Attractions and Days Out in Sunderland
Sunderland is a popular City that straddles the River Wear on the coast of North East England.
It attracts families for the beaches at Seaburn and Roker, plus the Pleasure Parks at nearby South Shields.
Party goers are attracted to the City Centre where there are several clubs and a plethora of bars in a fairly tight area.
Sunderland International Air Show is an annual event that takes place towards the end of July.
The display takes place along the sea front at Roker and Seaburn and is reputed to be the largest free air show in Europe.
We have put together an attractions guide to help you decide what to see and do in and around Sunderland.
If you would like us to add something please feel free to drop us a line at
enquiries@hotels-sunderland.co.uk
Tyne and Wear Metro Light Rail System
Tyne and Wear Metro is a light rail system with some 60 Metro stations in Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland, North Tyneside and South Tyneside.
Connecting the hearts of both Newcastle and Sunderland City Centres, mainline railway stations and Newcastle Airport
Sunderland Football Club
Stadium of Light
Stadium Way,
Monkwearmouth,
Sunderland
SR5 1SU
Tel: 0371 911 1200
Admission: Ticket
Sunderland Aquatic Centre
Stadium Park
Sunderland
SR5 1SU
Tel: 0191 514 4300
Admission: Ticket
Sunderland Empire Theatre
High Street West,
Sunderland
SR1 3EX
Admission: Ticket
National Glass Centre
Liberty Way,
Sunderland
SR6 0GL
Tel: 0191 515 5555
Admission: Entrance Free
Situated in the St Peter's area of Sunderland the National Glass Centre is home to one of Sunderland's oldest industries.
Constructed from glass and steel, it has a 6 cm thick glass roof that people can walk around and look down into the centre below.
There is a total of 3,250 square metres of glass on the roof, and it can hold 4,600 people on it at any one time.
The centre is a museum dedicated to the history of glass-making, with numerous exhibitions and galleries.
There are a number of artists located on site and visitors can watch glass being made in the centre and purchase items in the glass shop
Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art
City Library and Arts Centre,
Fawcett Street,
Sunderland
SR1 1RE
Tel: 0191 561 8487
Admission: Free
Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens
Burdon Road,
Sunderland
SR1 1PP
Tel: 0191 553 2323
Admission: Entrance Free
Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens combines a museum, art gallery and exhibition space to create a stunning visitor attraction in the heart of the city centre.
Exciting displays interpret the wide variety of collections, using hands-on exhibits, computer interactives and video presentations.
The University of Sunderland
Edinburgh Building,
City Campus,
Chester Road,
Sunderland
SR1 3SD
Boldon Leisure Park and Boldon Business Park
Abingdon Way,
Boldon Colliery,
Sunderland
NE35 9PB
Boldon Leisure Park and Boldon Business Park are set on the old site of the Boldon Colliery,
nearby Colliery Wood was created in 2000 with over 2,500 trees planted with several paths which are suitable for walking and cycling.
Attractions near Sunderland
Ocean Beach Pleasure Park
Middle Arcade,
Ocean Beach Pleasure Park,
Sea Road,
South Shields
NE33 2LD
Telephone: 0191 456 1617
Admission: Entrance Free
Ocean Beach Pleasure Park is the North of England's Biggest and Best FREE admission Fun Park.
Whatever your age, young or old you will find something you can all enjoy.
With over 50 rides to choose from and Amusement Arcades, Bowling, Restaurants and a Crazy Golf Course you can't fail to have a great day out.
South Marine Park
Beach Road,
South Shields
NE33 2RL
Restored in 2008 this is a fine example of a Victorian Grade 11 listed urban park.
The top of the park features a splendid Victorian Promenade and Bandstand with stunning views of the River Tyne and Tynemouth Priory.
Whilst the lower part of the Park is very popular with families who visit to see the wild fowl on the lake, ride on the famous miniature railway or picnic on the central grassed area.
The lakes model yacht club, formed in 1886, is the UK's oldest and still runs every Sunday.
The Park Rangers organise many different events, educational activities, guided walks, support groups and the newly restored Bandstand now hosts live music during the summer.
Gateshead Millennium Bridge
Adjacent to an area called Baltic Square (an open-air performance space which has been host to a number of high profile events)
the Millennium Bridge is a large tilting bridge that stretches 126 metres across the River Tyne
providing Pedestrians and Cyclists access to both banks of the river
Baltic Music Centre and Art Gallery
Gateshead Quays,
South Shore Road,
Gateshead
NE8 3BA
Tel: +44 (0)191 478 1810
Baltic is housed in an historic industrial building on the south bank of the River Tyne in Gateshead and is a major international centre for contemporary art,
There has no permanent collection, instead there is an ever-changing calendar of exhibitions and events.
Baltic is a place where visitors can experience innovative and provocative new art, relax, have fun, learn and discover fresh ideas.
The Sage Gateshead - Popular Music Centre
St Mary's Square,
Gateshead Quays,
Gateshead
NE8 2JR
Ticket Office - 0191 443 4661
The Sage Gateshead is an iconic building that sits on the banks of the River Tyne in Gateshead.
It offers unparalleled views of the river and its bridges, including the Tyne Bridge and the Gateshead Millennium Bridge,
making The Sage Gateshead a popular tourist destination in the North East of England.
Beamish Museum
Beamish,
County Durham
DH9 0RG
Tel: 0191 370 4000
Beamish is a world famous open air museum telling the story of the people of North East England during the Georgian, Victorian, and Edwardian periods.
Costumed staff and volunteers tell the story in a unique living and working museum where most of the houses,
shops and other buildings have been dismantled, brought to Beamish, rebuilt and fitted out as they would have been in their original settings.
Hadrian’s Wall
Hadrian’s Wall is an iconic symbol of our country.
There is an 84 mile
National Trail
that takes walkers along the riverside route in Tyneside, through farmland in Tynedale and the grazing upland section dominated by the Whin Sill escarpment
where it then gradually descends to the rich pastures of Cumbria and finally the salt marsh of the Solway Estuary.
Towns and villages along the route include
Wallsend in Newcastle upon Tyne, Ryton, Heddon-on-the-Wall, Wall, Humshaugh, Greenhead,
Gilsland, Walton, Carlisle, Burgh by Sands and Bowness on Solway.
Segedunum Roman Fort, Baths & Museum
Buddle Street,
Wallsend
NE28 6HR
Segedunum is the most excavated Roman Fort along Hadrian's Wall and has a large interactive museum plus a 35 metre high viewing tower providing outstanding views across this World Heritage Site
Durham Cathedral
The College,
Durham
DH1 3EH
Durham Cathedral is a Christian Church of the Anglican Communion, home to the shrine of St Cuthbert, the seat of the Bishop of Durham and a focus of pilgrimage and spirituality in North East England.
Alnwick Garden and Alnwick Castle
Denwick Lane,
Alnwick,
Northumberland
NE66 1YU
The Alnwick Garden - 01665 511350.
The Treehouse at The Alnwick Garden - 01665 511852
Once derelict and forgotten The Alnwick Garden opened for visitors to watch the creation of Europe's most ambitious new garden.
The Alnwick Garden is now a vibrant place, with beautifully landscaped gardens, magnificent architecture and unique features, all brought to life with water.
Alnwick Castle is one of the largest inhabited castles in England, and was originally built as a medieval fortress.
Today it is home to the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland and their family The Percys.
Metrocentre
Gateshead,
Tyne and Wear
NE11 9YG
The Metrocentre is Europe's Largest Shopping and Leisure Centre, it has over 340 shops occupying 2,089,000 square feet of retail floor space.
Additional retail space is available in the adjoining retail park which houses larger shops
Royal Quays Outlet Centre
Coble Dene,
North Shields
NE29 6DW
The Outlet Centre for Newcastle With over 50 outlet shops to choose from offering discounts on a host of famous brands
plus regular entertainment and live events all set within a unique environment that makes for a great day out.
Vindolanda Roman Fort
Chesterholm Museum,
Bardon Mill,
Hexham,
Northumberland
NE47 7JN
Welcome to the North East’s best day out on Hadrian’s Wall.
The Vindolanda Charitable Trust bring you two exciting and unmissable tourist attractions dramatically exploring Roman life on the edge of the empire 2000 years ago.
Come and enjoy the world famous Vindolanda Writing Tablets, live archaeology in summertime, the exclusive Eagle Eye 3D film
and much more all in the heart of beautiful Northumberland National Park and central section of Hadrian's Wall.
The Holy Island of Lindisfarne
Reffered to as Holy Island by the locals, The Holy Island of Lindisfarne is a delightful, unspoiled, historic island that lies just off the extreme Northeast corner of England near Berwick-upon-Tweed.
The small population of under 200 is swelled by the influx of over 650,000 visitors from all over the world every year.
Internationally famous for its medieval religious heritage and its picturesque 16th century castle.
These, together with most of the community, are located on the Southern part of the island.
The remote Northern conservation area has a number of quiet beaches and unique natural history.
The island plays host to a wide range of visitors including bird-watchers, walkers, artists, photographers, historians and theologians.
Day trippers and casual visitors are often swept away by the islands charms and return for longer stays to fully explore all the island has to offer.
Access is by a tidal paved causeway which is covered by the North Sea twice in every 24 hour period so do check tide tables to avoid being literally swept away.
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