A tiny North East city built for big imaginations is returning to the region for the summer.
Tiny Toon, a mini play village inspired by Newcastle’s most iconic buildings, businesses and landmarks, will return to the city centre from July 20, offering six weeks of free fun for families until August 31.
Designed for children to explore, imagine and role-play, the child-sized cityscape features themed props, outfits and detailed, small-scale structures for hours of make-believe adventure.
This year’s line-up features seven key businesses and landmarks, including a mini Tyne & Wear Metro, Tyneside Cinema, and the Tyne Bridge.
New arrivals for 2026 include Pink Lane Bakery, Dakwala, Newcastle Building Society, and Tyneside Cinema.
Kitty Brown, marketing and events manager at NE1, said: "Tiny Toon is a fan-favourite here at NE1."
"We love creating miniature versions of Newcastle’s businesses, buildings, and landmarks for youngsters to enjoy.
"The activity transformed Old Eldon Square when it was introduced three summers ago and created a real destination for families to come and spend a whole day and to keep returning throughout the summer holidays.
"Now, we couldn’t imagine a summer without it."
"Tiny Toon works so well with Screen on the Green and our Stay and Play Zone, allowing families to move between the three zones, keeping kids entertained for hours, and all for free.
"We’re excited to work with all of our new and existing business partners to bring Tiny Toon to life for another year.
"It’s a fantastic opportunity for our businesses to connect directly with the public, and we can’t wait to welcome families back for a summer of imaginative play."
Sarah McCourt, head of communications and marketing at Nexus, said: "We are delighted to once again be part of this amazing family experience that offers so much excitement over the summer period."
"As Kids Go Free with fare-paying adults on Metro, it's brilliant that families from across the region can enjoy a fantastic free day out where kids can play and pretend to drive a Metro train - and travel there and back on the real thing."
Read More:
Nichola Henderson, head of branch network at Newcastle Building Society, said: "We’re really proud to be part of Tiny Toon for the first time this summer, especially following the opening our Monument branch just around the corner.
"Supporting our high streets and the communities we serve is at the heart of everything we do, and Tiny Toon is a great way to bring that commitment to life in a fun and imaginative way."
Families can visit Tiny Toon from 10am to 5pm Monday, Wednesday to Saturday; 9.30am to 5pm on Tuesdays; and 9am to 4.30pm on Sundays.
Share