Local resident Stuart Forster provides an overview of the best places to go in Sunderland, the coastal city in northeast England that’s home to the UK’s National Glass Centre.
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Things to do in Sunderland
The post that follows looks at some of the top things to do in Sunderland, the city that I grew up in and know well.
The Hindi word ‘sundar’ means beautiful. In India, I mentioned my hometown on several occasions and people muttered “a beautiful place”. Visit yourself and decide whether or not you agree.
Climb Penshaw Hill
Penshaw Monument, Sunderland’s best-known landmark, resembles a Greek temple. As you stand on Penshaw Hill, you may quietly wish the weather were a bit more like Greece’s.
Even on calm summer days, wind often whips between the monument’s columns. It was built in the 1840s in honour of John Lambton, the Earl of Durham and a Governor-General of Canada.
If you have a head for heights, you can head to the top of the National Trust-run property on weekends and bank holidays from Easter until the end of September. It’s a good spot for an overview of the surrounding area.
People have known that for centuries. Archaeological evidence suggests that Penshaw Hill was topped by an Iron Age hillfort. Look carefully and you can still see the remains of ancient earthworks.
At the foot of the hill, Penshaw Tearoom is a popular place for a cuppa and the farm shop serves quality produce.
Walk in Herrington Country Park
Herrington Country Park was landscaped on the former site of Herrington Colliery, which was closed in 1985. Sculptures stand as reminders to the region’s coalmining heritage. There’s also a boating lake in the undulating park, which has several walking trails and footpaths.
Sit on a park bench to observe birdlife. If you enjoy doing that, you’ll probably also appreciate a day out at the nearby Washington Wetland Centre.
From there, you are well placed to visit the North East Land, Sea and Air Museums, near the Nissan plant, Military vehicles are displayed in the museum, whose star attraction is a former Royal Air Force Avro Vulcan aircraft.
Watch a Sunderland AFC match
I grew up in Sunderland. Friends have suggested that it was a factor in me becoming a travel writer. They joked it was the only way I was going to get into Europe, given the perennial lack of success of Sunderland Association Football Club.
What do they know? The club have finished as the champions of England six times, the same number of times as Chelsea FC. However, Sunderland AFC most recently finished as the English champions back in 1936.
The club’s last major trophy was the FA Cup in 1973. It is arguably the greatest FA Cup shock of all time. Sunderland beat Manchester City, Arsenal and Leeds United on the way to lifting the trophy.
The story of that unlikely cup victory is told by Lance Hardy in his book Stokoe, Sunderland and ’73: The Story of the Greatest FC Cup Final Shock of All Time.
Take a Stadium of Light tour
If you enjoy football, find out more about the Sunderland AFC’s history during a tour of the 49,000-capacity Stadium of Light.
The first league match played at the stadium saw Sunderland beat Manchester City 3-1 at the beginning of the 1997-98 season.
The world’s oldest painting of a football match is displayed in the Stadium of Light. It depicts a game played between Sunderland and Aston Villa in 1895.
Want to pick up a football strip or other souvenir? Pop into the Sunderland AFC Club Shop at Black Cat House, next to the stadium.
The Stadium of Light will host the opening match of the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup. The game will be played between England and the USA on Friday, 22 August.
Stadium of Light concerts
If you’re not a football fan, you might want to wait until the off-season to visit. Top names from the world of music perform at the football ground. Stadium of Light concerts have included Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Beyoncé and Oasis.
Visit The Fans Museum Sunderland
From there, it’s less than 10 minutes’ walk to the Classical building that formerly served as Monkwearmouth Station. It houses The Fans Museum, where an impressive collection of match-worn football shirts and club-related memorabilia is displayed. Much of the memorabilia is autographed.
It’s a good place for a pre-match drink. Thinking about visiting? Check Sunderland AFC fixtures on the club’s website.
The Victorian railway station stands next to the more recently constructed St Peter’s Metro station. Along with the Stadium of Light Metro station, it will put you within a few minutes’ walk of the football ground.
Eat at Sheepfolds Stables
Sunderland’s Sheepfolds Stables is a short walk from both St Peter’s Metro station and the Stadium of Light. It was repurposed as a food, drink and events venue in 2024, 140 years after opening to stable horses working in industrial sites along the River Wear.
Independent, local businesses operate at the Sheepfolds Stables. Visitors can chooses food and drink that suits their palate and then sit together at tables in the courtyard.
Si King, the popular TV personality, operates the restaurant Propa! Vita’s Osteria, I Scream For Pizza and the Spey Snug are among the businesses at the site.
Dine at the Stack Seaburn
There’s also a selection of good restaurants by the Seaburn seafront.
The Stack Seaburn opened in August 2020. Resembling stacked sea containers and reminiscent of the Boxpark Shoreditch, it hosts several places to eat and drink.
Among the businesses operating there is Downey’s, which I view among the best fish and chip shops in northeast England.
Places to eat in Sunderland
Sunderland city centre offers a range of dining options. Popular restaurants include Asiana Fusion Restaurant, (Echo 24 Building) which serves pan-Asian dishes, My Delhi (39 Borough Road) and Mexico 70 (312 High Street West).
Stroll on a Sunderland beach
Like the idea of walking on a Sunderland beach? In fine weather, you could head to the coast and walk along the promenade between Roker and Seaburn.
Alternatively, kick off your shoes, if you don’t mind the chill of the North Sea, and scrunch golden sand under your feet while plodging along the shoreline.
The beaches in Sunderland are gorgeous. A Blue Flag – the international symbol of cleanliness, water quality and high environmental standards – flies above both Seaburn Beach and Roker Beach.
Above the promenade, Roker Cliff Park is the location of a Victorian lighthouse that previously stood on the South Pier.
If you enjoy outdoor activities, try the kayaking and other water sports organised by Adventure Sunderland. Based at Marine Walk in Roker, they offer activities tailored to people at a range of ability levels.
Head to Souter Lighthouse
Light up your day by discovering how lighthouses worked. Souter Lighthouse, in Whitburn. The light tower, engine room and lighthouse keeper’s living quarters are all accessible.
In addition to the Victorian lighthouse, the clifftop meadows, known as The Leas, is a lovely place for a walk. It offers an opportunity to view coastal wildlife, including the dolphins that are frequently spotted in the region.
Fulwell acoustic mirror
On the way between Sunderland to Souter Lighthouse, you might find it interesting to take a detour to visit the acoustic mirror at Fulwell.
The concrete dish is a remnant of coastal defences from World War One. It was used to listen for raids by Zeppelin airships. On 1 April 1916, 20 residents of Sunderland were killed by bombs dropped by an airship operated by the German Navy.
Roker Park Sunderland
Families are likely to enjoy visiting Roker Park, which has a children’s railway. Not to be confused with the former Roker Park football stadium, which Sunderland AFC played at from 1898 to 1997, the park is beautifully landscaped and maintained.
Explore Sunderland’s East End
Gain insights into the city’s history in the East End. It is the site of Holy Trinity Church, which was consecrated on 5 September 1719.
The Baroque church has a statue of Robert Gray, the rector between 1819 and 1838. He played an active role in civic matters.
There’s also a painted font and a plaque in the foyer that records the heroics of Sunderland man Jack Crawford at the Battle of Camperdown in 1797. That naval battle was a confrontation between British and Dutch ships.
Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens
At the Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens, you can learn about the city’s history and see artefacts relating to the region’s industrial heritage.
The museum’s art collection includes paintings by L.S. Lowry, who spent time painting in the northeast of England.
The domed winter garden, always a good place to warm up if it’s cold outside, houses around 2,000 plant and tree species.
Statues within Mowbray Park, adjacent to Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens, also convey aspects of Sunderland’s heritage. It’s a pleasant place to stroll on sunny days.
Hylton Castle
Hylton Castle dates from the 14th century. It is a fortified gatehouse that has been restored. Tours are a way of learning about the history of the medieval landmark.
Ryhope Engines Museum
Beautifully maintained by a team of volunteers, Ryhope Engines Museum is at Ryhope Pumping Station. The Victorian pumping station was constructed to ensure that the residents of Sunderland had a supply of clean drinking water.
The museum opens to the public on Sunday afternoons and, throughout the year, holds a handful of steam days, when the engines are fired up.
Events in Sunderland
Annual events and festivals in Sunderland include:
- Sunderland Shorts Film Festival (12-18 May, 2025)
- Sunderland Food and Drink Festival (6-8 June, 2025)
- Pride in Sunderland (June)
- Kubix Festival at Herrington Country Park (12 July, 2025)
- Sunderland Craft Beer Festival at The Fire Station (22-24 August, 2025)
- Waves Festival (16 November, 2025)
- Boundaries Festival (22-23 November, 2025)
Now discontinued, Sunderland International Airshow used to attract more than a million people to the city on July weekends. The final airshow was held in 2019.
Wearmouth-Jarrow monastery
The origins of Sunderland’s name are said to hark back to medieval times. They refer to the ‘sundered land’ across the River Wear from the Wearmouth-Jarrow monastery, which was on the north bank. That part of the city is now known as Monkwearmouth.
The oldest building in Sunderland is St Peter’s Church, which has 7th-century origins. It’s possible to see Saxon-era stone carvings on the porch.
The historic place of worship stands on former monastic land that is now also the site of the University of Sunderland’s St Peter’s Campus. Stained glass windows made for the monastery are the oldest in the country.
National Glass Centre in Sunderland
This explains why you’ll find the United Kingdom’s National Glass Centre in Sunderland.
Housed in a contemporary building on the north bank of the River Wear, the UK’s National Glass Centre houses a display about Sunderland’s glass-making heritage. It also hosts live demonstrations of glassmaking.
A display explains that the rivalry between Sunderland and nearby Newcastle stems from a grievance relating to glassmaking in the 17th century. It is now most obviously manifested between fans of the Black Cats and Magpies, when the teams meet on the football pitch for Tyne-Wear derbies.
Best pubs in Sunderland
I’m a fan of good beer and have enjoyed pints in the following Sunderland pubs:
Named after an Egyptian goddess, The Ship Isis (26 Silksworth Row), offers a good choice of real ales.
The Dun Cow (9 High Street West) stands opposite the Sunderland Empire theatre. It is well-located for pre-show drinks. The Edwardian pub underwent a major restoration in 2014. It’s worth having a drink to appreciate the intricately carved woodwork behind the bar.
The Fire Station (9 High Street West), a building that once housed Sunderland’s city centre fire engines, is now an arts venue that hosts concerts. In the same building, The Engine Room is a decent shout for attractively served pub grub.
The Stables Pub (McClaren Way; tel. +44 (0)191 5849226) is an atmospheric venue that serves good food. This is a country pub packed with bric-a-brac and atmosphere. The menu includes modern British dishes as well as tasty international bites. If you’re in the vicinity of Herrington Country Park swing by.
Travel to Sunderland
Grand Central runs a direct rail service between London King’s Cross and Sunderland. The duration of journeys on trains to Sunderland is approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes.
The journey from Newcastle International Airport to Sunderland takes 52 minutes on the Tyne and Wear Metro. The Metro journey from central Newcastle to Sunderland takes approximately 27 minutes.
Station Taxis operates from a taxi rank next to Sunderland Station in the city centre.
National Express coaches and buses to destinations across the region depart from Sunderland Interchange at Park Lane.
Hotels in Sunderland
Looking for a hotel in Sunderland? The Hilton Garden Inn, Grand Hotel Sunderland and Holiday Inn Sunderland are among the accommodation options in Sunderland.
Search for a place to stay using the map below:
Map of Sunderland
Where is Sunderland? The map below shows the city’s location in the northeast of England.
For a more detailed view of tourist attractions in Sunderland, zoom into the map:
Books about Sunderland
Want to discover more about the city? The following books are available to buy from Amazon:
The Funniest Sunderland Quotes…Ever by Gordon Law.
Michael Johnson’s book Sunderland in 50 Buildings looks at the city’s architectural heritage.
Sunderland Through Time is by Keith Cockerill.
Secret Sunderland is by Marie Gardiner.
Best places to go in Sunderland
Visit the MySunderland website for further ideas on what to see and do in Sunderland.
The Sunderland Culture website lists events and cultural happenings.
Sunderland Empire hosts a diverse programme of shows.
Further information
Photos illustrating this post are by Why Eye Photography.
Thank you for visiting Go Eat Do and reading this post about the best places to go in Sunderland. You may also enjoy reading about Sunderland Restaurant Week and a historic post on the 2018 Tall Ships Race in Sunderland.
Stuart Forster is an award-winning freelance travel writer who lives in northeast England. His work has been published by The Independent, Rough Guides and National Geographic Traveller.
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A version of this post was initially published on Go Eat Do on 23 August 2015.
