Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne

Gallery in Newcastle upon Tyne

Laing Art Gallery
Laing Art Gallery
CC BY-SA 2.0 / Mark Smiles

Right in the centre of Newcastle upon Tyne, the Laing Art Gallery is one of the top attractions in Newcastle upon Tyne for anyone who loves painting, sculpture and decorative arts. Opened in 1904 and housed in a Grade II listed Baroque-style building with Art Nouveau flourishes, it offers an elegant setting for its strong collection of 18th-20th century British oil paintings and watercolours, along with ceramics, silver and glass. From dynamic landscapes by John Martin to sculpture by Henry Moore, there is plenty here to reward repeat visits as well as first-timers.

Step inside the vaulted-ceilinged galleries and you will find a thoughtful blend of permanent displays and regularly changing exhibitions, ranging from historic masterpieces to contemporary shows that connect with today's audiences. The Laing is a highlight of any walking tour of Newcastle upon Tyne because it gives you a calm, light-filled space to pause between city sights, with the added bonus of a shop and café where you can linger over what you have just seen.

History and Significance of the Laing Art Gallery

The Laing Art Gallery owes its existence to the generosity of Alexander Laing, a successful Newcastle wine and spirit merchant who funded the creation of a public art gallery for the city in the early 1900s. Designed by architects Cackett and Burns Dick in an ornate Baroque style with Art Nouveau details, the building opened in 1904 and has been a cultural landmark ever since. Its Grade II listed status reflects both its architectural quality and its importance in the story of Newcastle's civic pride.

From the outset, the Laing focused on British art, building a collection that spans the 18th to 20th centuries with a particular strength in oil paintings and watercolours. Over time, the collection has grown to include notable works by artists such as John Martin, whose dramatic landscapes and apocalyptic visions are closely associated with the region, as well as sculpture by major figures like Henry Moore. Decorative arts, including ceramics, silver and glass, add another layer of interest and help show how taste and craftsmanship evolved over time.

Today, the Laing Art Gallery is managed under the Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums umbrella and continues to play a central role in the region's cultural life. Its free entry policy, with charges only for some special exhibitions, keeps it accessible to locals and visitors alike, while a busy programme of talks, family activities and temporary shows keeps the galleries feeling fresh. As part of a wider cluster of museums and galleries in the city, it helps make Newcastle a rewarding base for anyone interested in British art and design.

The core of any visit to the Laing is its permanent collection, where you can move from 18th-century portraits and landscapes through Victorian narrative paintings to early 20th-century works and beyond. Many visitors are drawn straight to the dynamic landscapes and visionary scenes by John Martin, whose dramatic compositions and local connections make his paintings a standout feature. Elsewhere, sculpture by Henry Moore and others provides a three-dimensional counterpoint to the paintings, encouraging you to move around and see works from different angles.

Decorative arts are another strength. Displays of ceramics, silver and glass provide a change of pace from the paintings and highlight the skill of makers whose work might once have graced dining tables, churches or civic interiors. These objects help to root the gallery in everyday life and social history, showing that art is not just something that hangs on walls but is woven into the things people use and treasure. Temporary exhibitions often pick up on these themes, focusing on particular artists, movements or materials.

Alongside the displays, the Laing frequently hosts events such as gallery talks, family workshops and artist-led activities, making it easy to deepen your understanding or to keep younger visitors engaged. The gallery shop offers prints, books and gifts inspired by the collection, while the café gives you a place to sit and reflect between rooms. Taken together, these elements make the Laing somewhere you can dip into briefly or treat as a half-day outing, depending on how much time you have and how deeply you want to explore.

For visitors coming from further afield, Newcastle International Airport is the main gateway, with regular domestic and European flights and a direct Metro line into the city centre in about 25 minutes. For the best deals and a seamless booking experience, check out these flights to Newcastle upon Tyne on Booking.com. From the airport you can ride the Metro to Monument or Haymarket stations, both of which are just a short walk from the gallery.

By train, you will arrive at Newcastle Central Station, a key stop on the East Coast Main Line with fast services from cities such as London, Edinburgh, York and Leeds.Train schedules and bookings can be found on Omio. From the station it is around a 10-15 minute walk uphill to the Laing Art Gallery on New Bridge Street, or you can hop on the Metro for one stop to Monument and stroll from there. Local buses also serve stops close to the gallery, making public transport a very straightforward option.

If you prefer to drive, follow signs into Newcastle city centre and then towards New Bridge Street, where the gallery is located near the junction with John Dobson Street. Several public car parks and on-street bays are available within walking distance, but as with most city centres, spaces can be busy at peak times, so it is worth checking parking options and charges in advance. Once parked, you are well placed to explore the gallery and other nearby attractions on foot.

  • Suggested tips: Start with the permanent collection to get a feel for the gallery’s strengths, then check which temporary exhibitions are on and plan time for a coffee break to absorb what you have seen.
  • Best time to visit: Weekday mornings or late afternoons outside school holidays are often quieter, while Saturdays can be livelier with more families and events.
  • Entrance fee: Entry is free to the gallery, shop and café but an admission charge applies to some exhibitions.
  • Opening hours: Monday — Saturday, 10am — 4.30pm; Closed Sunday and Bank Holidays
  • Official website: http://www.laingartgallery.org.uk/
  • How long to spend: Allow 1-2 hours for a general visit, and longer if you want to explore a major temporary exhibition or attend a talk or workshop.
  • Accessibility: The gallery offers step-free access, lifts to upper levels and accessible toilets; if you have specific needs, check the latest access details on the website before your visit.
  • Facilities: Expect a café, shop, toilets and baby-changing facilities, making it easy to visit with children or to build the gallery into a wider day out in the city centre.
  • Photography tip: Look for ways to frame artworks with the gallery’s own architectural details, such as arches and vaulted ceilings, and remember to follow any signage about where photography is restricted.
  • Guided tours: Keep an eye on the events programme for guided tours, artist talks or family activities that can add extra context to specific works or exhibitions.
  • Nearby food options: Beyond the on-site café, you are only a short walk from cafés, restaurants and bars around Grey Street, Northumberland Street and the wider city centre.

Staying near the Laing Art Gallery puts you in an excellent position for exploring both the city's cultural quarter and its shops, theatres and restaurants. A stylish option a short stroll away is Grey Street Hotel, which combines boutique rooms with a prime location close to the gallery, Theatre Royal and some of the city's best architecture. For a budget-friendly base within easy walking distance, Kabannas Newcastle offers modern, hostel-style accommodation right in the city centre. If you prefer apartment-style living with a bit more space, Staybridge Suites Newcastle sits a pleasant walk from the gallery and gives you a comfortable base for longer stays.

If you have even a passing interest in art or want to understand Newcastle's cultural side, the Laing Art Gallery is definitely worth visiting. Its combination of strong British collections, thoughtfully curated temporary exhibitions and a handsome historic building makes it far more than just a rainy-day fallback. Free entry lowers the barrier to popping in, whether you have an hour between other plans or want to spend a longer stretch moving slowly from gallery to gallery, and its central location means you can easily combine it with shopping, dining or other nearby museums.

What Other Travellers Say...

Reviews Summary

4.5 (1,850)

Laing Art Gallery on New Bridge Street displays 18th–20th century British oil paintings and watercolours in vaulted-ceilinged galleries; the main displays are free and well laid out and lit, with a rotating programme of ticketed temporary exhibitions that some visitors find worth paying for. Reviewers praise the varied collection (including local glass and pottery), friendly staff, a handy gift shop, and a pleasant on-site café with good food, making it an easy and rewarding stop in central Newcastle.

Tim P.
6 months ago
"Free art gallery with a cafe and a shop. There's also an exhibition currently (With These Hands) that requires an admission charge, but I couldn'tfind information about it (on-site) so I chose not to visit it. However, the free exhibitions are nice on their own. Definitely worth a visit...."
Jaime Westwood
a week ago
"I don't come here as often as I should. Great range of art in the collections and the temporary exhibitions are always interesting and really wellcurated. The cafe is also brilliant - great range of food choices. A beautiful building too...."
judith Cashmore-james
a month ago
"Whilst a relatively small art gallery it is well worth a visit. The range of art is interesting in well laid out and lit galleries. The staff aredelightful and happy to help. The shop has some lovely gifts and the cafe serves nice food in a lovely environment with art on the walls and in display cases...."
Yes, the gallery is family-friendly, with frequent activities, trails and events designed for younger visitors, plus plenty of space to move around and discover favourite artworks together.
For general free entry you usually do not need to book, but for popular special exhibitions or certain events it can be wise to book tickets in advance to secure your preferred time slot.
Small bags are normally fine, but large backpacks or suitcases may need to be left in a cloakroom or may not be permitted in some exhibition spaces; check the latest visitor information if you are travelling with luggage.
There is no dedicated gallery car park, but several public car parks and on-street bays are available within walking distance in the city centre, with charges that vary by location and time of day.
  • Newcastle Castle: Explore the medieval Castle Keep and Black Gate for atmospheric interiors and sweeping views over the city and River Tyne.
  • Grey Street and Grainger Town: Wander one of the most elegant 19th-century streetscapes in the UK, filled with shops, cafés and theatres.
  • Discovery Museum: Learn about Tyneside's maritime, scientific and social history in a grand former Co-operative Wholesale Society building.
  • The Quayside: Head down to the river for views of the Tyne Bridges, historic buildings and a lively mix of bars and restaurants.
  • Great North Museum Hancock: Discover natural history, Ancient Egypt and an excellent Hadrian's Wall gallery near the university quarter.

The Laing Art Gallery appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Newcastle upon Tyne!

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Planning Your Visit

Hours:

Monday - Saturday, 10am - 4.30pm; Closed Sunday and Bank Holidays

Price:

Entry is free to the gallery, shop and café but an admission charge applies to some exhibitions.

Address: Laing Art Gallery, New Bridge Street West, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Newcastle upon Tyne: 1 km
Telephone: +441912781611
Official Website

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