15 Best Things to Do in Sunderland (England)

Stradling the mouth and the banks of the River Wear, the port city of Sunderland has grown from an industrial coal exporter, glassmaker and ship-building mecca to a city of modernity and culture. Often overlooked for its local Tyne and Wear neighbour Newcastle, Sunderland has begun to carve its place as one of the northeast’s premier cities.

As a city with a vibrant and tangible historical past, a modern cultural and artistic scene and acres of green spaces and sandy beaches, Sunderland is a must-visit city. Take a look at our list of 15 things to do in Sunderland and begin your Sunderland experience.

1. Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens

The Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens are one of the city’s biggest attractions, and that comes as no surprise. The municipal building is home to a range of different exhibitions and displays, showcasing everything from the history of Sunderland as a city, its natural history and several great works of art. Amongst its claims to fame is the only known British example of a gliding reptile, the oldest known vertebrate capable of gliding flight.

Alongside the fantastic museums and galleries, is the beautiful Winter Gardens. These gardens are home to around 2,000 plant species all displayed in a treetop walkway over Mowbray Park.

Website: https://sunderlandculture.org.uk/our-venues/sunderland-museum-winter-gardens/

2. National Glass Centre

With Sunderland’s iconic glassmaking industrial past, it is no shock that the National Glass Centre should call this city its home. Constructed in 1998, the centre is made from glass and solid steel, creating an awe-inspiring feel as you walk through its rooms. Exhibitions here take you through the long history of Sunderlands glassmaking industry, from its early days in the 7th and 8th centuries, right up to the industrial revolution.

Daily glass blowing demonstrations bring the whole subject to life, and you can even sign up to take part in the craft yourself. The National Glass Centre makes for a great day out for the entire family.

Website: https://sunderlandculture.org.uk/our-venues/national-glass-centre/

3. Roker and Seaburn Beaches

Though not often noted for its beaches, Sunderland is home to two Blue Flag beaches, highlighted for their incredible environmental standards and their facilities. Even on a Tyne and Wear overcast day, a visit to one of the beaches is enough to raise the spirits of anyone.

Located directly east of the city, these two beaches, Roker to the south and Seaburn to the north, both create a welcoming feel for young and old. Restaurants, bars and cafes dot the promenade and lifeguards keep watch over the sandy beaches during the summer months. No visit to Sunderland would be complete without a day on the beach.

4. Roker Park

Just to the west of Roker beach lies an equally idyllic and picturesque spot, Roker Park. This Victorian-era park was first opened in 1880 and is one of the premier green spaces east of the city. Features of the park include a miniature railway for children, a model boating lake, tennis courts and a children’s playground.

Families with younger children will appreciate a visit to Roker Park. Escaping the hustle and bustle of the city to the peace and quiet of Roker Park is always a great way to spend an afternoon in the sun.

5. Herrington Country Park

Lying a little south-west of the city is the picturesque Herrington Country Park. Known for its abundance of wildlife, the park is home to over 100 species of birds. Alongside its stunning wildlife, the story of how this once industrial coal mine turned into a place of stunning natural beauty is in itself enough to warm the heart.

With long stretches of walking routes and cycle paths, exploring the huge spaces of Herrington Country Park by foot or bicycle is a great way to spend a day. The park also regularly hosts its fair share of musical events, so be sure to check before your visit to Sunderland.

Website: https://www.seeitdoitsunderland.co.uk/herrington-country-park

6. Souter Lighthouse

A few miles north of Sunderland’s city centre stands the iconic Souter Lighthouse. Constructed in 1871, Souter Lighthouse holds the distinction of being the first lighthouse in the world to be designed to use alternating electric current. The lighthouse’s 800,000 candle power light could be seen for over 26 miles, making safe the famously dangerous stretch of coastline.

You can either marvel at the view from below or opt to climb the lighthouse’s 76 steps for a jaw-dropping view of the Tyne and Wear coastline below. However you choose to view this lighthouse, it’ll be a journey well made.

Website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/souter-lighthouse-and-the-leas

7. Keel Square

Lying at the heart of the city, Keel Square is one of Sunderland’s most iconic spaces. Consisting of sandstone, gritstone and bronze, the 12 million pound project was aimed to revamp the city centre and provide a permeated celebration of Sunderland’s industrial and maritime past.

With carefully designed boulevards and a tree-lined square, Keel Square is an open public space that offers more than just a pleasing aesthetic. The names of 8,102 Sunderland crafted ships are written down in the square’s sandstone, adding permanent reminders of the city’s history. This is a testament to the culture of the city and is an unmissable site when in Sunderland city centre.

8. North East Land, Sea and Air Museum

Located on the western side of the city, the North East Land, Sea and Air Museum is the home of all things aviation. Sitting on the site of the former RAF Usworth, this museum offers you the chance to get up close and personal with aeroplanes from all eras of flight. It also allows you to delve into the history of humans and flight, tracing back to the earliest days of flight and aeroplane technology.

The collection of military planes is one of the most extensive in the entire of the UK. An exhibition replicating a 1940s street during the Second World War is one of the museum’s top highlights.

Website: https://www.nelsam.org.uk/

9. St Peter’s Church, Monkwearmouth

Constructed in the year 675, St Peter’s Church is one of the oldest remaining stone churches in all of the United Kingdom. With open green spaces surrounding the church, the landscaping gives you the perfect impression of how this 7th-century church once looked against the backdrop of the surrounding area.

Step inside, and you will be welcomed by interactive museum displays, each one explaining over a thousand years of history associated with the church. One of the churches biggest claims to fame is that Saint Bede, often credited as being the ‘father of English history’, once lived and studied within its walls.

Website: https://monkwearmouthcofe.com/

10. Stadium of Light

Home to Sunderland’s professional football team, Sunderland AFC, a visit to the Stadium of Light is a must for any serious fan of the club and fan of football in general. Sunderland has called the stadium home since 1997 when they moved from the much smaller Roker Park, and the 49,000 capacity ground is alive with a fantastic atmosphere during match days.

If you can’t make it to a Sunderland match, why not opt for a tour of the ground. A tour will give you an insight into the inner workings of a professional club and even provide a chance to get out onto the famous pitch.

Website: https://www.safc.com/tickets/stadium-tours

11. Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art

As Sunderland’s premier gallery for contemporary art, no lover of art’s visit to the city is complete without checking it off the list. Home to a wide variety of exhibitions and displays of contemporary art, there is something for even the most unknowledgeable fan of art.

From installations, sculptures and media pieces, there is always something new and exciting when you step through the doors of the Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art. As the exhibitions are ever-changing, it is advisable to find out what is on during the time you visit the city.

Website: https://sunderlandculture.org.uk/our-venues/northern-gallery-for-contemporary-art/

12. Penshaw Monument

If you were to go to the top of Penshaw Hill, you would be forgiven for thinking you were suddenly dropped into the city of Athens. Perched on top of the hill is the Penshaw Monument, looking like a grand doric Athenian temple. In fact, the structure was constructed in honour of John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham, who played a key role in the British colonisation of New Zealand.

At 30 metres long and 20 metres high, this huge structure dominates the landscape, and during selected times, a staircase can be climbed for breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside and river banks.

Website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/penshaw-monument

13. Hylton Castle

Hylton Castle is the perfect example of a medieval castle that has retained its use through the centuries, changing from a fortification into an early modern stately home and then into ruin. Built between the late 11th, and early 12th century, Hylton Castle is one of the oldest buildings in all of Sunderland and a true representation of the changing history the city has experienced.

Surrounding the castle are acres of green gardens and fields, only adding to the beauty of the location. Come to Hylton Castle to learn about the medieval lives of the North East gentry, stay for the idyllic gardens and views.

Website: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/hylton-castle/

14. Ryhope Engines Museum

The Ryhope Engines Museum is located at the very south of the outer edges of Sunderland and is one of the most visited places in the area. Founded in 1868, the Ryhope Pumping Station stayed continually open for almost a hundred years, before closing its doors in 1967.

The museum is now housed within the pumping station and is still home to a pair of 150-year-old Hawthorn beam engines which are fired up once in a while. Visiting the Ryhope Engines Museum is a great way to step into Sunderland’s industrial past, complete with all the true sights and sounds.

Website: http://www.ryhopeengines.org.uk/

15. Mowbray Park

One of the city’s oldest green spaces, Mowbray Park has long been the desired location of Sunderland locals seeking a little peace and quiet. The late Victorian design adds a little something extra to the park’s atmosphere. As you walk around you will notice cast-iron William Hall Drinking Fountain from 1878 and a Victorian bandstand. To pay homage to author Lewis Carroll, who had a fondness for the city, Mowbray Park is home to a giant chessboard, like the one mentioned in Alice, Through the Looking Glass.