- You are here:
-
Home
-
Our Events
- Event FAQs
Event Information
We run about 700 public events at the observatory each year which means we are open for our visitors almost every night of the year. Our observatory events cater for all levels of knowledge and for all ages from 6 to 106.
Our Main Evening Events run each night about 8pm for three hours and include a tour of the observatory and a main presentation which will be about 40 minutes. The title of these events refers to the theme of this talk, so we cover topics as diverse as the aurora, one of our most popular nights, through to specific themed planet nights, such as our ever popular Jupiter and Saturn evenings. We will spend as much time as possible using the fantastic array of telescopes we have on site to observe the cosmos. These events are usually in full darkness to maximise time on the telescopes, but during the summer months will be partial daylight and guests may enjoy summer sights such as beautiful sunsets and enigmatic noctilucent clouds. Our Weekend Late Night events have the same format as the main events, but are in the late night slots of Fridays, Saturdays and some Thursdays. These events are our premium events so have limited guest numbers and have other perks. We also run family events such as Young Explorers and Space Kids, and special events such as Relaxed Astronomy to make sure there is something for everyone. Please note we are only open to the public for the events listed on the calendar and we are very limited on space, so you need to have a ticket purchased in advance to attend.
If you have any additional questions you can contact us by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call our office (open during normal office hours) on 0191 265 5510.
Please be aware that we allow visitors to record film and take photographs throughout their visits and these may be posted on social media. We take photographs, and film videos and time lapses for use on social media. We also have password protected IP cameras on site to monitor the weather. Only staff are permitted to access images from the livestream.
We are now accepting group bookings on our public events. The website will allow up to 12 tickets per order, if your group is larger than this please get in touch so we can make sure we best tailor your experience. Please note orders of more than six tickets our cancellation terms go up to 14 days' notice. If you'd prefer to have the facility to yourself for your group you can find information on private events here: Private Bookings
PLease note we currenty have no wheelchair accessible toilet onsite - we hope to have this resolved soon. We have two unisex toilets on site. Please be careful not to drop anything down the loo as it will have to become part of the ecosystem! We have no running water so we provide hand sanitiser for cleaning your hands.
All of our events go ahead whatever the weather unless severe weather such as deep snow prevent access to the observatory. When it is cloudy or raining it will not be possible to observe through the telescopes so we will run our well-rehearsed backup plan of extra talks and other activities to bring the universe alive and answer all your astronomical questions. During adverse weather, we keep a close eye on the weather forecast and updates regarding road closures, etc. and will cancel the event if we deem it unsafe to continue. We never take the decision to cancel lightly but if we do have to cancel an event we will notify you via email, text and phone call and offer you the choice of either a full refund or a voucher to rebook. We will contact you by the number and email address you've given us when you booked so make sure you're available on the day to take our call. We will also update our Facebook page and also notify people via Twitter to let you know if an event is cancelled. We strongly recommend all visitors to check local weather and road access updates before setting off as the area is remote and conditions can deteriorate rapidly without warning. You can cancel your booking for a transfer voucher up to 7 days before the date of your event, full details available here: https://kielderobservatory.org/contact/terms.
All events are ticketed and tickets are purchased in advance through our website calendar (https://kielderobservatory.org/our-events). We do not sell tickets through third parties. When your booking is complete, the website will immediately send your tickets as a PDF attachment to the confirmation email. If you do not see this email please check your spam folder, then contact the office to check your booking has been confirmed. Please double check the time and date of your booking as they are only available for a specific event! To help the environment we would appreciate if you didn’t print your tickets, instead you can save them to your phone and show them when you arrive at your event, but please remember to download it before arrival as there is very little mobile signal in the area. We are unable sell tickets on the door.
o To help the environment we would appreciate if you didn’t print your tickets, instead you can save them to your phone and show them when you arrive at your event, but please remember to download it before arrival as there is very little mobile signal in the area. If you don't have this, we will still be able to validate your booking at the door with your name and mobile phone number.
o Warm clothes. The observatory is located in a remote part of Northumberland and it gets extremely cold. Do not underestimate how cold you might get – bring your warmest clothing and footwear. We have a wood burning stove keeping the classroom warm and cosy and serve a hot drink during main and late events.
o Suitable torch - red light is ideal for getting around under our exceptionally dark skies, but you are also welcome to use any normal torch such as a mobile phone to help you from the car park to the observatory, all we ask is that you point it downwards so that it doesn't interfere with other guests' night vision
o For refreshments, the observatory has a tuck shop selling astronomically themed sugar (Mars Bars, Milky Ways...) and we are able to accept cash or card payments for these items. Just one thing to remember, we make the best hot chocolate you have ever tasted... one not to miss!
o In summer (about May-September) we may have a lot of midges on site depending on the weather; we have lots of insect repellent on site for our guests to use or you may want to bring your own.
o An open mind... your imagination is the only limit to what you will discover at Kielder Observatory.
Please arrive at the top car park next to the observatory about 15 minutes before the scheduled start time of your event. When you arrive at the Observatory, please wait inside your car until a member of staff escorts you to the building.
Plan your journey to allow plenty of time for the local country roads and driving up the 2-mile access track to the car park which has a 15mph speed limit. The access track is opened approximately 30 minutes before the start of each event, unless there is an before yours in which case a member of staff will be marshalling traffic flow and will give you directions when to drive up. If you arrive early and the bottom gate (about 100 metres from the main road) is locked, please wait in the bottom car park until a member of staff opens the gate. We recommend you check weather and road closure updates for your route before setting off.
Update - we currently have no wheelchair accessile toilet onsite, we hope to have this resolved soon. The observatory is all level or ramped except for one of our telescope turrets which has six steps. The other two telescope rooms on site are wheelchair accessible and the Sir Pat 16” telescope has a low mounting for wheelchair users. If you are a wheelchair user, please leave a note on your event booking, or drop the office a message, prior to your visit so the event team on the evening are aware. The car park is approx. 80 metres from the observatory building and the surface is not tarmacked, so anyone who cannot manage the walk can be dropped off at the observatory entrance before the car is parked in the car park. If they are the driver they can park the car next to the observatory however we are limited on space so please let us know beforehand so we can ensure everyone gets the access they need. We run special Relaxed Astronomy events for those who may need slower, quieter events to feel comfortable.
You can view a 360 Virtual Tour of our site here: Kielder Observatory (mpembed.com)
We have worked with AccessAble so you can find out about our facilities before you visit. AccessAble’s surveyors assessed our venue to create a Detailed Access Guide. Check out the Detailed Access Guide to Kielder Observatory.
Smoking is only permitted in the designated smoking area in our car park. There is a designated cigarette butt disposal bin - Kielder is a working forest so please dispose of butts responsibly.
