Description
Kielder Observatory is one of the UK’s leading public stargazing venues, located high on Black Fell in Northumberland. Set within the vast Northumberland and Kielder Water & Forest International Dark Sky Park, it offers breathtaking views of some of Europe’s darkest skies. Since opening in 2008, it has welcomed over 250,000 visitors for unforgettable astronomy experiences.
Guests can attend themed evening events featuring telescope observations of star clusters, nebulae and galaxies, as well as naked-eye views of the Milky Way and shooting stars. Astronomers deliver engaging talks on topics such as cosmology, meteorites and exoplanets, alongside guided tours of the observatory. The site includes the Sir Patrick Moore Observatory, the Caroline Herschel Observatory, an observing deck with powerful telescopes, and the Gillian Dickinson Astro-Imaging Academy for astrophotography.
External viewpoint entry is free, while event tickets generally start from around £30 per person for main evening sessions. Private event hire is also available, with exclusive use of the observatory starting from £500, offering bespoke astronomy experiences for groups.
With its remote forest setting and award-winning stargazing programme, Kielder Observatory provides a truly magical night under the stars. It’s suitable for beginners, families and seasoned astronomy enthusiasts alike. Whether you’re peering through a telescope or simply gazing up at the Milky Way, it’s an inspiring and memorable experience.
Features
- Paid
- Host birthday parties: Yes
Features
Discover the Stars. Create Memories.
- Our Observatory: Kielder Observatory is a public outreach astronomical facility located in Kielder Forest, in some of the darkest skies in Europe and the third largest protected Dark Sky reserve in the world. Located in Northumberland, England. It is situated just half a mile from the Scottish border on Black Fell near James Turrell’s Kielder Skyspace. The site was chosen as one of the locations in the UK which has the least amount of intrusive light pollution. The observatory hosts upwards of 40 of these amazing events every month, designed for members of the public.
- Twice Brewed Inn: Kielder Observatory is expanding to Twice Brewed Inn, bringing our unique astronomy experiences to one of Northumberland’s most iconic inns, right next to Hadrian’s Wall and Sycamore Gap. Our expert astronomers host sessions at the Inn’s dedicated planetarium and observatory buildings, giving you new ways to experience the Dark Skies of Northumberland. For over 15 years, Kielder Observatory has inspired more than 250,000 visitors with unforgettable nights under the stars in the heart of Kielder Forest. Now, our team will also run events at Twice Brewed Inn Observatory — home to a 30-seat planetarium, state-of-the-art telescopes, and the comforts of a welcoming inn with great food, award winning ales, warm hospitality, and luxury accommodation.
Parking: We have a dedicated car park at the top of the access track about 80 metres from the observatory buildings, which is free for our guests to use. There is space for motorhomes if you are using one to attend your event but please note the access track is locked after the event finishes and there is no overnight parking allowed here. Overnight parking is possible at Skyspace car park (at the bottom of the track) and Kielder Castle car park, tickets are purchased from the Castle carpark ticket machine.
26.65 miles
