Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens

Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens is a great place for the whole family to spend a day, giving you lots to see and do. Situated in the heart of the city, the museum has four floors of exciting galleries and exhibitions waiting to be discovered. Learn the story of the city and its people and of fascinating worlds beyond.

A programme of special exhibitions features both our own amazing collections as well as some of the nation's treasures, brought here throughout links with national museums. Regular events and activities for all ages, mean that there are so many reasons to come back, again and again. Admission to the museum is free. Charges may apply to some exhibitions. Opening Times: Monday to Saturday 10am - 4pm and 12 - 4pm Sundays.

Wallace was part of a touring wild animal show which visited Sunderland during the 1800s with the then famous African tamer Martini Maccomo. When he died, some years later Wallace the lion, came into the Museum’s collection and remains one of the most popular exhibits. Over 135 years later, he’s still here…posing for selfies!

You’ll also find hundreds of other amazing objects like the first Nissan car to roll off the production line at their Sunderland factory in 1986. Galleries cover the shipbuilding, glass and pottery making industries the Anglo-Saxon period and many other aspects of the city’s past.

The Art Gallery shows a significant collection of the works of LS Lowry an artist who spent lots of time in Sunderland. The temporary exhibition and events programme mean that there is always something new and exciting to see and do for all the family.

The Winter Gardens, a 21st Century addition to the museum is a tropical paradise. Over 2,000 plants thrive in the glass rotunda and from the tree top walkway visitors have a bird’s eye view of beautiful Mowbray Park.

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