One of the easiest ways for fans to get to the city is by rail, with the main railway station being Sunderland Railway Station which has direct train routes to the UK’s larger cities, including London, York, Leeds and Sheffield. There are indirect trains to other major cities like Manchester, Birmingham, and Glasgow. The train station is accessibly situated near the City Centre and local public transport services.
If you are travelling from Europe, Eurostar train services operate to / from London St Pancras Station, from where there are trains to Sunderland with a change at Kings Cross.
To plan your train journey, visit National Rail Enquiries website.
Park Lane Bus Interchange is the City’s main coach station and is serviced by National Express. The station is in the heart of the City Centre and offers services to many UK cities including London, Sheffield and Leeds. Book tickets in advance for the best fares and allow extra time during peak travel times.
From the South e.g. London or Birmingham you will need to head north on the M1 motorway or the A1. Sunderland is around 5 hours (275 miles) away from London and 3 hours 15 minutes from Birmingham (190 miles). From the North take the A1 southbound. From the West, e.g. Manchester, you will need to take the M62 motorway eastbound and join the A1 north, which takes around 2 hours 30 minutes.
Newcastle International Airport is the closest, around 22 miles from the city centre. The Metro connection from the airport to Sunderland takes around 55 minutes and runs 7 days a week from around 6am – midnight, departing every 15 minutes. Sunderland City Centre has 3 main Metro stops from the airport: Sunderland Central, Park Lane and St Peters.
A taxi from the airport to Sunderland City Centre takes around 30 – 45 minutes and can cost between £25 - £40, although this may vary depending on the time of day and taxi provider used. For further information on local taxis refer to the ‘Getting around Sunderland’ section below.
Car hire is available at the airport for visitors looking to drive themselves. Several major rental companies operate here, and advance booking is recommended during peak travel times.
