Finding good places to study in Newcastle can be tricky if you haven’t been there long enough to know all the hidden gems, and everyone needs a different environment to get productive.
While the university facilities are amazing and offer plenty of resources for students, sometimes a change of scenery and a new study space is all you need to get your academic juices flowing. As always, we’re here to help! These are 10 of the best study spaces in Newcastle for you to try.
9 Best Study Spaces in Newcastle
Cafes
1. Tiny Tiny
This study space is a little bit out of the way, so you’ll have to be prepared to travel. However, its location is the reason it’s on our list because it is truly a hidden gem. Other than getting busy around lunchtime, it stays pretty quiet throughout the day, so one of the best study spaces in Newcastle to get your head down.
Get there early to nab a good spot, and enjoy the cosy atmosphere, complete with fairy lights and hanging plants. Like all other establishments, you’ll have to purchase a few coffees to keep your table, but the drinks aren’t too pricey.
9, 11 Carliol Square, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 6UF
Open 08:00-16:00
2. Café Nero
Okay, this is less of a hidden gem and more of a study space of convenience. Firstly, they open super early, which means you can get ahead of your work for the day, and there’s one on every corner which means you never have to walk far from campus to find one. If you haven’t already used your free month’s coffee from here when you download the Nero App, then you can actually get a free coffee every week (if you’re with O2), and the WIFI is always pretty good.
Addresses and opening times vary for each cafe
3. The Glasshouse International Centre for Music
A slightly more unique place to study, The Sage comes complete with live piano music and a great ambience for focus time. This is a free public space, with a café in the main area if you want to get food and drinks. However, it should be noted that there are no plug sockets, so make sure you charge your devices before your study sessions.
Sage, St Mary’s Square, Gateshead NE8 2JR
Open Wed: 09:30-22:00, Thu: 08:00-23:30, Fri-Sat: 09:00-23:30, Sun: 09:00-18:00
Outdoor Spaces
4. Exhibition Park
It’s no secret that spending time out in nature is a great way to manage your mental health and well-being at uni. And what better way to put this into practice than by using your local park as a regular study space? Weather permitting, of course. Exhibition Park, which is only a 15-minute walk from the University of Newcastle campus, is completely free and open 24 hours. Just remember to charge up your laptop before you go, as nature offers very few plug sockets!
Claremont Rd, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4PZ
Open 24 hours
Staying on the topic of beautiful outdoor study spaces, Jesmond Dene Waterfall is the perfect place to study if you’re interested in sitting by tranquil waters and writing your dissertation to the sounds of birds in the trees above. Another totally free study space in Newcastle – and open 24 hours – you can stay here to your heart’s content without the obligation to buy food or refreshments.
Ouse Burn, Tyne and Wear, UK
Open 24 hours
5. The beach
If you don’t mind the short metro ride to get there, then the beach could be the perfect place to study in Newcastle if you want a change of scenery. Regardless of the weather, it’s always nice to work with the sea breeze in your hair and the view of the waves lapping against the shore. There are plenty of cafes close to the sea that you can go into if the weather gets bad, like Rendezvous Café near Whitley Bay. Of course, the beach is free to use, but the cafes will require you to purchase some drinks for you to keep your table.
Check out Whitley Bay, Long Sands Beach or Sandhaven Beach for some studying by the shore.
On-Campus
6. Libraries
There’s nothing wrong with heading to the on-campus library for a bit of peace and quiet, and if you work better in a group, you’ll find collaborative study spaces where you can get on with group work or just bring your friends together for some dedicated study time. And for those last-minute essays that you’ve been putting off until the deadline, libraries at both the University of Newcastle and Northumbria University are open 24 hours a day in term time.
7. Your Student Union
The SU is a great study space if you want to mix work and socialising with your peers. Student unions usually have events going on in the evening and there are often cafés and bars for you to purchase drinks from throughout the day. Being on-campus, student unions are ideal study spaces to drop in between lectures.
8. At home
It seems like an obvious suggestion, but if you’re going to work from home, don’t work from your bed. It’s important to separate your relaxation space and your study space at home, so make sure you have a designated study space where you can focus. This can be as simple as a desk. Working from home means you can spend less on drinks at cafes to get you through the day and more on socialising with your friends. Much of the My Student Halls accommodations come with a designated on-site study space for students who want to separate their sleeping space and their study space.
That concludes our list of the best places to study in Newcastle. We hope it has given you the information you need to choose the perfect study space for you. For more student life recommendations, check out our guide to student life in Newcastle or browse our Newcastle student accommodation options.
