Volunteer

Walking tour guide

Share your love of the Ouseburn area with visitors on guided walks. Read more

Clean Green Ouseburn

Volunteers help to keep Ouseburn clean and looking good and develop environmental improvements Read more

volunteer Victoria Tunnel guide

Our Volunteer Guides lead public tours and special visits to the Victoria Tunnel Read more

Heritage Researcher

Research volunteers explore the heritage of the Valley and create interpretation materials to share the stories. Read more

Volunteer Photo archivist - no vacancies at present

Volunteers create a digital photo archive and promote our photo resources - no vacancies at present Read more

Wider opportunities

Volunteering opportunities with other Ouseburn organisations Read more

Advance booking is essential for tours of the Victoria Tunnel - a preserved 19th century waggonway under the city built by the Victorians to carry coal and re-used as an air raid shelter during World War 2.

Victoria Tunnel Tour Tickets

Buy tickets for the two-hour and one-hour tours of the award winning Victoria Tunnel

Parking and Public Transport

Car park suggestions and public transport connections

Essential information

What to wear, what to expect, and more...

Meeting point for the Tour

Tours meet at the Victoria Visitor Centre, 55 Lime Street, Ouseburn

Tunnel history

The Victoria Tunnel runs beneath the city from the Town Moor down to the Tyne. It was built in 1842 to transport coal from Leazes Main Colliery to riverside staithes (jetties) ready for loading onto ships. In 1939, it was converted into an air-raid shelter to protect hundreds of Newcastle citizens during World War II. A programme of repairs in 2007-8 was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the TyneWear Partnership, and part of the Tunnel is now open to the public.