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Gibside
A Georgian landscape garden forged in an industrial past.
near Rowlands Gill, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear, NE16 6BG
Opening times for 30 April 2025
Asset Opening time Gibside 10:00 - 17:00 No booking requirement (excluding some events). Last entry into Gibside 1 hour before closing. Visitors must vacate the car park at closing time. Last orders in the main café 30 minutes before closing. All other food outlets operate reduced hours.
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Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Adult (18+) £18.70 £17.00 Child (5-17) under 5s free £9.40 £8.50 Family (2 Adults and up to 3 children) £46.80 £42.50 Family (one adult) £28.10 £25.50 Become a member and discover more than 500 places
- Adventure playground/play area
Strawberry Castle Play Area, the Low Ropes Course and the den building area can all be found along the family-friendly Explorer Trail.
- Bookshop
- Café
- Car park
- Coffee shop
- Cycle parking
Cycle parking is located in the Market Place, at the top of the wooden walkway and close to the main café.
- Dogs allowed
- Electric vehicle charging point
Six 11kW electric vehicle charging points are available in overflow car park. Chargers can be accessed using mobile app, RFID card, or contactless payment device. Visit our EV charging provider RAW Charging’s website to download the app in advance of your visit. Chargers are only available to visitors during property opening hours.
Electric vehicle charging point - more information- Family friendly
- Guided tour
- Kiosk
- Picnic area
- Restaurant
Gibside Pizza Pit is open 12pm-3pm on weekends and every day during school holidays.
- Toilet
Twenty accessible parking spaces. Accessible Tramper is available to book, call 07712 535938 in advance. Access bus available from Visitor Reception, subject to availability. Please ask Visitor Reception staff for more information.
- Accessible route and/or map
Ask at reception for more details.
- Accessible toilet
- Designated parking
- Drop-off point
- Induction loop
- Level access to food outlet
- Level access to shop
- Level access/terrain
- Powered mobility vehicle available
Accessible tramper hire is available. Please call 07712 535938 to book prior to your visit.
- Ramped access/slopes
- Seating available
- Stairclimber
- Steps/uneven terrain
- Transfer available
- Wheelchairs available
Front entrance gate - what3words: ///radio.composers.gasp
- By road
Entrance on B6314 between Burnopfield and Rowlands Gill; follow brown signs from A1 , taking exit on to A694 at north end of Metrocentre.
Find out about exploring car-free with Good Journey
Parking: Free parking. Six electric vehicle charging points are now available. See “Facilities” for more information. Drivers will require their own cables to charge.
- On foot
½ mile from Rowlands Gill. From Station Rd. join Burnopfield Rd. Cross the river Derwent and turn left into Gibside or choose the Derwent Walk Railway Path from Swalwell or Consett for a scenic route.
- By train
Travel by train to the Metrocentre (5 miles from Gibside) or Newcastle (8 miles from Gibside) and choose bus, taxi, cycle or foot to complete your journey.
- By bus
Frequent services from Newcastle or Gateshead. The X45 takes 30 mins from Eldon Square and Central Station, 25 mins from Gateshead Interchange and 10 mins from Metrocentre. It also takes 30 mins from Consett in the opposite direction. Alight on Station Road, Rowlands Gill. It’s then a 15-minute stroll to Gibside. Buses also from Stanley (15mins).
- Cycling
Cycle parking is in the Market Place, at the top of the wooden walkway and close to the Café.
Gibside is on the scenic Tyne Derwent Way, a 9-mile-route that runs from St. Mary’s Heritage Centre in the centre of Gateshead, along the River Tyne and then through the Derwent Valley to Gibside. The route is mostly traffic-free.
It is also on Route 14 of the National Cycle Network (NCN14). Find Gibside ½ mile from Rowland’s Gill. Follow signs from Station Road to join Burnopfield Road. Cross the River Derwent over a small bridge shared with vehicular traffic to find the entrance.
Plan your route to Gibside using the CycleStreets journey planner via the ‘by bicycle’ link below. (This journey planner uses OpenStreetMap data which is generally excellent but accuracy cannot be guaranteed. If you come to a footpath or other cycle-prohibited track, please don’t ride on it).
Cycle hire is available from several places in Newcastle. Please view this webpage for details: https://newcastlegateshead.com/blog/cycling-routes-in-newcastlegateshead
- Car-free
Enjoy 10% off in our food and beverage outlets when you arrive car-free.
Planning your visit
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Choose car-free travel to Gibside for 10% discount in the café
To encourage travelling by sustainable transport, we're offering visitors who choose car-free travel to Gibside 10% discount in the café.
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Visiting Gibside with your dog
Gibside is a three pawprint rated place. There are 15 miles of paths for you and your dog to explore, lots of facilities and they’re even welcome inside the coffee shop.
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Eating at Gibside
There’s something for everyone at Gibside’s cafés, including freshly made sandwiches, wood-fired pizzas, kids' lunchboxes and, of course, really good coffee.
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Educational visits to Gibside
Gibside is the perfect place to bring a group of young people from schools, universities, Brownies and Scouts. Spark their creativity, build confidence, develop problem solving skills and enjoy nature.
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PDF
Gibside map
Featuring 4 walking trails, places to visit, comfort facilities, access notes and dog litter bins
Highlights
Landscape garden
Georgian landscape garden with valley views, woodland, Walled Garden, Stables, and grand tree-lined Avenue leading all the way from the Chapel to the Column to Liberty.
Outdoor play
Be king or queen of Strawberry Castle play area, build a den, or challenge your family at the Low Ropes course. There's plenty of ways for kids (and big kids) to play at Gibside.
Eating
Hot and cold drinks, hot food and light snacks available to sit in or take away. All food outlets are dog-friendly. Outdoor picnic areas for packed lunches.
Walking
Four trails for differing abilities feature vista views across the Derwent valley and river. Walking routes stretch over acres of landscape garden, with orienteering and geocaching opportunities.
Seasonal events
For families and adults, join outdoor events to get you closer to nature or learn more about local history.
Second-hand bookshop
Cosy bookshop by the café, selling a wide variety of pre-loved books.
Things to see and do
Activity
Things to see and do at Gibside
Discover picturesque historic ruins set in a Georgian landscape garden, explore miles of peaceful walking trails and enjoy outdoor play for families.
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Activities for children and families at Gibside
Gibside is the ultimate outdoor playground for families. Whether you're climbing, swinging, or exploring, there's adventure at every turn. Wander the Explorer Trail, a 2.2-mile family-friendly route packed with nature and exciting play areas, from Strawberry Castle to den building and a low ropes challenge. Fancy a wild workout? Try the West Wood or swing through the trees on a rope swing! There are seasonal events, tons of space to roam, and even birthday parties to make your special day extra fun. Hungry? Grab a kid-friendly meal, enjoy a picnic, or treat yourself to ice cream while little tots discover in the café play area and big kids compete in table tennis. It’s fresh air, fun, and freedom for kids and grown-ups alike—so come and play!
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The wildlife and garden at Gibside
From peaceful strolls through the Walled Garden, where fragrant plants and seasonal vegetables grow, to adventures around the furthest reaches of the estate to spot wildlife, ancient trees and vista views.
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Celebrating blossom at Gibside
Find ways to connect with nature at Gibside during the Festival of Blossom.
Spotlight events
May half term at Gibside
Uncover hidden facts, crack clever clues, and put your maths and history skills to the test. Grab your detective hat and set off on a scavenger hunt at Gibside!
Top trails
Trail
Explorer family-friendly trail at Gibside
Enjoy a circular walk in Gibside's 600-acre woodland that's fun for the whole family, getting active in natural play areas and exploring the best of the estate.
Trail
Valley Views trail at Gibside
A challenging 4.4-mile walk through the estate at Gibside that takes in far-reaching views of the Derwent Valley.
Trail
The Liberty trail at Gibside
This route meanders around the landscape garden created by George Bowes and now in our care. You'll see grand historic features that play a huge part in Gibside's story and garden design.
Trail
Wonders of Nature trail at Gibside
Explore woodlands, meadows, wetlands and along the riverside, with estate highlights. You'll see nature at work and, if you are lucky, spot some wildlife at play.
Eating
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Eating at Gibside
There’s something for everyone at Gibside’s cafés, including freshly made sandwiches, wood-fired pizzas, kids' lunchboxes and, of course, really good coffee.
Places to stay
Lighthouse Keeper's Cottage 2
A cliff-top cottage perching in the shadows of the iconic red and white Souter Lighthouse.
Laundry Cottage
The perfect location for long days exploring the outdoors as well as rest and relaxation amongst nature.
Bolt Cottage
A cosy stone cottage in the beautiful grounds of the Wallington estate, perfect for walkers, cyclists and wildlife lovers.
Rothley Lakehouse
A luxury lakefront cottage that’s steeped in history and surrounded by stunning views.
Upcoming events
Event
10K & 5K trail run hosted by Wild Deer Events
Join Wild Deer Events for a trail run and enjoy the sights of Gibside after hours.
Event
North East in Blossom 2025: Blossom and Blooms walk at Gibside
Learn more about blossom and gardening on this self-guided nature walk around Gibside.
Event
History talk - an introduction to the history of Gibside
Get a taste for the history of Gibside with a Guided Walk volunteer.
Event
History walk - the story of Gibside
Dive into the history of Gibside and take a walk with a Guided Walk volunteer around the 18th century landscape garden.
Event
North East in Blossom 2025: meet the beekeepers at Gibside
Drop in to meet our resident beekeepers and learn about the role of honeybees as pollinators during the Festival of Blossom.
Event
North East in Blossom 2025: Join a pollinator count at Gibside
Take part in a pollinator survey on a walk with Gibside rangers.
About Gibside
An escape into nature on the edge of Newcastle, Gibside is a Grade I-listed Park and Garden that offers miles of walking trails through secluded woodland and views across the Derwent Valley.
A haven for wildlife, the ruin of Gibside Hall is a roost for bats, the Stables a nesting site for swallows, and the Octagon Pond a home for great-crested newts. Stand between the columns of Gibside Chapel and gaze down the oak tree lined Avenue towards the Column to Liberty to get a sense of the grandeur of the original Georgian landscape garden.
The Explorer trail is dedicated to families, from the adventure play area through the woods to a low ropes course and den building area.
There are seasonal events and regular guided tours for those who want to learn more about the history of the Bowes family, ancestors of the British Royal Family and creators of the landscape that we see today.
For those looking to unwind, curl up with a coffee in our café or second-hand bookshop.
We welcome all dogs to Gibside and know that it's a great place for them to enjoy. We do ask that they are kept on leads and that you clean up after them. Learn more about visiting with your dog.
History
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History of Gibside
The wealthiest heiress in Georgian times, horseback abductions, divorces and illegitimate children are just a part of Gibside’s incredible story.
Our work
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Wildlife conservation at Gibside
Learn about how we keep Gibside thriving and discover how we’re working to make a happy and healthy environment for wildlife, people and plants.
Support us
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Volunteering at Gibside
Interested in volunteering at Gibside? Here's all you need to know about helping us care for this special place, and how to apply if you'd like to get involved.