Know before you go
The practical bit
- Getting there
- St Mary's Square, Gateshead Quays, NE8 2JR. Newcastle Central is about a 20-minute walk over the Tyne, High Level, Swing or Millennium Bridge. Gateshead Metro is about 10 minutes' walk, and with a concert ticket Metro travel to and from Gateshead (and the Shields Ferry) is free for two hours before and after.
- Parking
- Car park postcode NE8 2BA, run by Euro Car Parks: free for up to an hour, £5.95 all day (until 8am next day), card or app only, no cash. Blue Badge spaces are free: scan your badge at the machine. Taxi drop-off is beside the West (Tyne Bridge) entrance.
- Capacity
- Sage One, the main hall, seats up to 1,640 on three levels; Sage Two, a ten-sided flexible space, seats up to 330 and holds up to 600. You can pick your own seat for most Sage One and Sage Two shows.
- Tickets
- Box Office by the West entrance, from 12pm on days the building is open, or on 0191 443 4661. Building and box office hours change daily with the programme and are published week by week on the Your Visit page.
- House rules
- Bags are checked on arrival. Backpacks of any size, and bags bigger than A4, go in the free cloakroom. Photos and video for personal use are fine during performances; tripods, sound recorders and DSLRs need permission first.
- Good to know
- Bus stops nearest the venue are affected by route changes and the Tyne Bridge restoration, so check Go North East before you travel. The building is up a hill from the quayside.
- Official
- Official site and tickets → (theglasshouseicm.org)
Checked on 20 October 2026 against the venue's own site. Times, prices and routes change: confirm before you travel.
In the room
The experience
You cross the Tyne on foot, and the building meets you halfway: a long, curved swell of glass and steel lying on the Gateshead bank, holding the last of the daylight long after the river has gone dark. Inside the shell, the halls are separate structures, insulated from one another and from the world, so the sound of the concourse stops dead at the door. The main hall has Vienna's Musikverein in its bloodline and you feel it when a single violin line reaches the back row without effort, as if the concrete itself, mixed with tiny air pockets to soften the edges, were leaning in to listen. It is a serious room dressed as a spectacular one. Most visitors photograph the outside. Go in, sit down, and let the bridge lights fade from your eyes. The house dims. The Tyne goes quiet.
Insider tip
Walk in knowing
Show your concert ticket at Gateshead Metro station: it gives free travel to and from the station for two hours before and after the concert, including the Shields Ferry. Coming from Newcastle Central on foot, cross by the Millennium Bridge and allow about 20 minutes.
Why it fits
Why it is in the atlas
It is Foster and Partners' landmark on the Tyne and one of the north of England's great modern halls. The main hall was modelled on Vienna's Musikverein, and the building is made of three separate insulated structures so noise and vibration cannot travel between them. What it does to sound is keep it clean and controlled, which suits a chamber orchestra like the Royal Northern Sinfonia, based here.
Plan the trip
When to go, hours, getting there
Best time to go
Concerts run through the year, from the Royal Northern Sinfonia's classical season to contemporary nights. Evenings are best: the Millennium Bridge is lit up in colour and the walk over from Newcastle Quayside is half the occasion. Check the official what's on listing.
Hours
Hours change daily with the programme and are published week by week on the official Your Visit page. The Box Office counter by the West entrance opens from 12pm on days the building is open (later on some event days); phone lines run from 12pm, on 0191 443 4661.
Getting there
St Mary's Square, Gateshead Quays, NE8 2JR. Newcastle Central Station is about a 20-minute walk, over the Tyne Bridge, High Level Bridge, Swing Bridge or Millennium Bridge. Gateshead Metro station is about 10 minutes' walk, and a concert ticket gives free Metro travel to and from Gateshead (including the Shields Ferry) for two hours before and after. Car park postcode NE8 2BA; taxi drop-off beside the West entrance. Newcastle International Airport is about 30 minutes by Metro.
Straight from the source
Official site and tickets
Dates and tickets come from the venue itself. Opens theglasshouseicm.org in a new tab.
FAQ
Questions people ask
Is The Glasshouse the same as Sage Gateshead?
Yes. Sage Gateshead was renamed The Glasshouse International Centre for Music on 13 September 2023. The building, halls and orchestra are the same, and the main halls are still called Sage One and Sage Two.
Where do I park for The Glasshouse?
Use postcode NE8 2BA for the venue's own car park, run by Euro Car Parks. Up to an hour is free; all day (until 8am the next day) is £5.95, paid by card or app, not cash. Blue Badge holders park free by scanning their badge at the machine.
Is the Metro free with a Glasshouse ticket?
Yes. Show your concert ticket and you can travel to and from Gateshead Metro station, including on the Shields Ferry, free for two hours before and two hours after the concert. Gateshead station is about a 10-minute walk.
How many seats does The Glasshouse have?
Sage One, the main hall, seats up to 1,640 on three levels. Sage Two is a flexible ten-sided space seating up to 330, with room for up to 600. You can choose your own seat for most shows in both.
How do I get to The Glasshouse from Newcastle Central Station?
Walk about 20 minutes across the river, using the Tyne Bridge, High Level Bridge, Swing Bridge or the Millennium Bridge. Or take the Metro to Gateshead station and walk about 10 minutes.
Can I take a backpack into The Glasshouse?
No. Backpacks of any size, and bags larger than A4, must go in the free cloakroom, and all bags are checked on arrival. Tell the venue ahead if you have medical or access needs.
Is The Glasshouse in Newcastle or Gateshead?
It is in Gateshead, on the south bank of the River Tyne at Gateshead Quays, directly across the water from Newcastle Quayside.
Stay
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