Itinerary 1: History, Art and Christian Heritage
There's so much to See and Do in our fabulous city by the sea, but there's still lots more once you have finished exploring the wonderful 'riviera' coastline. From Heritage to Art we don't want you to miss out!
Suggested start time 10:00am
Full Day Itinerary Highlights:
Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens 10:00am. While away an easy few hours exploring the Museum its artefacts, stories and fascinating Sunderland history. Why not take a mid-visit break and try coffee and a slice of home baked cake at the museums resident café Holmeside Coffee? If you would like to explore more of Sunderland's history why not call into Sunderland Libraries Local Studies Library at the Elephant Tea Rooms on Fawcett Street en route to the National Glass Centre?
Expect to spend 2-3 hours in the Museum.
Sunderland Museum, Library & Winter Gardens
National Glass Centre 1:30pm. Learn about the origins of glass making and take the opportunity to see how glassware is made, you may even get the chance to have a go yourself! A changing programme of glass exhibitions and the opportunity to buy a piece of handmade glass from the glass centre shop will not disappoint. Try lunch in the 'Glass Yard' restaurant while you relax with some stunning riverside views. The recently re located Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art rounds off the visit with its captivating and thought provoking exhibition programme.
Expect to spend 2 hours at the Centre.
Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art
Venerable Bede and St Peter's Church 4:00pm. A 10 minute walk from the National Glass Centre and Built in 674AD, St.Peters church is one of the most impressive examples of an Anglo-Saxon church. Once home to the Venerable Bede, one of our finest scholars St.Peters church and its history are bound to impress.
St Peter's Church, Monkwearmouth
Starting point: Sunderland Museum, Library & Winter Gardens
Sunderland Museum & winter gardens (Free)
Discover Sunderland's fascinating history in one place, with a collection dating back to 1846 there are plenty of surprises at Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens.
Perhaps the most famous object of all is Wallace the Lion.
Wallace was part of a touring wild animal show which visited Sunderland during the 1800's with the then famous African tamer Martini Maccomo. When he died, some years later Wallace the lion came into the Museum's collection and remains one of the most popular exhibits.
You'll also find hundreds of other amazing objects like the first Nissan car to roll off the production line at their Sunderland factory in 1986. The galleries cover the shipbuilding, glass and pottery making industries, the Anglo-Saxon period and many other aspects of the city's past.
The Art Gallery shows a significant collection of the works of LS Lowry, an artist who spent lots of time in Sunderland. The temporary exhibition and events programme means that there is always something new and exciting to see and do for all the family.
The Winter Gardens, a 21'st Century addition to the museum is a tropical paradise. Over 2,000 plants thrive in the glass rotunda and from the tree top walkway. Visitors have a bird's eye view of beautiful Mowbray Park. PLEASE NOTE - The Scenic Lift to the Treetop Walkway is currently out of use at the moment.
The most recent addition to the Museum & Winter Gardens building is the City Library @ the Museum & Winter Gardens.
Expect to spend 1 - 2 hours at the museum.
You may like to stop for tea / coffee and a delicious snack at the Museums resident café
Local studies Centre (Free)
Sunderland's Local Studies Centre is located on Fawcett Street just a short walk from the Museum building and en-route to the next official stop in this itinerary. If you would like to learn more about Sunderland's history or if you have a family link to the city which you would like to investigate then the friendly, informative staff will be more than happy to help and advise you.
National Glass Centre (Free)
You'll never look at, or through, glass in the same way again. Discover how glass arrived in Britain, how it's made and how it's become something we all take for granted at the National Glass Centre.
Learn how benedict Biscop first brought glass making to Sunderland, and Britain, in the 7th Century AD to produce glass for the impressive windows at Bishopwearmouth Monastery.
Find out how the craftsmen of Sunderland went on to produce some of the finest glass in the world for century after century. Marvel at the latest glass and ceramic art from some of the world's top artists and new artists studying at the National Glass Centre.
Then feel the heat of the furnace and witness for yourself the skill of the glass blower during a glass making demonstration.
Keep an eye out for opportunities to have a go yourself by taking part in a glass blowing experience. There's also regular glass based kids' activities particularly around school holiday times.
You can pick up your own souvenir or stunning example of glass art in the gift shop before taking a well-earned rest in the restaurant with its captivating views out onto the River Wear.
The most recent addition to the National Glass Centre is the Northern Gallery for contemporary Art.
The NGCA re-located and opened its doors in its new location in April 2018.
After 18 months creating a brand new space for art and artists in Sunderland, Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art reopened in a generous 3000 square foot space inside National Glass Centre. The exhibition programme has an initial focus on artists whose work is being created across Europe, whether made in the Alps or amongst Rome's fascist architecture, or from the most advanced laboratories in Italy to the eastern most city in the continent deep inside the former Soviet Union. The gallery's opening programme also celebrates the achievements of artists living and working in North-East England, who share new visions of how we live now. In each of its exhibitions in 2018, an artist will reveal a brand new body of work for the first time.
Expect to spend 2 hours plus in the National Glass Centre and the NGCA.
Whilst visiting the National Glass Centre you might like to stop for some lunch in their recently refurbished restaurant 'The Glass Yard':
St Peter's Church, Monkwearmouth (free)
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