Hylton Castle

Hylton Castle is one of Sunderland's best gems, and is the second oldest building in Sunderland. Situated in its own grounds alongside St. Catherine's Chapel, the castle contains four floors of family accommodation and its entrance displays royal and family heraldry including Richard II's white hart badge. 

Tourists and locals flock every year to view the castle and its grounds, making it a great sightseeing opportunity for families, history buffs and explorers alike. 

Hylton Castle as it stands today was erected in the late 14th to early 15th century. Originally  built from wood by the Hylton family shortly after the Norman Conquest of 1066, the castle remained a principal seat for the family until 1746.

Like most ancient buildings, the castle is said to have its own ghost - the Cauld Lad, for those who are interested in spooky goings on throughout the North East.

Hylton Castle has recently been awarded by a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) award to bring the Grade I listed castle back to community use. You can even volunteer to get involved with the plans to open the castle as a community facility and official visitor attraction. This will involve the building of classrooms, a cafe and spaces for exhibitions, meetings and events. 

How To Get There

Hylton Castle is located on Craigavon Road near Sunderland and can be reached by car via North Hylton Road. It is approximately a 15 minute drive from Sunderland city centre. 

You can also reach Hylton Castle by bus using Stagecoach service routes 3 and 13, as well as Go North East services 26 and 56. You can also use a bus transport link service if travelling via Metro to Seaburn station. 

Opening hours

To view Hylton Castle opening hours, please click here.