per person

From Monday 24 August to Wednesday 30 September 2026, anyone in receipt of Universal Credit can visit Newcastle’s Life Science Centre for just £5 per ticket.

The person claiming Universal Credit can buy tickets for themselves and up to five other people, meaning a group of six can enjoy a full day at Life for just £30.

Grandparents with little girl creating a whirlpool at Newcastle's Life Science Centre.

What’s included?

Your ticket includes a full day of hands-on science and discovery, with plenty to explore across Life, including:

  • The Great Dinosaur Escape – meet more than 25 moving dinosaurs, including a towering 9-metre T. rex and a baby Stegosaurus.
  • Planetarium – experience immersive 360° shows under the Planetarium dome.
  • Lightbox – explore light, sound and water phenomena, including Europe’s highest tornado tower.
  • Wow Zone – get hands-on with exhibits including the Big Machine and pulley chair races.
  • Space Zone – discover space science and explore a replica of the International Space Station.
  • Play Zone – designed especially for younger visitors, with hands-on activities supporting early years learning and discovery.
  • Live science shows and creative making activities – get involved with experiments, demonstrations and hands-on making.

Why are we offering £5 tickets?

Life introduced a Universal Credit ticket scheme in summer 2025, which proved particularly popular. Around 40% of daily visitors used the offer, with 83% of those visitors coming to Life for the first time.

“Being a single parent who is lucky enough to get all the holidays off from work, I struggle to entertain the children everyday. This is a fantastic offer which helps parents like myself give our children a great experience and day out.”

Father and daughter in Newcastle's Life Science Centre, enjoying hands-on exhibit demonstrating how lightning works.

How to book

Universal Credit tickets can be bought online from Monday 17 August 2026 or in person at Life’s reception from Monday 24 August.

The person claiming Universal Credit can purchase tickets for themselves and up to five other people. All tickets in the booking are £5 each.

Please note: Universal Credit tickets cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer, discount or promotion. Proof of Universal Credit eligibility may be required at reception.

Three boys in tornado exhibit in Life Science Centre's Lightbox exhibit.

Who is eligible?

Universal Credit Saver tickets are available to anyone who currently receives Universal Credit.

You may be able to get Universal Credit if you’re on a low income or need help with your living costs. You could be:

  • out of work
  • working, including self-employed or part time
  • unable to work, for example because of a health condition

To claim Universal Credit, you must usually:

  • live in the UK
  • be aged 18 or over, although there are some exceptions if you’re 16 or 17
  • be under State Pension age
  • have £16,000 or less in money, savings and investments

These are the current eligibility criteria published by GOV.UK.

The person receiving Universal Credit can book a ticket for themselves and up to five other people, meaning a maximum of six tickets.

What do I need as proof of eligibility?

Proof of Universal Credit may be required at reception when you visit.

If requested, you can show:

  • your most recent Universal Credit payment, shown through your Universal Credit online account
  • a proof of benefits letter dated within the last month

You should have received a Universal Credit payment within the last month to be eligible for the offer.

We accept printed or digital copies, including documents shown on your phone. You may also be asked to show photographic ID.

Our team understands that not everyone is comfortable discussing their benefits. If proof is requested, your information will be checked discreetly and respectfully at reception.

For more information about Universal Credit and eligibility, visit GOV.UK – Universal Credit eligibility.

Take a look around

Café and gift shop

Family enjoying a hot drink in Times Square Cafe Bar at Life Science Centre.

Catering for hungry bellies

Food and drink can be purchased from Times Square Café Bar. Alternatively, you are more than welcome to bring your own packed lunch.

Life Gift Shop products branded with Life Science Centre logo

Take home a memento of your vist

A visit to Life wouldn’t be complete without exploring our selection of science kits, toys, books, souvenirs and gifts to suit all ages and budgets

Family approaching the entrance of Life Science Centre for a fun day out

Getting here

Life is located in Times Square, just a two minute walk form Newcastle Central train and Metro station.

Family entering the science centre underneath Gaia, a large replica of Earth.

Science centre map

View our science centre map to get a feel for what to expect.

Group visits

Life is a great place for groups of all sizes to spend a day and take part in some fun science activities! If you’re bringing 20 people or more, it’s best to book in advance.

Mother and child in Life's creativity zone. The child is wearing ear defenders.

Accessibility

We welcome all our visitors and work hard to make sure our facilities are accessible to everyone.