After-hours ‘digital detox’ for adults this June at Discovery Museum – Discovery Nights: Unplugged    

Discovery Museum’s after-hours events just for adults, Discovery Nights: Unplugged returns Friday 26 June from 6pm – 9pm.

People are encouraged to ditch their phones and enjoy the museum at night for a digital detox and take part in mindful activities throughout the galleries like a sound bath, lacemaking, exploring archives, and playing a pub-style quiz.

Tickets cost £10 + booking fee per person, and the event is for people over 18. To book visit: https://www.northeastmuseums.org.uk/discoverymuseum/whats-on/discovery-nights

Daniel Stoker, Assistant Keeper of History at Discovery Museum and event co-organiser, said:

Last year’s digital detox event went down well so we thought we’d bring it back!

“With Discovery Nights we’ve created a space in the museum calendar purely for adults to engage in gentle, thoughtful activities. We’re offering something unusual for people in a unique historical setting where they can potter, chill out or just have a laugh with friends in the bar cafe.

At Discovery Nights: Unplugged visitors are being invited to relax, unwind, and enjoy a break from screens, distractions and the daily grind to draw, explore, relax, and craft. With bar and food available in the cafe, there is a host of non-digital activities on offer.

Activities on offer throughout the event include:

• A sound bath in the gallery – with crystal and Himalayan singing bowls for sensory immersion with blankets and eye masks
• Discover and even try a ‘red list’ heritage craft – bobbin lacemaking with Northumbria Lacemakers
• Explore material from Tyne & Wear Archives
• Join pub style quizzes in the cafe bar – with prizes too
• Bookmark stamping – make yourself a new bookmark to take home
• Mindful colouring – using material from The National Archives as inspiration
• Self-led sketching of clothing from the costume store
• Junk modelling, using everyday materials – and try out the Climate Change: It’s In Our Hands board game
• Book swap – bring up to five books to trade
• Vintage board games – be present with old-school board games for giggles and silliness
• Bar and food available in the cafe.

Each Discovery Nights event has a different theme – this year sees June’s Unplugged aiming for a digital detox, with the next event lined up for October this year and February 2027.

Advance booking is recommended for Discovery Nights. The museum fascia is eclipsed by scaffolding due to restoration works on the Grade II listed building, but the museum is operational as usual.

We recommend visitors traveling by car to allocate enough parking time, as Blandford Square parking has been affected by ongoing building works. The Waterloo St Car Park is only a two-minute walk from Discovery Museum.

Discovery Museum is just a few minutes’ walk from Central Station in Newcastle. It is open weekdays 10am – 4pm, weekends 11am – 4pm and closed on Bank Holidays. It is always free entry, although donations are welcome.