Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear

Situated at the mouth of the River Wear as it exits into the North Sea, Sunderland is a city that has successfully transitioned after the decline of coal mining and shipbuilding during the 1970s and 1980s.

Notably, Nissan established the largest car manufacturing plant in the UK in Sunderland. While this may not resonate as a traditional tourist attraction, the city boasts two beaches at Seaburn and Roker, which have distinguished themselves with international accolades for their cleanliness and facilities.

Scattered throughout the area are vestiges of Sunderland’s maritime and coal industries, while the city’s historical glassmaking legacy is captured in an outstanding riverside museum.

In numerous respects, Sunderland is markedly different from how it appeared 25 years ago, owing to the rejuvenated city center, enhanced cultural facilities, expansive country parks once occupied by collieries, and museums positioned at former industrial sites, such as an old pumping station.

Let us delve into the most significant attractions in Sunderland:

1. Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens

A visit to this museum, which was renovated in 2001, will significantly enhance your understanding of Sunderland. The adjacent Winter Gardens greenhouse was also reconstructed following damage during the war and subsequent demolition in the 1960s.

The display includes the very first Nissan produced at this site, symbolizing a pivotal moment in the city’s evolution.

Additionally, visitors will encounter a collection of 19th-century Sunderland Lustreware ceramics and artworks by the acclaimed industrial landscape artist L. S. Lowry, who spent his summers in Seaburn during the 1960s and 70s.

A particularly unusual exhibit is Wallace, a taxidermied lion who made a notable impression during a lion-taming show in the 1800s and was subsequently brought to the museum after his passing.

The Winter Gardens features a stunning rotunda housing 2,000 plant species along with a treetop walkway providing views over Mowbray Park.

2. National Glass Centre

Affiliated with the University of Sunderland and located along the banks of the Wear, this museum chronicles the city’s glassmaking industry.

Inaugurated in 1998, the structure is a modern architectural gem, crafted from glass and steel with an expansive transparent roof that allows for a view into the galleries below.

With a tradition of glassmaking dating back to the 7th century, initiated by Benedict Biscop who engaged French glaziers for the Monkwearmouth-Jarrow Priory (now St Peter’s Church), Sunderland evolved into a glassmaking hub during the 18th century, with Pyrex production commencing in the 1900s.

The galleries detail how the area’s ample coal and sand resources positioned Sunderland as a key player in glass production.

Esteemed artists in glass and ceramics rotate exhibitions, complemented by daily glassblowing demonstrations and opportunities for visitors to try their hand at the craft.

3. Roker and Seaburn Beaches

The presence of two Blue Flag beaches in Sunderland exemplifies the city’s regeneration efforts, with both Roker (also referred to as Whitburn South) and Seaburn Beaches recognized for their environmental quality and amenities.

Both beaches are expansive, sandy, and flanked by rocks. Roker Cliff Park, situated between the two beaches, is home to the Roker Pier Lighthouse, originally constructed in 1856 and relocated to the cliff-top in 1983 from the Old South Pier. Both beaches are family-friendly, featuring golden sand perfect for constructing sandcastles and lifeguard services during the summer months.

At Roker, visitors can find cafes and restaurants at Pier Point, while Seaburn is lined with an array of international dining options along the promenade.

4. Roker Park

This elegant seafront park stands as a reminder of the Victorian era, having been donated to the city by local landowner Sir Hedworth Williamson in 1880. This generous gift is celebrated with a sandstone and granite memorial fountain.

Another charming artifact from this period is the iron bandstand adorned with a copper roof.

The park features interesting topography, requiring visitors to traverse a ravine to reach the seafront on its northeast side.

Facilities include a miniature railway for children, a model boating lake, tennis courts, and playgrounds.

During summer, outdoor performances are held, while autumn evenings bring forth the enchanting Sunderland Illuminations.

5. Herrington Country Park

Once an open-cast mine, this extensive country park in the western part of the city has been transformed into a recreational space.

Elements of its past are preserved in the Miners’ Memorial Garden, featuring a preserved pit wheel and a large basin in the park’s center now filled with a lake for model boats.

Visitors can explore well-maintained walking and cycling paths, public art that reflects the area’s heritage, a cafe, a skate park, and a children’s adventure playground.

The cafe offers healthy bird feed for the park’s waterfowl.

Major annual events take place in the park, such as the Kubix Music Festival in August, celebrating classic pop and rock acts, and the Race for Life in support of Cancer Research.

6. Souter Lighthouse

Located five miles north of Sunderland’s city center, Souter Lighthouse holds the distinction of being the first lighthouse specifically designed to operate on alternating electric current upon its establishment in 1871.

The lighthouse’s 800,000 candlepower light could be seen from 26 miles away, positioned along a section of the North Sea coastline known for its treacherous rocks at the base of magnesian limestone cliffs.

This remarkable structure was decommissioned in 1988 and is now overseen by the National Trust.

Visitors can ascend the 76 steps to the summit of the tower for breathtaking views and enjoy scenic coastal walks through the meadows along the cliffs, referred to as the Leas.

Whitburn Coastal Park features a nature reserve, while the Foghorn Field includes a genuine foghorn and offers a cafe, an adventure playground for children, and hosts outdoor events in the summer.

7. Keel Square

Keel Square is a vibrant public area situated in front of the Magistrates Court within Sunderland’s retail precinct. Inaugurated in 2015, the square was developed at a cost of approximately £12 million over multiple years.

Landscaped using sandstone, gritstone, and bronze, this plaza celebrates Sunderland’s maritime and industrial heritage.

The Keel Line, embedded in the pavement, honors the shipbuilders of Sunderland with an inscribed granite strip detailing the names of the 8,102 vessels launched in the city since 1786, along with depictions of prominent individuals, events, and locations.

The line is 291.7 meters long, precisely the length of the largest ship launched in Sunderland, the Naess Crusader (1972). At the beginning of the line stands the striking sculpture, Propellers of the City, created by Stephen Broadbent, featuring 400 photographs of shipyard workers on a monumental wheel.

8. North East Land, Sea and Air Museums

Located at the former RAF Unsworth on the route to Washington, this transport museum primarily chronicles the history of aviation.

Special emphasis is placed on the early years of jet aviation, showcasing an impressive collection of British-manufactured aircraft, including an Avro Vulcan, a Gloster Meteor, a Hawker Hunter, a De Havilland Comet, and a De Havilland Vampire, alongside American and French models such as a Lockheed T-33A, an F-86D Sabre, and a Dassault Mystère IV. The museum also houses numerous engines and various military ground vehicles, including armored personnel carriers, tanks, and trucks.

Visitors can experience a replica street scene depicting Wearside during the Second World War, and on select dates, the North East Electric Traction Trust displays a fleet of vintage trolleybuses and trams.

9. St Peter’s Church, Monkwearmouth

This remarkable church adjacent to the Wear and the University of Sunderland campus has historical roots tracing back to 675 AD when it was established by Benedict Biscop as a priory, rendering it one of the oldest stone churches in the nation.

Notably, a considerable portion of the original structure remains intact, discernible in the porch, western wall, and fragments of stone carvings.

The green spaces surrounding the church have recently been landscaped to reflect the extent of the complex during Benedict Biscop’s era.

The Venerable Bede, recognized as “The Father of English History,” was resident here studying as of the late 7th century.

Interactive museum displays complement the site’s offerings, which also include a craft shop, cafe, apiary, and a working vegetable garden.

10. Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art

A distinguished art destination, the NGCA opened its doors in 1995, featuring a flexible space measuring 35m x 17m that can be subdivided for various exhibitions.

Over its two-plus decades, the gallery has contributed to the career trajectories of numerous well-established artists, including AK Dolven, Sam Taylor-Wood, and Adam Chodzko, providing platform opportunities for their initial commissions and publications.

At the time of writing, the gallery was showcasing a significant exhibition by renowned photographer John Kippin, with anticipated exhibitions from photographer Dan Holdsworth and installation artist Kelly Richardson scheduled for the near future.

11. Penshaw Monument

Sitting atop Penshaw Hill overlooking the Herrington Country Park in Houghton le Spring, the Penshaw Monument resembles a classical Greek temple brought to Wearside.

This impressive structure, built from local gritstone, was constructed in 1844 to honor John Lambton, the 1st Earl of Durham, who played a pivotal role in Britain’s colonization of New Zealand.

Measuring 30 meters in length and 20 meters in height, this National Trust property embodies the grandeur of a classical temple, featuring Doric columns, an architrave, frieze, cornice, and pediment.

One of the columns conceals a spiral staircase leading to a scenic viewing platform accessible from Easter through the end of September.

12. Mowbray Park

As one of the oldest urban parks in North East England, Mowbray Park is conveniently located in the city center, directly behind the Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens.

The park, which opened in 1857, was conceived more than 20 years prior as the city recognized a need for green space following a cholera outbreak in 1831. As you stroll through the gently rolling landscape of Mowbray Park, take note that the hillocks are remnants of long-forgotten limestone quarries.

Serving as a focal point for the city center’s revitalization in the 1990s, the park features significant monuments, including the cast-iron William Hall Drinking Fountain from 1878 and a bandstand that hosts concerts attended by those relaxing on deckchairs.

Author Lewis Carroll had a fondness for Sunderland, and to commemorate this, the park includes a play area themed around “Through the Looking Glass,” featuring a giant chessboard and a walrus sculpture.

13. Sunderland A. F. C.

Often characterized as a “Sleeping Giant,” Sunderland A. F. C. experienced a decline to the third tier of English football (League One) in 2018. This led to a shift in both ownership and management, with supporters, known as Mackems, anticipating a return to the Premier League in the near future.

Currently, acquiring tickets at the Wearside Stadium of Light (1997), which possesses a capacity of 49,000, is relatively easy.

Interestingly, nearly 21,000 fans had secured season tickets during the 2018-19 period, ensuring a lively atmosphere, despite the club competing beneath its usual tier.

The club’s most notable recent achievement was winning the FA Cup in 1973, commemorated by a statue of manager Bob Stokoe, who practically dedicated his playing career to local rivals Newcastle United.

Daily stadium tours are available at 13:00 (excluding match days).

14. Hylton Castle

Located ten minutes upriver in the North Hylton suburb, Hylton Castle is Sunderland’s second-oldest building, currently undergoing transformation by English Heritage and Sunderland Council into a significant visitor attraction as of 2018.

A castle has existed in this location since the Norman Conquest, with the current impressive four-story gatehouse tower dating back to the early 15th century.

The west facade features around 20 sculpted coats of arms representing local noble families alongside the crest of King Henry IV. The castle served as the residence for the Hylton family for centuries until their departure in 1746, after which it was repurposed as a school, workshop, and later a mansion for a Victorian shipbuilder.

15. Ryhope Engines Museum

Founded in 1868, the Ryhope Pumping Station in the corresponding suburb was operational for a century before closing in 1967. The facility remains owned by Northumbrian Water and houses two impressive Hawthorn beam engines, which recently celebrated their 150th anniversary.

Although the station no longer functions as a water pumping facility, these engines are still operational, and visitors can observe them on Sundays, along with a collection of smaller engines, three boilers dating from 1908, a waterwheel, and a blacksmith’s forge.

Additionally, special “Steaming Weekends” occur five times yearly, allowing attendees to witness the engines and their 18-ton flywheels in action.