Travelling in Sunderland

Travelling around Sunderland is hassle free thanks to our excellent transport links that connect us to local areas, nearby towns and the wider region where you can find some of our most famous sights and business centres. 

If you're travelling to Sunderland, our information below can help you plan your trip and familiarise yourself with the area. If you live in or near Sunderland, you can benefit from getting around via bus, car, taxi, Metro or even exploring our walking and cycling routes. 

You can even travel further to the neighbouring cities of Newcastle and Durham, to the beautiful Northumberland countryside, or the stunning North East coast. 

Getting around Sunderland by Bus

Sunderland has excellent bus networks which service the whole area of Sunderland, and nearby locations such as Washington and Houghton-le-Spring, or Newcastle and Durham. 

Many of our Sunderland bus routes are services by Nexus, who operate regular buses to and from bus stations located in the city centre and will drop off at stops in and around Sunderland or the wider region. You can find a list of local bus route services and timetables on the official Nexus website, as well as ticket prices and details on travel passes. 

The Sunderland Connect Bus (700) is your route to many of the main attractions in the city centre, and also stops at Roker Beach during the summer months. Travel via the Sunderland Connect Bus is free for University of Sunderland students with a valid student ID, and is also available to local residents. 

Visitors can enjoy our local attractions with an All Day Ticket that can cost as little as £2.10. Family tickets (for two adults and up to three children is £8.00, and a weekly ticket is £11.00.

Getting around Sunderland by Metro
 

The Tyne and Wear Metro service is one of the most recognised in Europe, and is an easy means of getting around Sunderland as well as the wider North East. Stops include Sunderland's Stadium of Light as well as Sunderland city centre and the University of Sunderland.

Connecting to the coast, the suburbs, Newcastle International Airport and Newcastle city centre itself, there are Metros running to and from Sunderland approximately every 12 minutes, depending on days and hours of operation. 

Passes can be acquired via the Nexus website, where you'll also find details on ticket prices, schedules and direction to your nearest Metro stop.

Direct links to Newcastle Central Station involve journey times of up to 30 minutes, while it takes roughly an hour to reach Newcastle International Airport from Sunderland's main Metro station.

Cycling in Sunderland

Sunderland's city centre and nearby areas boast many public cycle routes for those wanting to get around Sunderland by bike. Cycle routes in Sunderland allow you to explore the region's beautiful scenery while making the most of well maintained cycle paths which take you from the outer reaches of Sunderland and into the heart of the city .

Our famous Coast to Coast (C2C) route is a leisurely ride from Whitehaven in Cumbria to Roker, on our Sunderland coast. There's also long-distance routes such as Walney to Wear (W2W) and the Two Rivers Cycleway.

Our many parks and green spaces have wide traffic-free cycle paths, while a number of cycle hubs are also scattered about the region, allowing the hire of bikes at reasonable rates, as well as support, repairs and advice. 

Bike shelters placed around the city will also allow you to lock up your bike safely and securely, so you can opt for this greener choice in transportation without any extra worry. 

Walking in Sunderland

Exploring Sunderland on foot is a great way to get around the city. There are many fantastic walking routes in and around Sunderland, with an accessible city centre, acres of parks, green spaces and a beautiful coastline all within reach.

From our Sculpture Train to the circular route around Penshaw Monument, walking in Sunderland is one of the best ways to discover our sights and attractions. 

Why not discover more of what Sunderland has to offer with our , or check out things to do. 

Plan your route around Sunderland today. 

Parking in Sunderland

If travelling to Sunderland via car, you'll find parking throughout Sunderland city centre and nearby. 

Over 3,500 car parking spaces make it easy to access attractions, events, green spaces and restaurants in Sunderland, with security and customer care available. 

Many of our car parks are owned by Sunderland city council, however there is private parking available. Tariffs and opening hours may vary per car park. 

Car Hire in Sunderland

You can rent a hire car in Sunderland with ease from the many outlets based in Sunderland. Enterprise on North Bridge Street and Europecar on Brook Street are reliable for vehicle hire, with cars for every type of traveller.

Nationwide also covers the whole of the UK. Be sure to enquire about hire fees, vehicle types and insurance policies directly with the hire company to help find out availability and plan your trip.

Existing Electric Car Charging Point Sites

We offer a wide range of electric vehicle charging sites conveniently located across the city. Use the map below to find your nearest charging point or plan ahead for your visit to the city.