For anyone who loves books and holds dear memories of the thrill of their bedtime stories as a youngster, Seven Stories in the Ouseburn Valley area of Newcastle is a must. I now love to get lost in the imagination of children’s stories with my wee boy so last time we were in the north east we had to visit.

An enthusiastic, energetic team run this uplifting centre that celebrates children’s books and illustrators. Books hang from the rafters, there are cosy spaces for independent reading, a family-friendly cafe and lots of wonderful original artwork from well-known illustrators like Nick Sharrat and Axel Sheffler.

Our visit in summer was well timed with the Dinosaur Roar exhibit on and my shy boy was following dino prints around the building and joining in a colouring competition within minutes. Even Grandad was happy to participate in a storytelling session.

Childhood stories are remembered for a lifetime and this wonderful museum has regularly changing exhibitions, visiting authors, events and book signings to inspire children of all ages. We have joined the mailing list and cannot wait to go back for the next adventure.

Images courtesy of Seven Stories