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Throughout 2025
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![The first shields on the banks of the river in 1225AD]()
North Shields, 800 years in the making: Exhibition at the Old Low Light Heritage Centre
A journey from the town’s humble beginnings with a small settlement of shiels – fishermen’s huts through wars and conflict, innovation and prosperity.
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North Shields regeneration video
North Tyneside Council’s Head of Regeneration and Culture Vicky Cuthbertson outlines our Ambition for North Shields in this video from Sirastudio and I Love North Shields.
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North Shields Murals Project
Bringing the walls of North Shields to life. Working with artists to create a series of high-quality public murals that capture the history and spirit of the town.
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![A front cover of the I Love North Shields magaxine with a lady with curly hair and glasses sitting at a cafe table with a coffee reading a magazine]()
I Love North Shields
Magazine editions dedicated to North Shields’ 800th anniversary made by and for the community of North Shields, featuring events, art and culture, interviews and much more.
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North Shields Voices
Exciting plans in progress
A community archive project by Remembering The Past, capturing a snapshot of life in North Shields in 2025, with an exhibition in the Autumn.
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Gannin' Shoppin'
Exciting plans in progress
Discover the fascinating history of shopping in North Shields and celebrate today's thriving independent businesses through an exciting collaboration between Remembering The Past and Northumbria University.
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![An image of the River Tyne at the Fish Quay at night with lights reflecting on the water and the words North Shields Music Scene in white text]()
North Shields Music Scene
A video from Sira Studio in collaboration with I Love North Shields featuring some leading lights from North Shields’ booming music scene
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![Musician Liam Fender sitting singing at a piano with other musicians in the background]()
800 Years: Here We Are
A music film documentary celebrating the rich musical heritage of North Shields, produced and directed by Northeast Fuse and XL Creative Media with musician Liam Fender and local performers.
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North Shields Textile Map
Join artist Gaynor Devaney to help create this special textile map of North Shields, a legacy of the town’s 800th anniversary year.
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Photos of old North Shields
Throughout the year, Discover North Tyneside will share some of its best, newly digitised collection of photographs at North Shields library.
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![The Molten Building in North Shields with the sun rising behind it, half light, cars and parked in the forerground and old fashioned street lights in silhouette, you can just see the pier lighthouse in the background]()
The Molten Building
Film produced by Sira Studio Ltd, North Shields in association with I Love North Shields, to celebrate all the great things happening around Fish Quay and North Shields in 2025.
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The Living River
Exciting plans in progress
A unique and immersive view of the town’s history through the lens of the River Tyne. This short video will focus on the river’s perspective of North Shields, and how it has shaped the town’s identity and development.
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North Shields By Rail
Throughout June, North Tyneside Steam Railway is celebrating North Shields 800 with an exhibition, talks by guest speakers and now a visiting locomotive!
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Deeds, Words and Danger
Exciting plans in progress
Deeds, Words & Danger is a theatre heritage project inspired by suffragette Norah Balls, empowering women and girls in North Shields through drama and storytelling. Led by Workie Ticket Theatre.
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The Exchange 1856
Music, big screen events, theatre, dance and comedy in a beautifully-restored Grade II listed building in the heart of North Shields. Explore the full programme.
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Discover North Tyneside
Discover North Tyneside is the local studies service. It has a wide variety of photos and information about North Shields, and family history resources to help you find your North Shields ancestors.
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Stephenson Steam Railway
Travel back in time to when coal was king at the Stephenson Steam Railway. Take a trip on a two-mile industrial railway and learn about the development of the steam locomotive.
All Events
North Shields Murals Project
Bringing the walls of North Shields to life! Celebrating 800 years with inspiring murals that capture our town’s spirit and story.
North Shields, 800 years in the making - exhibition
Based at the Old Low Light Heritage Centre, a new permanent exhibition will explore the heritage and history of North Shields from 1225 to the present day.
Exhibition: By the Lido Wall
Kitty McKay is a contemporary artist celebrated for her playful, innovative use of Plasticine. By The Lido Wall pays tribute to William Harbutt, the North Shields-born inventor of Plasticine. The installation transforms Globe Gallery into a reimagined Plasticine replica of the long-lost Hawkeys Lane pool.
I Love North Shields
A magazine made by and for the community of North Shields, featuring events, art and culture, interviews and much more!
Deeds, Words and Danger
Deeds, Words & Danger is a theatre heritage project inspired by suffragette Norah Balls, empowering women and girls in North Shields through drama and storytelling. Led by Workie Ticket Theatre.
North Shields 800 Celebration Parade
Grand Finale of the 2025 Anniversary Year.
Sign up now for art, movement and music workshops for community groups
Deeds, Words and Danger – Shaping the Future of Women in North Shields
Join Workie Ticket Theatre for Deeds, Words and Danger - a free, creative workshop celebrating 800 years of North Shields women. Through discussion and interactive activities, we’ll explore how women’s voices, past and present, can help shape a safer and more equal future for our town.
RNLI Christmas Carol Service
Annual Christmas Carol service followed by refreshments including tea/coffee, mulled wine and mince pies
Gannin’ Shoppin’
Discover the fascinating history of shopping in North Shields and celebrate today's thriving independent businesses through an exciting collaboration between Remembering The Past and Northumbria University. This exhibition and research project will delve into the town's commercial past and explore what people want from local high streets today.
North Shields Christmas Market
North Shields Christmas Market will see over 70 stalls, street food vendors, festive bars and Christmas carols sung by local school choirs.
Made in Meadow Well
A celebration of all things Meadow Well. Photo exhibition, animation and film. Celebrate the work of The Meadows, the Bay Foodbank, The Phoenix Detached Youth Project and Cedarwood.
North Shields Voices
North Shields Voices is the result of a six-month project by Remembering The Past to record the spirit of the town in 2025. Local residents from across the town were interviewed by our volunteers and their stories, memories and thoughts on the town recorded for the community archive.
Shiels’ Ambassadors
Shiels’ Ambassadors is a schools artist in residency programme open to schools in North Shields.
Live Now Play Later North Shields
Live Now Play Later in partnership with Becoming The Artist, will be heading to North East for the first time on 22nd November for a night introducing music from some of the very best new UK songwriters. With live music from 7:30pm until late from Amber Leigh Irish, HATi, Neontown, L’Rockett & Talk Like Tigers.
An afternoon with Ann Cleeves
Award winning, bestselling, library supporting Ann Cleeves in conversation with Vic Watson of Bay Tales.
Stories of the North Shields Dollies
Wooden dollies are part of a long-standing tradition in North Shields. Join us for this historically informative, entertaining and amusing presentation. For ages 16+.
Nile Street Party
A FREE street party filled with music and creativity to celebrate the community spirit that is helping to revamp this historic street.
Artist Talk: Conrad Milne with Local Historian David Scholey Discover the Stories Behind the North Shields 800 Art Panels
Join artist Conrad Milne and historian David Scholey for an engaging talk exploring the history behind the 800 North Shields artwork. David shares local stories and historical context, making connections through Conrad’s work.
Se Gæst | The Guest
Set against the backdrop of the iconic Fish Quay – a place shaped by the sea and centuries of trade and migration – this powerful performance fuses dance, live music and storytelling to explore identity, belonging and community in today’s world.
North Shields Reads
An initiative to encourage as many residents of North Shields as possible to read the same book by a local author at the same time.
From Our Streets to Our Seas: Tales of Heritage, Memory and Myth
This special evening, produced by Tyneside Cinema and Pinwheel, invites you to celebrate and share in stories of North Shields Fish Quay, told through film, music, photography and more. Join us for tales of the people, places and legends of this historic harbour and we’ll journey together through time and tide.
800 Years: Here We Are
A music film documentary celebrating the rich musical heritage of North Shields, produced and directed by Northeast Fuse and XL Creative Media with musician Liam Fender and local performers.
Pop Up Cinema at the Beacon Centre
A free Pop-Up Cinema will take place at The Beacon Shopping Centre from 23–25 October, open daily from 11am to 4pm. The event showcases a series of short films that reflect the town’s rich heritage, creativity and community spirit.
North Shields 800: Telling Our Town’s Story
Public preview of the North Shields 800 artwork by artist Conrad Milne.
A chance to view the artworks up close and discuss with the artist.
Our Shields, Our Stories: Portrait & Heritage Day at the Linskill Centre
Celebrate Our Shields, Our Stories at the Linskill Centre’s Portrait & Heritage Day. Free community event with art, heritage talks, and creative family activities.
Photography competition: What does Meadow Well mean to you?
Take pictures of people, places or your favourite local dog.
Take snaps of what Meadow Well means to you personally.
Win a camera and have your pictures displayed at an exhibition and at The Meadows community centre.
Character Building: Bring North Shields to Life in Comic Form
Join us for a one off event with Chris and Simon Donald, creators of the legendary Viz comic. In this lively session, the Donald brothers will reveal how they dream up their famous characters and work with you to create a brand-new comic marking North Shields 800.
Memories of Hawkeys Lane Swimming Pool
Do you remember Hawkeys Lane Swimming Pool?
Artist Kitty McKay is gathering memories for her North Shields 800 exhibition this October. Can you help?
North Tyneside 10K Road Race
A 10k Road race from the Parks Sports Centre to St Mary’s Lighthouse, welcoming more than 2,000 runners.
Painting with Plasticine workshops - September
Supported by Historic England as part of the North Shields 800 celebrations, you’re invited to take part in a series of creative workshops at Globe Gallery, led by artist-in-residence Kitty McKay.
North Tyneside Together
North Tyneside Together brings communities together through live music, entertainment, rides, workshops, food stalls and children’s activities – a perfect way to round off the summer holidays.
C Aware Cancer Signs and Symptoms and screening event
Are you a fisherman, retired fishermen or from a fishing family? This event is for you! Join C Aware to talk about cancer awareness, identify cancer signs and symptoms and screening options.
NXS800 - A Symphony in 8 Movements
NXS800 is a new iteration of an experimental symphony written by North Shields born music producer Geoff Kirkwood, aka Man Power, and noted musician and orchestral arranger Fiona Brice. The piece features the North Shields Temporary Philharmonic Orchestra, an ensemble of global players formed specifically for this event.
Dinky Dinosaur Train Rides
Enjoy a heritage train ride alongside a bunch of baby dinosaurs. Learn all about these adorable dinosaurs from their handlers in this experience that is both educational and entertaining for all the family.