Big days out, a short trip from Durham
Looking for a family day out that’s a little different? Newcastle is an easy day trip from Durham by train, with direct services from Leeds station reaching Newcastle Central in around an hour and a half. From there, Life Science Centre is just a few minutes’ walk away, so you can be exploring hands-on exhibits, getting stuck into activities and discovering science without spending hours travelling.
Life Science Centre has two floors of interactive science, a Planetarium, live science shows and an exciting programme of changing exhibitions. With plenty to see and do under one roof, it’s an easy, self-contained day out for families, whether you travel by train or car.
What’s on right now
The Great Dinosaur Escape
Looking for a unique day out this summer 2026 in Newcastle? Become a Dino Ranger and wander among the North’s biggest collection of moving dinosaurs in The Great Dinosaur Escape.
Take your trail around Life’s award-winning science centre to uncover fascinating dino facts and solve a prehistoric challenge along the way.
With interactive activities at every turn, it’s much more than your average dinosaur exhibition, with plenty of hands-on science fun for all ages.
Coming soon…
Ice Skating
Life’s outdoor ice rink is an established part of Newcastle’s festive calendar and reopens from Saturday 7 November 2026.
Situated in Times Square, just outside Life Science Centre, the rink, made of real ice, runs throughout the Christmas season, providing skaters of all ages and abilities with the ultimate festive experience.
The Santa Experience
This Christmas, Life brings you a magical, festive experience that you won’t find anywhere else!
Join Santa’s little helpers in a new corner of the North Pole, as the busy elves race against time to prepare for the most important night of the year – Christmas Eve!
Expect surprises and exciting live festive science experiments at the NEW Elf Show in their Christmas workshop.
As part of the experience, children will meet Santa and receive a special gift and Christmas Eve Bag (Reindeer food, hot chocolate mix and a sweet treat) to take home.
Why make the day trip from Durham?
Life Science Centre offers something a little different from Durham’s historic buildings and museums. Alongside our headline experiences, you’ll find two floors of hands-on science, a Planetarium and live shows running throughout the day, with plenty to keep children and grown-ups entertained.
The programme changes throughout the year too, so there’s always a reason to come back. And because everything is under one roof, you can enjoy a full day here whatever the weather.
Getting here from Durham
By train
Getting to Life Science Centre by train is easy, with regular direct services from Durham to Newcastle Central taking around 15–20 minutes. LNER, CrossCountry, TransPennine Express and Northern all operate services between the two cities, so there are plenty of trains to choose from throughout the day.
Once you arrive at Newcastle Central, Life Science Centre is just a five-minute walk from the station, so there’s no need to arrange another bus or taxi. Simply head out of the station towards Times Square and you’ll find us just across the square.
If you’re travelling with children, it’s worth checking different departure times to find the best fares. A Family & Friends Railcard can also help reduce the cost of train travel for families.
And there’s an extra reason to travel by public transport: you can get 20% off Life Science Centre admission with discount code TRAVEL20 when booking online. Just show your train tickets at Reception when you arrive.
By car
By road, it’s roughly 30 minutes from Durham via the A1(M), around 15 miles. There’s parking a short walk away at Times Square Car Park, and you can pre-book parking when booking science centre tickets.
Good to know before you visit
How far is Life Science Centre from Durham?
Just 15 minutes by train, or roughly half an hour by car, about 15 miles via the A1(M).
Is it worth the trip from Durham for the day?
Yes: with two floors of interactive galleries, a planetarium, live shows and a changing programme of major exhibitions, you could easily a full day here. It’s great for all ages and you don’t necessarily need to book an overnight stay.
What are the opening times?
During term-time the science centre is open 10:00am – 3:00pm midweek and 10:00am – 5:00pm at weekends. During school holidays though, hours are often extended. It’s always best to check our opening times page before you travel.
Is Life Science Centre accessible?
Yes, the science centre has lifts and ramps to all floors. There is also a Changing Places facility on the ground floor.