The Word
National Centre for the Written Word. A striking modern library with interactive digital exhibits, a fabrication lab, performance space, events programme, and a rooftop terrace. Free admission.
About The Word
The Word, National Centre for the Written Word, is a striking modern cultural venue at 45 Market Place in the heart of South Shields. It combines a public library with interactive digital exhibits and hands-on experiences designed for all ages, alongside a FabLab making and fabrication space. The venue hosts a busy programme of events, including the WRITE Festival of author talks, poetry, performances and creative workshops, and the annual Summer Reading Challenge for children. Facilities include a shop and a cafe. Admission is free, making it an accessible destination for reading, learning, family activities and community events in the town centre.
Featured in These Guides
Blog posts and guides that feature The Word.
Best Places to Work Remotely in South Shields
From The Word's library, cafe and free computer access in the Market Place to town-centre coffee shops and an Ocean Road social enterprise, here's where to take your laptop in South Shields.
Christmas Markets in South Shields
A twilight Christmas market at Hedworth Hall on 10 December, Saturday stalls in the Market Place, and North Shields Christmas Market a ferry ride away on 5 and 6 December 2026. Where to do your Christmas market shopping from South Shields.
Family Activities in South Shields: Days Out with the Kids
A days-out-with-the-kids roundup for South Shields, grouped by type: the coast, the parks, the big attractions, and rainy-day indoor options for every age.
The History of South Shields' High Street and Shopping Streets
How King Street, the Market Place and Ocean Road grew from Georgian fields into South Shields' shopping heart, and where the town centre is heading next.
Interesting Facts About South Shields
From a Roman fort whose Latin name means 'place of the Arabs' to a pub carved into a cliff by dynamite, South Shields is full of surprises. Here are our favourite facts.
South Shields 365: The £100m Plan Reshaping the Town Centre and Riverside
A quick explainer of South Shields 365, the long-running £100m Muse and South Tyneside Council masterplan behind The Word, the refreshed Market Place, the transport interchange and what riverside residents can expect next.
Local Museums and Archives Near South Shields
Arbeia Roman Fort, South Shields Museum, The Word, the Customs House, and Bede's World -- a guide to the museums, galleries, and archives in and near South Shields.
Historic Trades and Crafts of South Shields
Glass making, shipbuilding, alkali works, salt panning, and the marine trades -- the industries that built South Shields at the mouth of the Tyne.
South Shields Docks: A Maritime Heritage Guide
Mill Dam, the coal staithes, the Shields Ferry, the Volunteer Life Brigade, and shipbuilding on the Tyne -- the maritime heritage of South Shields at the mouth of the river.
Heritage Walking Trail: A Self-Guided Tour of South Shields
From the Roman fort at Arbeia to the Herd Groyne Lighthouse, a self-guided walking trail through nearly 2,000 years of history -- Romans, lifeboats, seafarers, and the mouth of the Tyne.
The Arab Quarter: Ocean Road's Multicultural Heritage
How Yemeni seafarers settled in South Shields from the 1890s, built one of the UK's first purpose-built mosques, created Ocean Road's famous food scene, and shaped the town's unique multicultural identity.
Arbeia Roman Fort: The Complete Visitor Guide
Everything you need to know before visiting Arbeia Roman Fort in South Shields, from reconstructed Roman buildings and museum highlights to opening hours, accessibility, and family activities.
A Weekend in South Shields
A two-day itinerary for visitors to South Shields, from the beaches and seafront to Arbeia Roman Fort, Ocean Road, and the Marsden coastal walk.
Things to Do in South Shields
From the Roman ruins at Arbeia to the beaches of Sandhaven and the theatres at The Customs House, here is your complete guide to things to do in South Shields.
Free Things to Do in South Shields
Roman ruins, golden beaches, a world-class library, free summer concerts, and more, here are the best free things to do in South Shields.
History of South Shields
From the Roman garrison at Arbeia to the Yemeni seafarers of the twentieth century, the history of South Shields is a story of trade, migration, and resilience at the mouth of the Tyne.
Catherine Cookson Trail in South Shields
Dame Catherine Cookson was born in South Shields and set her novels in the streets around Tyne Dock. Here is your guide to the places that shaped her life and her writing.
Summer Holiday Activities in South Shields
From golden beaches and a free funfair to Roman ruins and rainy-day soft play, here is your guide to keeping the family entertained in South Shields this summer.
Famous People from South Shields
From Dame Catherine Cookson to Sir Ridley Scott, Eric Idle, and Jade Thirlwall, South Shields has produced a remarkable number of famous people for a town of its size.
Rainy Day Activities in South Shields
Swimming, soft play, bowling, a world-class library, and a cave bar, here is what to do in South Shields when the weather turns.
Baby and Toddler Groups in South Shields
From council-run Family Hub sessions to sensory classes and church playgroups, here are the best baby and toddler groups in South Shields.
School Holidays in South Shields
South Tyneside Council term dates for 2026/27, plus tips on what to do during half term and summer holidays in South Shields.
Halloween in South Shields
Family Halloween in South Shields: spooky sessions at The Word, autumn walks by the coast and marine park, and haunted history at Arbeia Roman Fort.
Upcoming Events
Events that feature or are connected to The Word.
Lego and Duplo Bricks Playpit at The Word
10:00 AM - 3:30 PM · The Word, National Centre for the Written Word, Market Place, South Shields, NE33 1JF
Workshops with Lego Bricks: Brick Safari and Little Engineers
10:15 AM, 11:30 AM, 1:00 PM & 2:30 PM sessions · The Word, National Centre for the Written Word, Market Place, South Shields, NE33 1JF
South Tyneside Sings: Food Glorious Food
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM · The Word, National Centre for the Written Word, Market Place, South Shields, NE33 1JF
Teen Art Session: Paint a Dementor
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM · The Word, Coronation Street, South Shields, NE33 1DX
Halloween Children's Dance Sessions at The Word
1:30 PM & 3:00 PM · The Word, National Centre for the Written Word, Market Place, South Shields, NE33 1JF
Sunday Sessions with Jen Stevens
1pm to 3pm · The Word, Market Place, South Shields NE33 1JF
Festive Daytime Disco
1pm to 3pm · The Word, Market Place, South Shields NE33 1JF
Teen Art Session: Create the Northern Lights in Pastels
4pm to 6pm · The Word, Market Place, South Shields NE33 1JF
Past Events
Recent events connected to The Word.
Pitman Poets
16 October 2026 · The Word, National Centre for the Written Word, Market Place, South Shields, NE33 1JF
Wednesday Heritage Club
14 October 2026 · The Word, 45 Market Place, South Shields, NE33 1JF
A Thousand Tales Exhibition
12 October 2026 · The Word, 45 Market Place, South Shields, NE33 1JF
Making the Invisible Visible
9 October 2026 · The Word, 45 Market Place, South Shields, NE33 1JF
More Community in South Shields
Luna Blu NE
South Shields community interest company using creative arts therapy to support mental health and emotional wellbeing, with workshops for young people, adults, families and older people.
Arbeia Roman Fort
UNESCO World Heritage Site guarding the main sea route to Hadrian's Wall. Full-scale Roman reconstructions, a museum of significant finds, and free admission from late March to September.
The Customs House
South Tyneside's premier arts venue in a listed building overlooking the River Tyne. Home to a 440-seat theatre, cinema, art gallery, restaurant, and bar.
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What's On
An Afternoon with Ann Cleeves
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM · The Word, National Centre for the Written Word, Market Place, South Shields, NE33 1JF
Shipwrecks and Smugglers Family Trail at Souter Lighthouse
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM · Souter Lighthouse and The Leas, Coast Road, Whitburn, Tyne & Wear, SR6 7NH
South Shields Market
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM · Market Place, South Shields, NE33 1JF