Check out all the need-to-know information below on how to get here, where to stay, what to eat and accessibility to the site.
If there’s something we haven’t covered, then please drop us an email at innovationfestival@nwl.co.uk and we’ll try to answer your questions as quickly as possible.
The Innovation Festival will be held at Newcastle Racecourse situated on the beautiful estate of High Gosforth Park, Newcastle.
The festival site is a large area, approximately 840,000ft2 / 81,400m2, combining outdoor activities, covered marquees and indoor spaces.
The grounds are made up of solid paved areas, gravel tracks, grass and a softer material known as Tapeta on the racetrack itself. For more information on accessibility please refer to the section below.
Please note: Newcastle Racecourse is a cashless site.
We’ve included a full range of options of how to get to the Festival.
We advise giving yourself plenty of time and please, please try to be mindful of your environmental impact wherever possible. Lift share, swap to public transport, walk or cycle if you can! Every little helps to lighten the load on our roads and reduce our emissions. Our planet will thank you too!
Please note: NWG cannot accept any responsibility for transport arrangements.
On foot or by bike
We understand it’s not always possible but we'd love it if you came on foot or by bicycle. We have a dedicated space to leave bicycles - please remember to bring your bike lock!
By Road
Use postcode: NE3 5HP or ///wink.years.fence (what3words)
Follow the brown and white tourist board signs bearing a horse and rider from the A1, A19 and main approach roads to Newcastle. For traffic updates in the nearby area, please click here.
Remember, two’s company and three’s a great crowd when travelling! You can save money on fuel, reduce your carbon footprint and have some company along for the ride if you choose to lift share. If you’re not sure who else is going your way, you can always check out National Liftshare network.
NOTE: There are NO electric vehicle charging points at the Racecourse.
By Bus
Numbers 43 and 44 buses leave from Haymarket Bus Station in Newcastle City Centre every few minutes and arrive at a stop just outside the racecourse road entrance.
You can find out more about bus travel from other areas here.
By Taxi
LA Taxis are a local taxi firm available for any taxi bookings.
We strongly advise you to book in advance for your drop off and pick up. Contact 0191 287 7777 to book or head to their website to find out more information www.lataxis.co.uk.
A taxi from Newcastle City Centre/Newcastle Central Station to the racecourse should cost approximately £10.
By Rail
Newcastle Central Station is the closest main line station approximately 15 minutes away by car or taxi.
You can check train timetables and plan your journey via: National Rail Enquiries website or by calling 08457 48 49 50 - Trainline website.
By Metro
Tyne and Wear Metro is a light rail system with 60 stations serving Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland, North Tyneside and South Tyneside. Regent Centre and Four Lane Ends Metro Stations are situated 2 miles from the racecourse.
By Air
Newcastle International Airport is situated 6 miles from the racecourse and is easily accessible.
Taxi: the airport's official taxi service is Arrow Taxis. Book your journey quickly and easily, online, by phone on 0191 244 9966 or via email on newcastlebookings@arrowcars.co.uk.
Hire car: there are branches of car hire firms Europcar and Hertz at the airport.
There is ample free parking at Newcastle Racecourse.
The car park is a few minutes’ walk to the festival entrance. Car parking attendants will be on duty to help direct you as well as signage to the car parks and main festival entrance.
Accessible parking for blue badge holders is available at the Innovation Festival Entrance. Please display your Blue Badge clearly if you have one. If you are not a Blue Badge holder but require certain access needs, please speak to a car park attendant on arrival.
Grand Hotel Gosforth Park
The closest hotel to the NWG Innovation Festival is Grand at Gosforth Park
The hotel is a 10-minute walk from the Innovation Festival site at Newcastle Racecourse and 7 miles from Newcastle Airport.
Amenities at the hotel include a spa, fitness centre with indoor pool and sauna, plus squash and tennis courts. There's a restaurant onsite with international menu and a bar which serves lighter bites.
The hotel operates a cashless system.
Rooms include free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and tea and coffee making equipment.
Check in is from 4pm and check out is 10am.
Free parking and accessible facilities and rooms throughout.
Discounted rates on a number of rooms have been held for Innovation Festival guests at the Grand Hotel at £92 per room, per night single occupancy accommodation or £102.00 per room, per night - twin /double accommodation for stays between Monday 7 - Thursday 10 July.
For stays on Sunday 6 and Friday 11 July there is a discounted rate of £82 per room, per night single occupancy accommodation or £92 per room, per night - twin /double accommodation.
All rates include accommodation, full English breakfast, use of the leisure facilities, guest room wi-fi and VAT at 20%.
Booking to take advantage of NWGs preferred rates, check availability and for more information about accessible rooms please contact the hotel directly:
Karen Stephenson
E: groups760@theelitevenueselection.co.uk
M: 0191 236 1612
Please note when contacting the hotel that you need to state you are attending the Innovation Festival in the subject of your e-mail.
We recommend booking your accommodation early to secure your room. Rooms will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
Cancellation charges may be applied so please ensure that you give a minimum of 24 hours notice to the hotel if you need to cancel a booking.
OTHER ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS
There are other local hotels within a short travelling distance in the Gosforth Park area . . .
Onsite registration opens from 12:00 on Monday, 7 July and then each day after from 08:15 on Tuesday, 8 - Thursday 10 July inclusive.
We have a new registration process in place this year, so we advise you allow plenty of time ahead of your initial registration to check-in and print your badge. If you are returning to site thereafter, we still advise leaving 15 minutes for check-in.
New badges
One of the biggest changes this year is the move away from our tap badges used for check-in and networking.
This wasn’t a decision we made lightly and whilst some may think we’ve taken a step backward, we’re moving to a printed badge option this year.
Given our increasing numbers year on year, we have outgrown the tap badge system which resulted in three different badge options onsite last year. Not fun for our innovators trying to network, not fun for our registration team checking you in and not fun for the data gatherers in the background!
So. This year we’re going with a printed badge. We’re reusing lanyard wallets we had from previous events, choosing an eco lanyard that will be reused for future festivals, and the paper badge itself can be easily recycled after the event. So please drop it off at registration or leave it with a member of the IF Crew before you leave so we can keep our reuse and recycle promise!
As well as new badges, we’ll also have an event app this year!
We hope this helps you navigate the festival a little easier. It will contain the most up-to-date, need to know information you need like your personalised agenda, site maps, QR code for check-in and networking, social feed for getting involved, news feed, contacts plus lots more.
App download details will be sent to registered attendees one week before the festival.
Casual. Festival vibes only, no suits allowed!
The event is held in a tented village with lots of time outdoors. So! Don’t forget to pack your suncream, sunglasses, wellies, woolly hat, thermals and umbrella to make sure you are prepared for all weathers . . . this is the North East after all!
The Innovation Festival is free to join, so we ask that you bring along at least one food item to support a local community foodbank in nearby Walker.
There will be a collection point for foodbank donations at the festival entrance each day.
Alternatively, you can make a financial donation via their bankuet pages:
www.bankuet.co.uk/walkeranddistrict
www.bankuet.co.uk/give-3/walkeranddistrict-give-once
www.bankuet.co.uk/give-3/walkeranddistrict-give-monthly
Thank you for your support.
We will have our WaterAid Team on site at the festival. You can find out more about the fantastic work they do to help ensure that everyone everywhere has access to clean water and make a donation to support them in achieving this goal. The WaterAid stand can be found in the exhibition hall.
Complimentary food and drink is provided for NWG Innovation Festival goers across the week as well as additional drink and snack options at your own cost. Please make sure you eat a healthy and hearty breakfast before heading to the festival as there will be no provisions for breakfast onsite.
We’re regenerating our food offering this year!
We always ensure the food onsite is full of flavour, responsibly sourced, local where possible and freshly made. However, we’ve taken extra measures this year to ensure that when we say local, we mean reducing our food miles and choosing suppliers within 100 miles of the festival site. Ok, we’ve got one who’s 111 miles away but her strawberries are just too darn tasty not to travel those 11 extra miles for them! Check out a list of our suppliers here.
Our lovely Head Chef Alan has designed a menu with purpose. He’s come up with great ways to reduce our food waste, chosen local suppliers to lower our food miles, shopped independent where possible and reduced the red meat options this year too. Our menu will be healthy, sustainable and downright delicious. Fear not, our chip shop will still be open!
NOTE: Our menus cater for vegetarians, vegans and gluten-free diets although our festival menus are nut free, the kitchens onsite are not nut free facilities.
Crock and roll . . .
There are a LOT of us onsite at the festival. And much as we’d love to swap to using crockery and cutlery for everyone, this is not practical or possible at our size and scale now. That said, we can promise that our packaging is sustainable and recyclable / compostable where possible. AND for our evening events and smaller private functions, we‘re going with crockery and cutlery!
Cadge a cup
We ask every year for you to bring your own reusable cups and water bottles. And many of you do. Thank you for this. To make life a little easier, we’re teaming up with Circular & Co this year to rent reusable cups. So if you get onsite and realise you’ve forgotten your own cup – we’ve got you covered. Ask at registration, or visit the exhibition hall and ‘cadge a cup’ from us. The cups are not for keeps though. So please hand it back when you’re done with it so it can be put to good use at another event in future.
Lunch menu
Lunch will be available Monday to Thursday in the exhibition hall and REGENER-EATS Food Village (located outside the exhibition hall). There are two time slots which will be allocated to sprint groups in advance. Either 12:00 - 12:45 and 12:45-13:30. It is important to stick to your allocated time slot in order to reduce queuing.
New menu
Drinks
Complimentary tea, coffee, and water will be available throughout the week, Monday, 7 July – Thursday, 10 July in the Exhibition Hall from 08:15-16:00.
There will be opportunity to buy speciality coffee and soft drinks from the coffee carts on site. Please remember to bring your own reusable coffee cup!
There are water points available around the site to refill your bottles. Please remember to bring your own reusable water bottle!
Sweet treats
Annabel’s Deliciously British strawberries and cream, Tomlinson’s rhubarb crumble and cream or mini pancakes plus a selection of fruit (exhibition hall only) will be available Tuesday to Thursday between 12:00 – 16:00. Only one sweet treat per person per day.
Complimentary food will be provided if you have registered to join us at any of our evening events. We also welcome you to join us for our drinks receptions which are open to all. A selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks will be available to buy from the bar at our evening events in addition to our complimentary drinks offering.
Tuesday, 8 July
What: Networking Drinks
Where: Exhibition Hall, located on the ground floor of the Grandstand
When: 17:00-19:00
Who: Open to all
We welcome you to the official IF25 Networking Drinks Reception. Take the opportunity to meet new faces, catch up with familiar friends and visit our exhibition partners. This is a great way to unwind after a full day of sprinting!
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What: Women in STEM Networking Event
Where: Funderdome
When: 18:00-21:00
Who: Pre registered guests only. Spaces limited!
This is set to be a fabulous evening, where we'll raise a toast to women in STEM with a "Lessons in Chemistry" twist, complete with delicious cocktails, mouthwatering food, and an inspiring guest speaker. Get ready to mix, mingle, and make some magic happen!
Wednesday, 9 July
What: Networking Drinks & Water Aid Fun
Where: Exhibition Hall, located on the ground floor of the Grandstand
When: 17:00-18:30
Who: Open to all
Come and raise a glass - and much needed funds - with our good friends at WaterAid. Fun and games provided, good times guaranteed!
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What: Green Day: After Dark Celebration
Where: Funderdome
When: 18:30-22:00
Who: Pre registered guests only. Spaces limited!
Join us for a night of fun and celebration as our ‘Green Day’ goes dark. Bowl food, live music and a whole lotta laughs.
Thursday, 10 July
What: Festival Unwind event
Where: Beach area
When: 17:00-21:00
Who: Pre registered guests only. Open to all!
Come and join us to take stock of the week, relax and gather together for our Festival Unwind celebration.
This year, we have taken the theme of regeneration to heart - breathing new life into how we power, build, and celebrate together onsite at the festival. From solar-powered coffee carts and LED walls to hydrogen generators fuelling our digital displays, we're committed to a future that gives back more than it takes.
Our site is a true showcase of reuse and recycle in action. We’re proudly reusing everything we can from our Innovation Festival flags that line the driveway (for the fourth year) the Young Citizens signage, directional paddles to our temporary tattoos, lanyards and plastic wallets (which are coming out again for the fifth time on this event alone). Even the glitter has gone green – as we ensure the lovely Vicky provides an environmentally friendly and biodegradable sparkling alternative.
There are no single-use giveaways this year, an intentional focus to minimise our environmental impact and focus on maximising our showcase and event creativity.
The festival is going cup-free too - no disposables at our coffee carts or exhibition hall. Don’t worry if you forget your cup, just ‘cadge a cup’ and return it when you leave. And if you’re a garden lover, grab some used coffee grounds from Amanda and Dave at the Eco Coffee Carts to boost your soil or compost at home.
At Innovation Festival HQ, it isn’t just about what’s new - it’s about doing better with what we already have. Join us in making regeneration more than a theme - let’s make it a movement.
The Innovation Festival is situated at Newcastle Racecourse. The site consists of marquee villages and main building activities. The terrain is a mixture of tarmac pathed areas, grass and a softer material known as Tapeta when crossing the racetrack itself.
The Marquee Village surface is artificial grass on a tarmac base. Each of the tents in the Marquee village are accessible through double doors with a small ramp. The main stage for the event has ramp access and there are tarmac paths throughout the site.
The festival stretches out across an expansive site with 5-10 minute walks required between activities.
There is a lift within the main buildings and all rooms on all floors have flat access. You can see the location of all accessible facilities on the accessibility map below.
Accessible parking
Accessible parking for blue badge holders is available at the Innovation Festival Entrance. Please display your Blue Badge clearly if you have one. If you are not a Blue Badge holder but require certain access needs, please speak to a car park attendant on arrival.
If you have any questions about accessible parking and access issues, please contact the Innovation Festival team at innovationfestival@nwl.co.uk.
Drop-off point
Drop off is available at the Main Innovation Festival Entrance.
Accessible toilets
Accessible facilities are available near the Innovation Festival Entrance and there are accessible facilities available within the Racecourse building and under the Colonel Porters Stand. A Radar key is required to access the facilities underneath the stand and can be requested from our information point.
The location of the accessible facilities, lifts and ramps can be seen on the accessibility map above.
Wheelchairs
NWG’ s Innovation Festival welcomes all types of mobility vehicles. Please provide your contact details in the site access requirements section on the registration form and one of our dedicated Innovation Festival team members will contact you to confidentially discuss how we can support you at the Innovation Festival. Alternatively, you can contact the team at innovationfestival@nwl.co.uk.
Visual impairments
If you have visual impairment requirements please provide your contact details in the site access requirements section on the registration form and one of our dedicated Innovation Festival team members will contact you to confidentially discuss how we can support you at the Innovation Festival. Alternatively, you can contact the team at innovationfestival@nwl.co.uk.
Assistance dogs at NWG’s Innovation Festival
Assistance dogs are welcome at NWG’ s Innovation Festival. Please let us know in advance at innovationfestival@nwl.co.uk if you are bringing an assistance dog to the event.
Please note: We are unable to accommodate any other animals at this event.
Hearing impairments
There is a hearing loop facility available across the site.
Website
Our website uses Recite Me accessibility software for those with disabilities, learning difficulties, visual impairments, or if people speak English as a second language.
Quiet room
There is a quiet room available in the main building for anyone who needs time out during their visit. It will have seating as well as soft sensory mood lighting.
Please note that this space is NOT to be used for any other purpose than a quiet room. Thank you.
Prayer room
There is dedicated prayer room facilities to accommodate the spiritual needs of our attendees. The prayer room is inclusive and accessible to individuals of all faiths.
Information Point
There is a manned information point on site and a qualified first aid team. Our festival crew are available to assist you throughout the entire event for whatever you need. Just look out for the blue crew t-shirts!
Pets
We are unable to accommodate any pets at this event.
Assistance dogs are welcome at NWG’ s Innovation Festival. Please let us know in advance at innovationfestival@nwl.co.uk if you are bringing an assistance dog to the event.
Under 18s
Everyone is welcome to come and get involved in the Innovation Festival.
If you are aged between 14-16 years old you may wish to join our Young Citizens Work Experience Festival held in conjunction with our main Innovation Festival. This is a two day event running on Monday-Tuesday and Wednesday-Thursday. If you, your school or college is interested in finding out more, please contact a member of our team youngcitizensfestival@nwl.co.uk.
If you are aged between 16-18 years old, then you can register to take part in the main festival and attend one of our sprints (link to page). Individuals must have an accompanying adult attend the event with them for the duration of the visit. We will contact any registered under 18s prior to coming onsite to complete the relevant work experience and photo consent forms.
Any other questions?
Please contact us innovationfestival@nwl.co.uk if you require any further information on the event. We’re always happy to help!