Newcastle’s Eldon Square shopping centre is offering a range of free family activities throughout the summer holidays, aiming to engage children and provide entertainment for visiting families.
Starting late July and continuing through August, the centre’s programme includes face painting sessions scheduled on selected weekends and weekdays, running from midday to 3 p.m. These sessions take place in Eldon Square’s Community Quarter and offer an accessible creative outlet for children.
In addition to face painting, the centre will host character appearances featuring superheroes and princesses. Superheroes will roam the mall on August 8, 9, and 16, while princess appearances are planned for August 22 and 23. Visitors can meet the characters, take photographs, and enjoy interactive moments. Donation buckets will be available during these events to support the Newcastle United Foundation.
Eldon Square also continues its sponsorship of the Tiny Toon Play Village, now in its third year, located in Old Eldon Square and open until August 31. This immersive attraction presents a miniature version of Newcastle with detailed recreations of local landmarks and businesses, including the Tyne and Wear Metro train, the Tyne Bridge, and a scaled-down Eldon Square. New additions this year feature representations inspired by Newcastle Building Society, Tyneside Cinema, Dakwala, and Pink Lane Bakery. The village operates on a schedule varying slightly by day, opening as early as 9 a.m. on Sundays to accommodate quieter visits and Toddler Takeover sessions with earlier openings on Tuesdays.
Moreover, Eldon Square is participating in a wider regional initiative, the Peter Rabbit: Tales on the Tyne sculpture trail, which runs through mid-September across Newcastle and North Tyneside. The trail features decorated Peter Rabbit sculptures displayed in public spaces to celebrate the 40th anniversary of St Oswald’s Hospice and the 160th birthday of Beatrix Potter. Eldon Square hosts one of these sculptures, encouraging families to take photographs and enter weekly prize draws via QR codes displayed alongside the artwork. Prizes include vouchers for local retailers and restaurants, pamper parties, and gift cards.
Helen Cowie, centre director at Eldon Square, emphasized the centre’s dedication to offering engaging, free activities for children during the school break, noting the partnership with city-wide initiatives that enrich the local summer experience. The combination of creative, interactive, and charitable events aims to make Eldon Square a focal point for family entertainment throughout the holidays.