Big days out, a short trip from Sunderland
Looking for a family day out that’s a little different? Newcastle is just a short trip from Sunderland, making it easy to spend a full day exploring without travelling far. With regular Metro services connecting Sunderland with Newcastle, you can be at Life Science Centre in the heart of the city in around 30 minutes. From Newcastle Central, it’s just a few minutes’ walk to Life, where you can be exploring hands-on exhibits, getting stuck into activities and discovering science.
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 Metro 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 Sunderland
By Metro
Getting to Life Science Centre from Sunderland is easy, with regular Metro services running directly to Newcastle. The journey from Sunderland to Newcastle Central Station takes around 30 minutes, making Life an easy option for a family day out without a long journey.
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 Pop card can also help you save on Metro travel, depending on your journey.
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 proof of your travel at Reception when you arrive.
By car
By road, it’s roughly 20–30 minutes from Sunderland via the A19, depending on traffic. 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 Sunderland?
Newcastle is around 30 minutes from Sunderland by Metro, with Life Science Centre just a five-minute walk from Newcastle Central Station. By car, the journey is roughly 20–30 minutes, depending on traffic.
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.