Centre For Life

The International Centre for Life is a pioneering science village based in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne where scientists, clinicians, educationalists and business people work to promote the advancement of the life sciences. The ICFL Trust is a registered charity, governed by a board of trustees, which receives no public funding.

The Life Science Centre is a visitor attraction at the International Centre for Life which houses a number of temporary and permanent exhibitions, a Science Theatre, a planetarium and a 4D Motion Ride, as well as presenting a programme of science-themed special events for children and adults. The Life Science Centre also has an educational programme providing science workshops to schools and other groups.

The Centre was opened by The Queen in 2000. Life's patron is Dr James Watson, Nobel Prize winner and co-discoverer of the structure of DNA. The £90 million site was designed by Sir Terry Farrell. Previously it had been a Roman settlement, a hospital and a livestock market. The project transformed a run-down area of inner city Newcastle which now includes a hotel, offices, housing and a multi-storey car park.

Almost 600 people from 35 countries work at Life. Partners in the Centre for Life include Newcastle University; the North East England Stem Cell Institute (NESCI); the NHS Newcastle Fertility Centre and the NHS Northern Genetics Service.

The Centre for Life complex encloses Times Square, where several entertainment venues and bars are found, as well as space for outdoor events. Times Square is located close to Newcastle Central railway station.

Description courtesy of Wikipedia.






17th July 2023



Former Market Keeper's House.

Market-keeper's house and market office. Circa 1842 by John Dobson. Sandstone ashlar; Welsh slake roof. Symmetrical with bowed end projections. 2 storeys, 3 bays.

Ground floor arcade with keys and impost string contains 2 inserted windows and door. Sill string to 2 tripartite windows above between long cornice brackets. On returns lower, single-storey narrow, blank links to bowed projections containing sash windows in plain reveals.

Low-pitched hipped roof has central 2-stage clock tower, the clock under pointed hood, with open-arched top stage which has chimneys in corner pilasters. Low half-conical roof to bowed projection at right.

Grade 2 Listed. Source: Historic England.






4th November 2021








20th September 2017



The Lady Boys of Bangkok show in Times Square.





30th October 2014



The roof taken from Elswick.






26th May 2014






























15th March 2009








22nd May 2007








26th January 2006







Market Keeper's House.

Once the site of a huge cattle market The Cattle Market Keeper's Office and Toll House is all that remains today. The house was designed by John Dobson in 1842.




















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