At Roker Pier, maritime heritage meets a coastal walking route. The pier and lighthouse were built between 1885 and 1903; a major restoration of the pier, tunnel and lighthouse began in 2012. Guided tours give the public access to the tunnel and lighthouse. As tour arrangements and access at the pier may change, check the operator’s information before visiting.
Explore Roker on foot: coastal loop and architectural history
The Roker Seafront Circular is 1.9 miles, or about 3 kilometres, long, takes around 40 minutes, and starts and ends at the Bungalow Café. The loop is suitable for wheelchair users and people with pushchairs; path conditions may change, so check them before your tour.
The historic landmarks along the way also tell different chapters of the story. Bede’s Cross was erected in 1904 as a memorial to the monk and scholar Bede the Venerable. St Andrew’s Church in Roker dates from 1907; Eric Gill, Ernest Gimson and A.H. Payne designed its decorative interior. Roker Park opened as a recreational space on 23 June 1880, and Roker Ravine runs along its northern end. On one outing, memorials, church architecture and parkland stand side by side.
Sunderland City Council offers historic walks that combine local history and nature. Check which individual route is available before you travel. Sunderland’s Historic High Streets Heritage Walk is suitable for wheelchair users and people with pushchairs; confirm this accessibility information in advance too.
Medieval and early medieval traces
The richly decorated gatehouse tower of Hylton Castle was built shortly before 1400 by Sir William Hylton. Guided tours are offered on selected days, with advance booking; available booking days may change. Parking is available on the grounds. Check the latest information about tours and facilities before you arrive.
At the Church of St Peter, the west wall and the lower tower stages of the first church, dating from 674–675, survive. The north transept contains exhibition panels and finds from excavations. The grounds also contain underground remains of the Anglo-Saxon monastery of Monkwearmouth and the medieval Benedictine priory. If you would like to visit the exhibition, check its current accessibility in advance.
Museum, garden and industrial heritage
The collection at Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens dates back to 1846 and includes Wallace the Lion. The Winter Gardens are home to more than 2,000 plants and koi carp, and also have a tree-top walkway. As access and exhibitions may change, find out before your visit which areas and displays are accessible.
Ryhope Engines Museum is housed in a pumping station built in 1868 to supply water to the Sunderland area. Exhibits include three Lancashire boilers dating from 1908 and two beam engines, each with 100 horsepower. The machinery is kept in working order and regularly steamed up for visitors; dates may vary. So check in advance when the engines will be under steam.
Sunderland Empire also adds a cultural highlight: the theatre stages West End shows. As the programme changes regularly, it is worth checking the current listings before your visit. Sunniside Food Market takes place on the fourth Saturday of each month; check the current date before you travel, as market dates may change.
Cycle routes and park trails
Sunderland has 100 kilometres of designated cycling routes, more than 80 kilometres of which are off-road. National Route 7, part of the C2C Cycle Route, heads west from Roker along the north bank of the River Wear. Check route details and conditions before cycling; the cycle network may also change as projects are completed.
Herrington Country Park has marked routes of 1, 2 and 3 kilometres. Path conditions in the park may change seasonally. While the Roker Seafront Circular provides an approximate walking time, at Herrington you can choose between marked route lengths—two different ways to plan your exploration.
Discover more destinations: Sunderland, Castletown, Houghton Le Spring, South Tyneside, Northumberland, Darlington, Stockton-On-Tees, Newcastle Upon Tyne.
For the main travel overview: North East England.
