Location: Sunderland
Top Things to do in Sunderland
Top 10 Things to do in Sunderland, United Kingdom (UK)
Sunderland (/ˈsʌndərlənd/ ( listen), locally /ˈsʊndlənd/) is a city at the centre of the City of Sunderland metropolitan borough, in Tyne and Wear, North East England, 10 miles southeast of Newcastle upon Tyne, 12 miles northeast of Durham, 101 miles southeast of Edinburgh, 104 miles north of Manchester and 240 miles north of London. It is a coastal city at the mouth of the River Wear with beaches at Roker, Seaburn (the far northern tip of Seaburn Beach is known as Whitburn Beach) and Hendon.
Restaurants in Sunderland
1. Roker & Seaburn Beaches
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 754 reviews
Reviewed By mukhasben - sunny south shields
Roker Beach and promenades can be popular so in peak season parking is sometimes a problem. (Don’t forget to pay and display, or put your blue badge on). There is plenty of cafe/restaurants, coffee shops and fish and chip shops available. All are smartly painted and inviting. (Downeys is our favourite for fish bites, the dog is a big fan too) There is also a popular dog friendly pub, Grannie Annies, selling drink, food and advertising music and pub quizzes during the week. The pavements and promenades are spotless and there are plenty of waste bins for human rubbish and dog waste. There are also plenty of seats available, great views, a long pier to walk along if the weather is ok, good Beaches to stroll along, a whale themed kids playground and an amusement arcade that for some reason wasn’t opened when we visited. Sunderland council take pride of this area and appear to be introducing tours inside one of the piers according to a new glass structure. Whether you want a stroll alone, couples or families or a dog walk there is a relaxed atmosphere here that we love. You can also enter Roker Park if you walk past Grannie Annies to the end of the Promenade.
2. World War One Soldier Sculpture
Overall Ratings
5 based on 675 reviews
Reviewed By gordondurham1 - Peterlee, United Kingdom
This is a brilliantly thought-out sculpture built to the highest standard. A truely fitting tribute to the fallen servicemen. Positioned in a prime location to enjoy the town. Plenty pleasant walks nearby and refreshment opportunities close for all pockets. Worth visiting the marina area, which is very close.
3. WWT Washington Wetland Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 319 reviews
Whatever the season, come rain or shine, WWT Washington Wetland Centre is the perfect place to connect with nature.Open 364 days a year, our award-winning, family-friendly site offers visitors of all ages a host of unforgettable wildlife encounters and beautiful scenery all year round.Explore an exciting mix of wetland, woodland, nature reserve and meadows; home to rare wildfowl, flocks of waders, Chilean flamingos, Asian short-clawed otters, Eurasian cranes and more.Enjoy daily animal feeds; regular walks, talks and activities and other special events.Excellent access (free electric scooter hire), café with views of spectacular wildlife, gift shop and play area. WWT members go Free.
Reviewed By Antony B - London, United Kingdom
We visited on New Year's Day, when most other attractions are closed, and found the wetland centre busy but not crowded. The café served a good lunch that fortified us for walking around in the cold, and we then spent a couple of happy hours exploring the site. It's larger than it looks, stretching right down to the banks of the River Wear, with lots of interesting things to see. We enjoyed spotting a kingfisher in the reed beds, and the family of otters playing. The cranes were an especial highlight, particularly when they danced, and our children really enjoyed feeding the red-breasted geese and nenes.
4. Katie's Garden
Overall Ratings
5 based on 10 reviews
A modern vintage crafting tea room thats bursting with colour, cakes, crafts & fun. We operate as an open store where customers can choose to pre book tables or walk in and join us for the day. Our shelves are adorned with over 50 ever changing craft packs that are designed to be picked up & made on the day of your visit with everything you need to craft contained in the little craft pack bag. We offer a number of specialist workshops that can be found on our website as well as a number of special seasonal events. Our beautiful store is a bright & airy space with colourful furniture & life size tree growing through the centre of our store. Take a walk along our little penny pathway & find our toilet area with baby changing facilities & a few hidden treasures to buy on your visit. Offering a full daily tea room menu there is everything you need to take an hour out of your day & enjoy a welcome escape from everyday life. We hope to see you all soon R & K x
Reviewed By bigplums2010 - Sunderland, United Kingdom
If you want something different; unusual and personalised this is the place to come and reasonably priced. From the moment you walk up to the door & behind it ; is a world of creativity to the finest detail and magical to open everyone's eyes no matter what the age.
Plenty of room for a private party and not just for the little ones. Our party was the breakfast party.
The ladies helped the little ones right from the start taking there seats too getting creative. Hassle free for the parents.
Even the way they present your food and refreshments is very individual.
Recommend and we will definitely be back.....
5. Penshaw Monument
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 309 reviews
Reviewed By gingerjudith - Saltburn-by-the-Sea, United Kingdom
We'd always driven down the A19 and talked about visiting the Penshaw Monument; today was the day we actually did it.
A short, sharp walk up the hill, with some new-looking steps, which were a great help. Fantastic views all around from the top, but we didn't stay long as it was very cold and very windy - but worth the walk. Apparently you can go up a spiral staircase in one of the pillars during the summer to the roof- we'll have to go again to find out.
Well worth a visit.
6. Herrington Country Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 537 reviews
Reviewed By mukhasben - sunny south shields
This was our first visit to this park but our granddaughter had been before and kept us on the paths. Our dog, who has a love hate relationship with swans was glad to see that there were two in a small pond to tease however he wasn’t so keen when he got to the boating lake where he was extremely outnumbered. We used the car park at the entrance to the park where there is disabled parking, open toilets and a small cafe selling tea, coffee, pies, juice etc. There is also a playground next to it for warmer days. We didn’t realise you could drive into the park and use more of the car parks that are dotted around the huge site. Penshaw monument is over the road if your feeling fit and fancy a steep climb.
Yes, some of the paths were muddy, but it’s unsurprising with the winter weather. In spring or summer it will no doubt get very popular and parking would be at a premium. Outdoor Concerts are advertised here and there is lots of wildlife to see and paths for walkers with or without dogs and cyclists. We will go back in the Summer and I expect the rating to go to a 5.
7. The Serenity Spa
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 262 reviews
Voted as the Best Spa in the North East by Good Spa Guide 2016 and Best Spa for Style by The Sunday Times and Best UK Spa Destination by Conde Nast Traveller The Serenity Spa at Seaham Hall is a place where water is used to pamper, indulge and relax you.Inspired by Feng Shui, you will discover a place that is oriental in design, with teak, granite and limestone everywhere amid an atmosphere of complete calm. Choose from over forty different treatments or one of our Day Rituals.
Reviewed By Hannah C
I visited the spa as a group of four, as a present for my birthday. The facilities are amazing and staff around the pool where very attentive. Some of the areas in the pool are in need of some tlc (outdoor hottubs- wood was lifting and coming away). Treatments where a big let down. We where took in for our treatments at 12:03 and I was taken back to the zen lounge at 12:58, I know that time is taken off for consultation but this meant I had less then a fifty minute treatment, the treatment it self wasn't beneficial, after the treatment I did not feel like I had recieved a massage, the massage consisted of mostly efflourage movements. When I arrived back at the zen lounge another member of our group was already back, meaning his treatment must of been even shorter than mine! For the price you pay you expect to walk out feeling relaxed and rejuvenated sadly that was not the case! Each member of the group recieved a different treatment, which I find to be very unprofessional. Very disappointed as we where all looking forward to this spa day. When leaving we weren't asked if we had enjoyed our day, otherwise we would of voiced our concerns.
8. Souter Lighthouse and The Leas
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 326 reviews
Reviewed By Pjaway - Sheffield, England, United Kingdom
Interesting visit, loved the generating room. Helpful and friendly staff, who are able to add to your experience.
Inside is warm and friendly but there are steps between rooms, and not to mention the tower.
Also stopped to some lunch, which was good value and very tasty
Wish we had, had more time, looking forward to visiting again
9. National Glass Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 757 reviews
Based in a unique, contemporary glass and steel building, the National Glass Centre houses exhibition galleries, artists' studios and production facilities, a craft & design shop and an award winning café/restaurant. National Glass Centre is part of the University of Sunderland. We deliver a programme of changing Exhibitions, education programmes and events for schools, families, adults and children. We are dedicated to exploring ideas through glass and providing opportunities for people to be creative, enjoy themselves and feel inspired.
Reviewed By Graham C - North York Moors National Park, United Kingdom
We popped in for lunch on the way home from the Airport on a dull, dismal Sunday afternoon. We had a lovely big roast dinner for a very reasonable price. The menu has plenty of choice and the staff are very welcoming & helpful. Just...MoreThank you for taking the time to feed back. We are pleased you enjoyed your visit and yes the glass made by our extremely talented glass makers is amazing and very popular with our customers. We hope to see you again soon.
10. Stadium Of Light
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 723 reviews
Reviewed By Ali B - Sunderland, United Kingdom
We like to go to Stadium of light for home matches . The only down side is the simple terrible catering and terrible service you get from the Stadiums kiosks. Expensive beer and long delays being served. So we use the outside burger bars and never spend anything in the stadium. When your getting beat nothing beats a half time pint so as a Sunderland fan ive put on weight !!
SOL lets have better service and fair prices as none of us on Rodwells wages.
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