It’s officially the most wonderful time of year – and this is your guide to make the most of Christmas in Newcastle!
If you want to know what festive events are happening around Newcastle at Christmas, you’ll be spoiled for choice: from Christmas Markets, to light trails and ice skating, there is something for everyone. Read on to find out about the unique events easily accessible from Newcastle University, as well as what to do while staying on campus during the holiday break.
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Christmas events in Newcastle
If you’re studying at Newcastle University, you don’t have to walk far to find some festive fun: all of these unmissable Christmas activities are within walking distance from campus.
Fenwick Christmas Window
Visiting the Fenwick Christmas Window has become a tradition for many families in the North East. Fenwick is a large department store founded in 1882, which has hosted a unique window display every Christmas since 1971. The window often features handmade figures or animatronics, as well as a soundtrack and story that you can follow as you pass by the display.
Past themes have included Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Paddington Bear, The Christmas Story, and The Snowman. This year’s theme? You'll have to see that for yourself.
If you wish to see the window, you can find it on Northumberland Street just a short walk from campus. This event is completely free, with no tickets required: just turn up, and enjoy the story.
A visit to Fenwick Window is a must in Newcastle at Christmas. Credit: Matt Horne.
Newcastle Christmas Market
The annual Newcastle Christmas Market is back and bigger than ever. Centralised around Grey’s Monument and the Old Eldon Square areas of the city, the market consists of pop-up huts from local restaurants, street food vendors, crafters, and artisanal makers. It's the perfect opportunity to try something new and get some unique Christmas shopping, as well as supporting local businesses.
If you’re happy to walk a little further, you can also experience the Grainger Market from Monday to Saturday, and the Quayside Market on Sundays, both of which have been given a festive overhaul for the season.
Northern Lights Newcastle 2025
Northern Lights Newcastle is an annual event that illuminates Leazes Park with stunning light displays. Enjoy mulled wine, hot chocolate, and toasted marshmallows as you walk through the trail of lights, including glowing moss, neon butterflies, and a river of 8,000 LEDs pulsing in synchronicity to a bespoke musical score.
The entrance to the event is on Barrack Road in the centre of Newcastle, opposite Stanhope Street. This is a ticketed event, so make sure you have booked your tickets in advance before you start the trail.
Centre for Life Ice Rink
A twenty-minute walk from campus takes you to the Centre for Life: a science museum and on-site working hub for scientists, clinicians, technologists, and educationalists. Every year, the space outside the Centre for Life is transformed into an outdoor ice skating rink made from real ice to really get you in the Christmas spirit.
One ticket will get you an hour of skating, and they offer a discount for students. The ice rink can get busy as the holiday season approaches, so booking tickets in advance is recommended.
Festive days out in the North East
If you’re feeling adventurous this Christmas, you may wish to travel outside the city and experience festive events around the North East. If you’re an international student or travelling from outside the region to study, we highly recommend checking out these unmissable Christmas events: all of which are accessible from transport links outside Newcastle University’s campus.
Beamish Museum
If you want to experience a traditional Christmas, you can’t get more traditional than going back in time 200 years! Beamish Museum is a must-see for anyone visiting from outside the North East. This unique world-famous open-air museum recreates life in various time periods around the region, ranging from the 1820s to the 1950s and including a working farm and pit village.
Beamish goes all-out for Christmas, with the whole museum decorated for the season and the 1950s cinema set up to play Christmas films. Enjoy yuletide treats, live carol singing, and festive music as you walk through this unique part of North East culture at Christmas.
Tickets to Beamish Museum are offered at a discount for students, and purchasing one ticket allows you access to the museum for a whole year. You can reach Beamish from Newcastle via bus, and buses stop directly outside the museum car park for easy accessibility.
Winter Lights at The Alnwick Garden and Lilidorei
Alnwick Castle is one of the most striking landmarks in the North East, and the picturesque castle is known for being used as a filming location for films and TV shows such as Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves, Downton Abbey, and Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Within the castle ground lies The Alnwick Garden and Lilidorei: a stunning set of gardens that is transformed during the Christmas season. Treat yourself to a walk through the Winter Lights after dark, along with traditional snacks and toasted marshmallows, before ending the trail with a light show projected onto the fountains.
Alnwick is accessible by bus from Newcastle’s Haymarket station. Time slots need to be booked in advance, so make sure to organise your day to avoid disappointment.
Christmas Markets
Newcastle isn’t the only North East location with a Christmas Market. If you don’t want to face the crowds in the city centre and are happy to travel further afield, you can visit any of the Christmas Markets at locations such as Ouseburn, Spanish City, and North Shields. They're all easily accessible using the Tyne and Wear Metro or bus services, and are perfect locations for unique Christmas gift shopping.
Christmas on campus
If you want get into the Christmas spirit while sticking closer to home, the Newcastle University Students’ Union (NUSU) has got you covered. If you’re around campus on 10th December 2025, you can swing by the Students’ Union to watch the campus Christmas Tree lights being turned on, and enjoy the Big Band playing festive music with some hot chocolate.
You can also find other festive activities hosted by NUSU around the Christmas season, including:
- Christmas crafts
- Christmas charity volunteering
- Christmas-themed dance classes
Our campus Christmas Tree, illuminated in the Quadrangle. Credit: Matt Horne.
We also have resources to help our current students stay connected during the Christmas closure.
Here are a few things our students can expect during this period:
- ResLife has once again relaunched their Merry Mates WhatsApp Group to help students find friends and organise festive activities - if you're a current student living in NU accommodation, sign up for the WhatsApp group using the Merry Mates form
- the Student Life Unit is offering residents the chance to book the Northern Lights Trail and Ice Skating at the Centre for Life
- we're offering an end-of-year Winter Wellbeing Walk - a perfect opportunity to take a break and enjoy the outdoors while chatting with fellow students and staff
- since there will be reduced hours for facilities on campus during the Christmas Closure, the Wellbeing team has put together a catalogue of resources – Wellbeing and the Winter Closure – for students staying with us. This catalogue is full of advice and links to supportive resources, such as social apps, local events, and safety tips.
We hope this blog has helped you decide what festive events in Newcastle you would like to take part in. Whether you’re a local student looking for something fun to do in the North East, or a student who has travelled far and wants to experience all the region has to offer - there is something for everyone to enjoy this Christmas in Newcastle!
Header image credit: Matt Horne
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