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Sunderland

England, United Kingdom · Europe

About Sunderland

Sunderland is worth a stop: 5 minutes from Ryhope, 57km from High Force Waterfall.

Sunderland is a city located in England, United Kingdom. With a population of 170,134, it is an important destination in Europe.

On a road trip, Sunderland sits in United Kingdom, where you drive on the left. It's in the Europe/London time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Sunderland to your route.

About Sunderland

Sunderland ( ) is a port city in the county of Tyne and Wear, North East England. It is a port at the mouth of the River Wear on the North Sea, approximately 10 miles (16 km) south-east of Newcastle upon Tyne. It is the most populous settlement in the Wearside conurbation and the second-most populous settlement, after

Read more Newcastle. It is the administrative centre of the wider Metropolitan Borough of Sunderland. The centre of the modern city is an amalgamation of three settlements founded in the Anglo-Saxon era: Monkwearmouth, on the north bank of the Wear, and Sunderland and Bishopwearmouth on the south bank. Monkwearmouth contains St Peter's Church, which was founded in 674 and formed part of Monkwearmouth–Jarrow Abbey, a significant centre of learning in the seventh and eighth centuries. Sunderland was a fishing settlement and later a port, being granted a town charter in 1179. The city traded in coal and salt, also developing a shipbuilding industry in the fourteenth century and a glassmaking industry in the seventeenth century. Sunderland was once known as 'the largest shipbuilding town in the world' and made a quarter of all of the world's ships in its yards. Following the decline of its traditional industries in the late 20th century, the area became an automotive building centre. In 1992, the borough of Sunderland was granted city status. Sunderland was historically a part of County Durham, it was incorporated into the ceremonial county of Tyne and Wear in 1974. Locals are sometimes known as Mackems, a term which came into common use in the 1970s. Its use and acceptance by residents, particularly among the older generations, is not universal. The term is also applied to the Sunderland dialect, which shares similarities with the other North-East England dialects.

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in Sunderland

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Sunderland?

Sunderland offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.

How do I plan a road trip to Sunderland?

Plan your road trip to Sunderland with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Sunderland as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Where is Sunderland located?

Sunderland is located in England, United Kingdom, Europe. The coordinates are 54.9046 latitude, -1.3822 longitude.

What is the population of Sunderland?

Sunderland has a population of approximately 170,134 people, making it a city in United Kingdom.

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Quick Information

Population
170,134
Continent
Europe
Country
United Kingdom
Region
England
Timezone
Europe/London
Coordinates
54.9046, -1.3822

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in United Kingdom

Police
999
Ambulance
999
Fire
999
Non-emergency police
101
Driving side
left

112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.

Full driving guide for United Kingdom

Tags

EuropeUnited KingdomEnglandCity

Worth the detour from Sunderland

5 notable places within an hour's drive.

landmark

Angel of the North

Striking 20-metre steel sculpture with a 54-metre wingspan standing on a hilltop in Gateshead, England.

13 km · about 25 min drive

cathedral

Durham Cathedral

UNESCO-listed Romanesque masterpiece perched above the River Wear, widely regarded as the finest Norman building in England.

19 km · about 20 min drive

racetrack

Croft Circuit

A former World War II airfield in North Yorkshire that hosts BTCC and is known for its mix of fast straights and tight chicanes.

51 km · about 60 min drive

photogenic

Staithes

Former fishing village of red-roofed cottages stacked into a cleft in the North Yorkshire cliffs, where Captain Cook worked as a grocer's boy. Park at the top and walk down: the harbour view from Cowbar Nab is the classic shot.

54 km · about 65 min drive

waterfall

High Force Waterfall

England's largest waterfall by volume, plunging 21 metres over the Whin Sill escarpment in a cloud of spray in Upper Teesdale.

57 km · about 65 min drive

Driving roads near Sunderland

  • 70 kmRosedale Chimney BankOne of England's steepest roads, hitting 1-in-3 (33%) as it climbs from Rosedale Abbey onto the North York Moors past old ironstone kilns. A rite of passage for drivers and cyclists; caravans are banned.
  • 76 kmHartside PassThe A686's grand sweep over the North Pennines between Penrith and Alston, climbing to 580m through wide hairpins with views across the Eden Valley to the Lake District fells. A celebrated drivers' and bikers' road.

Driving in United Kingdom

Drives on
the left
Petrol
~€1.73/litre
Motorway tolls
None

When to drive here

April to October

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near Sunderland.

Ryhope

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

4 km awayPop. 14,000

East Boldon

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

5 km awayPop. 5,001

Whitburn

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

5 km awayPop. 5,352

The Boldons

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

6 km awayPop. 13,567

Seaham

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

8 km awayPop. 22,373

Washington

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

9 km awayPop. 67,085

Houghton-Le-Spring

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

9 km awayPop. 36,746

Murton

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

10 km awayPop. 7,413

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Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence