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Seven Stories, the centre for childrens books, Newcastle upon Tyne
Seven Stories, the centre for childrens books, Newcastle upon Tyne 
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Seven Stories
30 Lime Street
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 2PQ
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I visited Seven Stories this week with my 2 year old son and with a friend who brought along her 11 month old. The woman on reception was very helpful and explained what was in the centre, what exhibitions were on and the type of crafts our children could get involved in. There was also a story time session whilst we were there. You enter on the ground level which is actually the 3rd floor of the centre, so we were advised to either start at the bottom and work our way to the top or vice versa. So we started at Level 1 and I am pleased we did as on level one there is a buggy / pram store, so I dropped off the pram, and stored our coats in one of the free lockers. Great design, just means you are not lugging extra bags / coats / prams around when in the centre. We accessed the craft room, where the kids can make things, draw or sit on the comfy floor cushions and read the wide selection of books that are there. The room overlooks the Ouseburn, so my two year old was fascinated to look out of the window and the river (and the rain). He did spend a few minutes scribbling with the pens but I felt this area was a little old for him at the moment. On the second floor is the cafe, which we went to last, but was lovely and big, lots and tables and chairs and highchairs. The coffee I had was good and my friends cake looked delicious! On the fourth floor is a book den and gallery where it was focused on transport, which model trains, planes and boats for the kids to play on. They can also dress up as ticket inspectors and there is even a little ticket office for them to play in. My son wasn't that impressed with this, but did enjoy playing with the toy cars and pressing the stamper for his passport which you can pick up. On the fifth floor is another gallery which at the moment is dedicated to Judith Kerr the author who wrote The Tiger who came to Tea. There is lots of displays about her life in Nazi Germany and old fashioned school desks with displays inside the lid of the desk. The best bit for me was the kitchen set up with a giant Tiger and a table set up for the kids to pretend to take tea with the tiger. My son enjoyed pretending to drink the tea and fry an egg on the cooker!  The sixth floor is the story lab wherethere is lots of soft areas for parents and kids to sit quietly and read stories together. And on the seventh floor is an artists attic.
We enjoyed ourselves in the couple of hours we were there, although I do feel that the centre was a little bit too old for our little ones, although they did get something out of it. It was free for under 4s and £5.50 for adults.
My top tips:  Park the pram and off load all child paraphanalia downstairs before setting off. There are also great kids toilets and baby change facilities too.
Star Rating:   
Submitted by:  glorious on 24 October 2009
Visited here 2 weeks ago with my 21 month old son and loved every minute of it! There is so much to do for every child from babies to teenagers on each and every floor. Regular and changing themed exhibitions which your child can get involved in, quiet room with big squashy cushions to sit and read in and the staff are absolutely great and so enthusiastic. Plenty of baby change facilities, lift to every floor and a lovely cafe. There is also a weekly bookworm babies or Story Party sessions which you can join in (for a charge). £5.50 for adults, £4.50 for children, under 4's free.
My top tips:  If you love it as much as we did, well worth buying annual pass for £20 per adult/£15 child/£49.50 family. See www.sevenstories.org.uk for more info on everything going on there
Star Rating:    
Submitted by:   divamum on 19 September 2009
 
 
 
 
 
     
 
 
 
     
 
 

 
 

 

 
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