Attractions Nearby Sunderland, Day Trips and Excursions

(Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England, UK)

Tyne and Wear is home to a number of attractions close to Sunderland, being suitable for family day trips, short breaks and excursions, with nearby Newcastle upon Tyne being a firm favourite, as well as the boroughs of Gateshead and Tyneside. Further afield and still within reach of Sunderland, attractions reside in the adjoining counties of Northumberland (north) and County Durham (south) - home of the acclaimed open-air Beamish Museum.

The city of Durham is especially close to Sunderland and by road, is actually less than 30 minutes away, offering attractions such as an 11th-century cathedral and castle, botanical gardens and the ever-popular Diggerland theme park. Also of interest here is the Durham Light Infantry Museum and Art Gallery.

General Information

Tourists taking a day trip to Newcastle upon Tyne will find that this lively Tyne and Wear city is located just 22 km / 14 miles to the west of Sunderland and is packed with interest. The architecture of Newcastle has transformed the city in recent years, with the Gateshead Millennium Bridge being famous for its sweeping curve and tilting angle.

Newcastle is well connected to Sunderland by buses, trains, and the Tyne and Wear metro. Other top attractions in Newcastle include the Tyne Bridge, the Castle Keep remains, the Segedunum Roman fortress remains, the Grey's Monument and the St. Nicholas Cathedral. Close by, the city is presided over by the contemporary sculpture entitled 'The Angel of the North'.

Although the beaches of both Roker and Seaburn are the star coastal attractions in the Sunderland area, Whitley Bay is only a little further away and boasts a glorious beachfront and has become a very popular seaside town, serving as a leading holiday destination for locals from north-eastern England.

Sunderland holiday makers may also like to consider excursions to the Northumberland town of Ashington and its neighbouring village of Woodhorn, where the Queen Elizabeth II Park offers enjoyable rides on a narrow gauge railway. Also in Northumberland are the attractions of Bedlington, while in Durham, the port town of Hartlepool is known for its summer sailing events.