Access & Facilities

The Museum and Winter Gardens is on the edge of Mowbray Park in the city centre. It does not have its own dedicated car park. The nearest pay and display car park is at the Civic Centre, approximately 200m from the Museum and Winter Gardens entrance, down hill along Burdon Road. Tatham Street open air car park is also close by. The entrance to the Museum is approximately 400m walk, past Tavistock Place then either along the North Terrace of the Park or along Borough Road. There are several designated bays for disabled drivers close to the Museum entrance on Burdon Road and some on John Street approx 100m away.

The nearest Metro station is Sunderland. This station also operates trains to Newcastle and Middlesbrough and is about a 100m walk from the Museum. The nearest bus station is the Sunderland Interchange, this is a 500m walk from the Museum. The nearest taxi rank is close to the Sunderland Metro station. Taxis, coaches and mini buses may use the extended bus stop at the Museum entrance on Burdon Road for dropping off and picking up passengers.

There is a level access entrance to the Museum on Burdon Road. A set of automatic doors leads to the front desk and shop area. The Museum’s galleries and displays are then accessed up a wide corridor which has a shallow incline.

Please note:  As part of the phased reopening of the Museum in July 2020, entry will be through the normal main entrance but exit will now be through the new Learning Space (accessible). Clear signage will be displayed advising of the exit points and staff will be on hand to direct visitors throughout the museum

There are lifts and stairs providing access to all floors and the Winter Gardens Treetop Walk. The lifts have tactile buttons. All floors have level access. There are power assisted doors to the main areas of the Museum, these are operated by push pads.

*Please note that the Scenic Lift is currently out of order to the Winter Gardens Treetop Walk. Work is taking place to fix the issues and we hope to have it full working order soon.*

There are audio points in some galleries. These are found in Sunderland Pottery, Secrets of the Past and 20th Century Sunderland.

On the ground floor there are male and female accessible toilets and a unisex family toilet with accessible baby changing facilities. Other unisex accessible toilets can be found on each floor. The accessible toilet on the second floor next to the Art Gallery is a closomat toilet. The learning rooms on the ground floor have male and female accessible toilets (these are only available to groups using the learning rooms).

Please note: Signage and practical measures have been put in place to encourage visitors to social distance when using our toilet facilities. Please be aware this may mean you may need to wait longer than usual

We welcome assistance dogs and can provide a bowl of water on request.

There is a selection of seating throughout the Museum where visitors can rest. Lightweight foldable chairs are available for visitors with mobility issues in the Art and Special Exhibition Galleries.

There is a phone box close to the Museum’s entrance. The Museum phone can be used in an emergency or to book taxis for disabled visitors.

We have one manual wheelchair available for use by visitors these can be pre-booked in advance of the day of your visit. There is no charge for this service.

The fire alarms give an audible tone and visual flashing light warning. The lifts cannot be used in the event of a fire. There are evac-chairs to assist disabled people to exit the building and safe fire refuge points to await evacuation. These are clearly signposted. If you are likely to need assistance to exit the building in the event of a fire alarm please tell a member of staff on your arrival.

There are large print and tactile maps with Braille positioned throughout the Museum.

Please note: Due to current circumstances, only the ground floor areas will be accessible from July 13th 2020. The upper floors of the Museum will re-opening in phases over the following weeks. For hygiene purposes, some of our interactive displays will be closed off for the time being. Please keep an eye on our homepage for up-to-date information on reopening.

Films and Interactive Displays
There are various interactives in all galleries and tactile objects too they include:

Ground Floor
•The Time Machine – dressing up clothes for children.
•Sunderland Pottery – an audio track describes the conditions of the pottery workers in Victorian times.
•Secrets of the Past – an audio track describes the burial remains found at Hastings Hill. The gallery includes several items open to touch including a stratigraphy wall showing archaeological finds in layers.
• Coal – subtitled film drama describing the life of children working in the mines during Victorian times.
•Winter Gardens – the pond and stream edgings are highlighted with white strips. A range of plant materials such as fruits and seeds are open to touch on the Treetop Walk. An audio tour for visually impaired visitors is available at reception.

First Floor
• 20th Century Sunderland – soundtracks with subtitles describe the lives of four Sunderland women at different times during the 20th Century.
• Lost Worlds – several fossils are on open display.
•Worlds Alive – there is a film of wild animals with a soundtrack of animal sounds.

Second Floor
•Art Gallery – There is a tactile version of the oil painting Dockside, Sunderland.

Third Floor
• Launched on Wearside – two model ship hulls with Braille labels.

Special Exhibitions, Events and Learning Family Activities
Throughout the year, the Museum holds a wide variety of exhibitions, events and activities. For further information please contact us.

The Museum does not usually provide guided tours but if your group would like to have one please contact the Museum and we will do what we can to provide a guide. Three weeks notice should be given.

Holmeside Coffee serves a wide selection of hot and cold drinks, cakes, sandwiches and meals. The café has a range of seating. The shop sells books, cards, gifts and souvenirs as well as a good selection of cheaper items for children.

For more information: https://sunderlandculture.org.uk/our-venues/sunderland-museum-winter-gardens/food-and-drink/ 

All staff are here to help visitors enjoy the time they spend in our venues. If there is anything that we can do to make your visit more enjoyable please contact us, we will be happy to assist you.
Contact Us
Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens
Burdon Road, Sunderland, SR1 1PP
Telephone: (0191) 561 2323
Textphone: 18001 0191 561 2323
Fax: (0191) 553 7828
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.sunderlandmuseum.org.uk

We make every attempt to make our venues as accessible as possible but some aspects of the building and the nature of the exhibitions we show sometimes make it difficult to make everything fully accessible.

Here are some examples:

i) The Museum building is Grade 2 listed. Although the building has seen several changes over the years, the main structure of the building and some of the original fixtures and fittings (ie doors) are protected which means it cannot be altered without the permission of English Heritage whose role it is to try whenever possible to preserve buildings in their original form. For example flat street level entrance into the Museum could only be achieved through the building of the extension (which opened in 2001) rather than altering the stepped entrance to the original building which we were not allowed to do.

ii) Many of our exhibits need to be protected from damage caused either accidentally by visitors or indeed by the environments in which they are displayed. While many of our exhibits are displayed in cases we do try to put items on open display where the object is not at risk. However this is not always possible. Where items are on open display it is important that the ambient relative humidity and temperature of the gallery is maintained and at a constant level. This means that doors leading into and out of a gallery will need to be closed. There are other occasions when items on open display need to be protected and cannot be touched. In this instance you may find that there are some low slung barriers which will indicate how close you can get to something.

Again, if you require further assistance, please ask a member of staff but remember you will not be allowed to touch it. Light levels in exhibitions of paintings and of costume and textiles need to be low.