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Sunderland is a city in Tyne and Wear in northeast England, with a population of 171,000 in 2021. It's industrial, but has lost traditional trades such as shipbuilding, and is still re-inventing itself. The National Glass Centre celebrates the town's former status as a prominent glass-making community.
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Museum depicting the city's history and industries. The indoor Winter Gardens were opened in 2001 to replace the demolished Victorian original.
Church of St Michaels and All Angels
This Anglican church is 20th century, preserving several features from its predecessor, which succumbed to mining subsidence.
formerly Monkwearmouth Station Museum
Small museum of football colours and memorabilia in a former railway station. This was built in 1848 in NatWest cod-classical style, but it was too small and the station moved 200 yards south to St Peters. From 1973 to 2017 it was a railway museum then took on its present guise.
Glass occurs naturally and has been manufactured for 6000 years, but transparent glass was first made from around 1500 BC. The Romans had a big glassworks in Trier in Germany, and this knowhow and technology.spread across northern Europe. Benedict Biscop (628-690) was abbot of Monkwearmouth-Jarrow Priory and brought over French glaziers to make abbey windows, the first known manufacture in Britain. Glass became a major industry in Sunderland from the 18th century, thanks to local coal, and sand brought as ballast in Baltic shipping, but the city's last glassworks closed in 2007. This centre, part of the University of Sunderland, has a museum and exhibitions of glassware.
This relocated from city centre in 2018 and is now able to build a permanent collection, as well as hosting exhibitions.
It stands on the site of Monkwearmouth monastery. Only the porch and west wall survive from the monastery of 674 AD, which formed a combined abbey with Jarrow, and was the base of the Venerable Bede. The exterior is mostly 13th / 14th century and the interior was re-done in the 1870s and again following arson in 1984. It remains an Anglican church and is open to look around, and use the simple cafe, M-F 10:30AM-2:30PM.
is the nearest sea-side strip to town. Roker Pier was built from 1865 as a breakwater. It's 1198 ft (365 m) long; the lighthouse (completed 1903) is still in use. St Andrew's Church, north on Talbot Rd, is an elegant Arts & Crafts building of 1907, open M-F 10AM-noon.
Volunteer Life Brigades were formed in the 19th century: they don't launch lifeboats, but assist the Coastguard with shore-based rescue. Only three brigades remain active: this one (founded 1877), South Shields (founded 1866) and Tynemouth (the very first, founded 1864). This is the Sunderland Brigade's Watch House.
The site of a former open cast coal mine, now redeveloped as park land and wildlife conservation area, and sometimes hosting events.
Shell of a castle gatehouse built in 1400 and much re-modelled in later centuries. The rest of the castle has gone.
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So this is what became of Sunderland Airport. Aircraft and military vehicle museum, with a collection of 30 mostly military aircraft, plus a reconstructed World War II-era street. They don't have a Sunderland flying boat: these were named for the city, but made by Short Brothers in Kent. Dogs on leads welcome.
Ornate Victorian water-pumping station with engines regularly in steam.
Edwardian theatre staging drama, music and comedy.
Olympic-sized swimming pool and diving pool.
Multi-use sports facility with 160 m ski slope.
Great Italian dining at reasonable prices.
Opened in 1991, a reliable choice for trad Italian.
Small Chinese, also serves breakfast.
Fishmongers with great little takeaway and cafe for shellfish and other seafood.
Slick friendly place on the seafront.
The doyen of the seafront Italians serves great meals.
Good speedy food, the "Happy Hour" before 7PM is great value.
The original seafront curry house. Good service and variety of menu, some custmers found it bland.
Good interesting food with sea views from the 1st floor windows.
Friendly old-school pub with good beer, TV sport and indie / rock music as well as frequent live events.
Not named for the Irish whiskey distiller, US Federal judge or two Scottish botanists, this William Jameson was the early 19th century planner of Fawcett Street. It's a Wetherspoon's pub with meals until 10PM. They also run The Cooper Rose at 2–4 Albion Place.
Late spot with all types of music and cheap drinks.
Good food and real ales in a pleasant village-green type surrounding.
No tours, but their taproom is open weekends.
Reliable budget chain hotel near city centre.
Basic budget hotel, noise from nearby nightclub.
Comfy budget place, great service. Free parking.
Charming small hotel in dockland.
Clean friendly B&B south of centre.
Comfy enough but tired facilities.
Smart new place, comfy and slick service.
Grand Georgian mansion once owned by the Marquises of Londonderry: they seldom stayed, but in 1815 the poet Lord Byron married Anne Milbanke here. (Imagine the bar bill and the gambling debts.) Their only child Ada Lovelace worked with Babbage and is regarded as the world's first computer programmer. For most of the 20th century the Hall was a hospital or nursing home but is now this ritzy (and to some, over-the-top) spa hotel. Great dining beneath the portrait of Byron in his full Albanian rig. No dogs.
By train
Direct trains from London King's Cross are operated by Grand Central. They run every 3 hours or so and take 3 hr 40 min via York, Thirsk, Northallerton, Eaglescliffe and Hartlepool.
By Metro
Sunderland is on the southern part of the Tyne & Wear Metro Green Line.
By bus
National Express runs every 2 hours or so from London Victoria, taking 7-8 hours via Milton Keynes, Sheffield, Leeds and Middlesbrough, and continuing to Newcastle.
By road
From the south follow A1(M) to Junction 62 near Durham then head northeast on A690. Stay on this for town centre and south. For the north bank, use A19 to come onto A1231.
By bus
Buses 700 / 702 loops every 15 min from the Interchange south to the University City Campus and Royal Hospital, then north from Interchange to the National Glass Centre, St Peters and Stadium of…
By taxi
Taxis are white, with ranks at the Interchange and railway stations.
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Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear · International · NCL
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