Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens
Inspiring imagination and senses
A museum, art gallery, exhibition space and Winter Gardens combine to create a stunning visitor attraction in the heart of the city centre. Exciting displays interpret the wide variety of collections, using hands-on exhibits, computer interactives and video presentations.
There has been a museum in Sunderland for two hundred years. At first privately run, the Museum was taken over by the Borough Council in 1846 and was the first publicly funded museum in the country to be established outside London.
The collections continued to grow and once again more space was needed. In the 1960s a new extension was created, on the site where the first Winter Gardens had stood. This made Sunderland Museum one of the largest municipal museums in the country.
Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens combines a museum, art gallery, exhibition space and Winter Gardens to create a stunning visitor attraction in the heart of the city centre.
In the Museum, discover the history of the city from its prehistoric past to the present day. Exciting displays interpret the wide variety of collections, using hands-on exhibits, computer interactives and video presentations.
The Art Gallery features paintings by L S Lowry together with Victorian masterpieces and artefacts from the four corners of the world.
The stunning Winter Gardens stimulate the senses with over 2,000 flowers and plants brought together in a spectacular showcase of the world's natural beauty. The museum holds an exciting programme of temporary exhibitions which are accompanied by activities and events for all ages. Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens is managed by Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums on behalf of Sunderland City Council.
VISITORS INFORMATION:
Opening Hours
Monday - Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 2pm - 5pm
Closed: 25 & 26 December & 1 January.
Admission is free.
By Public Transport
Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens is situated in Sunderland city centre on Burdon Road, a short walk from both Sunderland Metro and train station and Park Lane Interchange.
Facilities:
Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens has the following facilities for visitors:
Level access route available avoiding ramps or steps
Lift
Accessible toilets
Male and female toilet facilities
Assistance available if required
Facilities for deaf people and hard of hearing
Facilities for blind and partially sighted people
Assistance and Guide dogs admitted
Baby changing facilities
Café
Gift shop
By Car
Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens is in the heart of the city just a short walk away from many of the city's car parks. The nearest public car park is Tavistock Place (free on Sundays).
Parking
There are accessible parking bays for blue badge holders on Burdon Road, opposite the museum entrance.
The nearest drop-off point by taxi, dial-a-ride, car or coach is on Burdon Road close to the Museum entrance.
Entrance
There is flat level access to the Museum. You will enter the Museum through a curved automatic sliding glass door. Here you will find the shop and reception area. You enter the Museum galleries through a second automatic sliding door.
Toilets and Baby Changing
There are accessible unisex toilets on every floor of the Museum and separate male and female toilets on the ground floor. There is baby changing in the ground floor female toilets and in all the accessible toilets.
Eating at Eden Café
The café is on the ground floor. Hot and cold drinks are available and meals and sandwiches at lunchtime. Large print menus, menu explainers, large handled cutlery and open ended handled mugs are available on request.
Address:
Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens
Burdon Road,
Sunderland,
SR1 1PP