Things at National Glass Centre are a little different as we continue to address the storm damage to the riverside front of the building. Find out more in our Visitor Information

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For National Glass Centre & Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art

This story is to help you plan your visit to National Glass Centre and Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art.

There are so many things to see and do in National Glass Centre. You can visit for free and stay as long as you like within opening times.

Check current open times

Getting to National Glass Centre

You can travel to National Glass Centre in lots of ways.

Most people travel here by car, train or bus.

If you travel by car, there is a car park right outside the building.

You might travel by bus. There are bus stops at St. Peter’s Campus and Roker Avenue which are only a short walk away.

St. Peter’s station is the closest Metro station to the National Glass Centre.

It is a ten minute walk away.

An empty car park with a bank of green grass around it and trees and bushes behind it. In the distance is a bus stop and round about to enter the car park.

Car park and entry road to National Glass Centre

Arriving at Reception

As you walk up to National Glass Centre, you will see the doors to the reception.

There is a revolving door in the middle.

There is a door that opens when you push the square push pad on the right of the revolving door.

This area can be busy when groups are visiting. The reception area can be very bright on sunny days and can get very warm. It can get quite noisy in reception.

You can hear music, sounds from the café and people talking in other parts of the building.

There will be a member of staff at the reception desk when you arrive. This person can help if you need anything, but you don’t need to stop here if you don’t want to.

An entrance to the National Glass Centre. A set of glass revolving doors at the centre. To the right, regular glass double doors with metal pull handles. To the left, a matching set of double doors operated by a metal button on the wall adjacent.

Front entrance next to the car park

The Learning Studio

The Learning Studio is to the left of Reception. There are tables and chairs in here. There are also colouring materials and toys.

You might visit The Learning Studio to take part in an activity. When there are no activities in this room, you can use it as a quiet space or to enjoy the children’s activities and toys in here.

A white corridor with framed pictures on the walls. At the end of the corridor is a glass door that looks into a learning studio. It has colourful furniture and looks out onto a bunch of greenery.

Corridor to Learning Studio

The Collection Space

The Collection Space is next to the reception desk.

The things on display in this space change during the year.

There is a screen and a projector showing short films about art.

This space is small and dark.

There is music playing sometimes which you can hear in Reception.

A light grey, round room seen from the outside which has writing printed on the side in black text. The entrance to the room has an angular archway with an overhanging ceiling. Inside is dark, and you can see a light picture on the wall.

NGCA Collections Space

Stories of Glass in Sunderland

This area is to the left of Reception and has lots of interesting parts.

You will be able to learn about the history of glass making in Sunderland.

There are information films to watch, audio guides to listen to, touch screens and displays to press and touch. There are also a selection of glass tools that you can touch. And a stained glass activity that lets you create your own patterns with coloured squares on a light box.

There is a small desk and chairs and an activity trolley in this area too. You can sit at the desk if you want to. You will find things to build and colour here.

A long dimly-lit area with space next to the right that has a small set of table and chairs for children. The table has coloured pencils and there is a large blue box on wheels that has 'Activity Trolley' written on it. Past the activity desk is a blue arched exhibition area that has glass cabinets fastened into the walls displaying different items.

Stories of Glass in Sunderland exhibition space.

The Glass Yard

The Glass Yard is the name of the café. You can buy food and drinks here.

There are menus on the tables telling you what is available to buy.

There is a selection of soft drinks and cakes on display at the counter.

There are food smells, kitchen sounds and music in this area.

It can be very bright and warm in here on a sunny day.

A café with two white walls and one wall of glass overlooking greenery and University buildings. Inside the room are multiple brown tables with black chairs and pictures on the wall. People are sat at some of the tables with food and drinks

The Glass Yard cafe

Hot Glass Demonstration Area

This area is open to visitors during our opening times. You are welcome to come in and watch the Glass Blowers working and you can ask questions at any time.

Demonstrations are shown in here at different times throughout the day. You can check our website for these times. During the demonstrations, the seating area can become very busy.

The people doing demonstrations talk to the audience through a microphone. They explain what they are doing with the hot glass.

The seating area is a bank of benches. You can sit in the front row without climbing up any steps. There are spaces for wheelchairs in front of the seating bank.

This area can become very warm. If you feel uncomfortable, you can leave at any time.

A glass making studio behind a low white wall. There are large metal cylinders set to the back of the room. In front of them a person sits at a work bench with their hand on a long metal rod which has molten glass on the end. Above them are two tv screens, on its showing a close up of the person working.

Hot Glass Demonstration Area

Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art

You will need to be outside to go into Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art. There are signs you can follow that will lead you from the car park area to the door that is down a bank towards the riverside.

You are welcome to go in and look around.

There may be a member of staff sitting or standing in this room.

This staff member is here to talk to visitors who would like to know more information about the art on display.

If you have any questions about the art you see, please ask the member of staff. You don’t have to talk to this person if you don’t want to. You can just go in and look around yourself.

A paved area outside of a glass building with a silver wall on the left. A grey sign stuck to the glass wall on the right has white text on it that reads 'Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art'. Below the text is an arrow pointing left to an open door. A person walks towards the door.

Entrance to Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art.

Toilets

There is an accessible toilet to the right of the reception desk and another to the left of the reception desk near the Learning Studio. These toilets are locked, and you will have to ask a member of staff at reception for the key.

There are standard toilets to the right of the reception desk too.

These are always open for visitors to use.

Two grey toilet doors along a white wall. One has a picture representing a man on it and the other has a picture representing a woman on it. In between them is a hand sanitising station and two posters in frames.

Toilets on the first floor, located to the right of the reception desk.

Places to Rest

There are seats located around the building if you need to rest or would just like some time out.

If you need a quiet space to go, please ask a member of staff and they will help you.

A curved white desk with a grey cushioned seat set into the side of it. Behind the desk a person sits in front of a computer. There is a leaflet holder on the desk next to the seat.

Reception desk with sofas