Planning your visit

Following the announcement by the Health Secretary and local authorities that the North East will have tighter restrictions to control the spread of Coronavirus from 18 September, we would like to clarify that the Laing Art Gallery will remain open with social distancing and sanitation measures in place to ensure the safety of our visitors and staff. 

To comply with these new restrictions, we ask that you only book tickets/visit our venues as an individual household (or your support bubble) of up to six people.

If you are planning to visit from a very high alert (Tier 3) area please note and comply with government advice: ‘we are advising people not to travel into or out of an area if it has been categorised as a very high alert level area. This is part of wider measures to help manage the risk of transmission.'

We are now open and excited to welcome you back. We want to make your visit as safe and enjoyable as possible. This means there will be some changes to the way you visit.

Please be aware that some areas of the Gallery will be closed until it is safe to open them. 

These include:

• The Under 5s area
• Gallery C

We are encouraging people to book tickets for the Art Deco by the Sea exhibition online so we can manage visitor numbers and maintain social distancing. However there are also tickets available at the Gallery each day.

Please note, you may have to wait until numbers in the Gallery have reduced to a safe level for entry.

Click here to book tickets

If you are looking to make a school or college group booking please contact the Learning team who will be able to discuss your visit requirements directly with you.

No ticket is needed if you are only visiting the free displays, shop or cafe.

Booking tickets for Art Deco by the Sea exhibition

• You can find information about prices for the exhibition here. 
• Following the announcement by the Health Secretary and local authorities that the North East will have tighter restrictions to control the spread of Coronavirus from 18 September, we ask that you only book tickets/visit our venues as an individual household (or your support bubble) of up to six people.
• There will also be tickets available to purchase at the Gallery on the date of your visit, but you may need to wait until the number of people in the exhibition is at a safe level before you can be admitted.
• Groups of 10 or more people, please contact us in advance to book your visit by emailing info@laingartgallery.org.uk or by calling (0191) 278 1611. 

Click here to book tickets.

• To comply with government guidance you will be required to wear a face covering to enter the gallery. (This does not apply to under 11s or people excluded due to health conditions).
• You may need to queue for a short time while tickets are checked. 
• To maintain social distancing, please do not pass your phone or printed tickets to our staff. You may be asked for your name and booking number.
• In order to help reduce the risk of a local outbreak of coronavirus we are legally required to take contact details of visitors who do not book in advance or use the NHS track and trace app, as well as recording the time of entering our venue. In line with guidance issued by the government, we will keep your details for 21 days. We will only share them with NHS Test and Trace, if asked, in the event of a fellow visitor testing positive for coronavirus.
• We will also be displaying NHS QR code posters to make it easier for you to check-in. You will need to download the NHS app onto your mobile phone before you can scan the QR code. The app is available on Andriod's Google Play or Apple's App Store - search for NHS Covid-19. If you check-in using the QR code then you do not need to share your details with us. Your cooperation in helping us to keep our visitors, staff and the wider community safe is greatly appreciated.

• To comply with government guidance you will be required to wear a face covering to enter the gallery. (This does not apply to under 11s or people excluded due to health conditions).
• Please follow government advice around social distancing when you visit and follow the one-way route around the gallery. Any children in your group must be supervised at all times.
• Please read the new signs providing guidance and our staff and volunteers will also be happy to help you adjust to the new way of visiting.
• Our staff will greet you at a distance. They will be wearing facemasks or visors and we have new screens at our till points.
• Unfortunately some spaces are closed until it is safe to open them including the Under 5s area and Gallery C.
• If possible, please use contactless payment when visiting.
• We encourage you to use the hand sanitisers around the site.
• We have increased cleaning in all public areas and especially in areas of high contact.
• If you have any of the symptoms of coronavirus, or if you have been in contact with anyone that has the virus in the last 14 days, please don’t visit. 

Covid19 has had a huge impact on our income. Now more than ever, we believe culture sits firmly at the heart of the North East - please help us keep it there. If you would like to support us you can donate here.

Thank you and stay safe.