Heritage & History in Sunderland
Historic buildings, walking trails, museums, churches, and the stories behind the streets of Sunderland.
Upcoming Events
View all →Witches, Fairies and Satan: Folk Tales of County Durham
1:00 PM · Arts Centre Washington
£4Frozen Assets
7:30 PM · Arts Centre Washington
£10Spotlight: Washington Open Exhibition 2026
See website · Arts Centre Washington
FREELooking for the Signs: Clive Davis
See website for opening hours · Arts Centre Washington
FREEFeatured Guides
More Guides
All guides →
St Peter's Church, Monkwearmouth and the Venerable Bede
The story of St Peter's, Monkwearmouth: Benedict Biscop's monastery of 674, the boyhood of Bede, the books made here, the layers of the building and how to visit today.
The Bridges of Sunderland: Crossing the Wear
A heritage guide to the bridges over the Wear in Sunderland, from the Wearmouth Bridge and the 1879 railway bridge to the Queen Alexandra Bridge, Northern Spire and Keel Crossing.
The Lambton Worm: Wearside's Dragon Legend
The Lambton Worm beyond the song: the two hills that claim the legend, the curse on the Lambton family, the 1867 song, Lambton Castle and where the worm turns up in books, film and football.
Houghton Feast: Houghton-le-Spring's October Festival
A guide to Houghton Feast, the October festival in Houghton-le-Spring with roots in the 12th century: its history, Bernard Gilpin and the ox roast, and what a typical Feast week includes.
Shipbuilding on the Wear: The Yards, the Liberty Ship and the SD14
The story of Sunderland's shipyards, from Thomas Menville in 1346 to Thompson's Liberty ship design, the SD14 and the 1988 closure, with where to see the river's shipbuilding past today.
Coal Mining in Sunderland: Pits, Railways and the Miners' Legacy
Sunderland's coal mining story, from the Hetton Colliery Railway and the deep Monkwearmouth pit to Ryhope, Silksworth, Herrington and the Washington F Pit, with the memorials you can visit today.
Local Places
Full directory →Sunderland Empire
CommunitySunderland's large-scale theatre on High Street West, opened in 1907 and now run by Ambassador Theatre Group, staging touring musicals, plays, comedy and the annual pantomime.
The Fire Station
CommunityLive music and performance venue in Sunderland's former Central Fire Station, with a purpose-built auditorium for around 550 seated or 800 standing, plus a bar and restaurant in the old engine house.
Culture House
CommunitySunderland's new multi-purpose cultural building on Keel Square, opened in September 2026, home to the City Library, exhibition space and bookable rooms.
Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens
CommunitySunderland's main museum, art gallery and glasshouse beside Mowbray Park, currently closed for a £13.6m redevelopment, with collections shown at pop-up events around the city in the meantime.
Arts Centre Washington
CommunityCommunity arts centre in a converted farmstead in Fatfield, run by Sunderland Culture, with performances, exhibitions, classes, artists' studios and the Courtyard Bar and Cafe.
Omniplex Cinema Sunderland
CommunityTwelve-screen city-centre cinema on Lambton Street in Sunniside, run by Omniplex in the former Empire cinema, with a MAXX large-format screen and a first-floor premium area.