Check our handy map to help find Things to Do in Sunderland with Kids, with something for all ages including play cafes, soft plays, cinemas, museums, the best parks, walks & playgrounds, and lots more. More details in our A-Z below
Details are subject to change, please check directly with providers for the latest updates, opening times and booking requirements.
Sunday – Thursday: 9.30am – 8pm
Friday – Saturday: 9.30am – 9pm
Timber Beach Road, Castledown, Sunderland, SR5 3HR
Tel: 08701 977245
Brewers Fayre pub with large multi-tiered soft play, with slide, ball pit, climbing, bridges and toddler area. Large grassy enclosed outdoor seating area. Serving pub classics.
90 minutes of play: £3
📌 Boldon Leisure Park, Abingdon Way, Boldon, Sunderland, NE35 9PB
‘Movies For Juniors’ are weekly discounted screenings of kids films on Saturday and Sunday mornings, from £2.50 or new releases from £5.50.
👉 For more info, visit @cineboldon
📌 Houghton-le-Spring, Sunderland, DH5 8JG
Large and small domestic and exotic animals, with handling/feeding sessions. Plus plenty of outdoor activities including two outdoor adventure play areas, jumping pillows, sandpit, tube maze, tractor-trailer rides, quad biking, barrel ride and racing car track.
👉 For more info, visit @AnimalfunfarmÂ
🎫 From £6.45 | Family from £23 (under 2 years: free)
*Opening hours vary seasonally, usually closed Nov-Jan apart from special events
📌 Chester Road, Penshaw, Sunderland, DH4 7EL
Park with walking and cycling trails, play area with sandpit, skate park, lake, environmental sculptures and amphitheatre. Cafe serving lunch and main meals.
👉 For more info, visit Sunderland City Council
📌 Galleries Retail Park, Washington, Sunderland, NE38 7RZ
American themed ten pin bowling alley, with amusements and American diner.
👉 For more info, visit @HWBWashington
🎫 From £5.35-£6.35pp | Families from £22.23
📌 12 Donkin Road, Washington, Sunderland, NE37 1PF
Role play cafe with supermarket, beauty salon, doctors, seaside, construction, fire engine, ride on toys, caterpillar tunnel, soft play shapes and designated baby room. Regular activities and events, including character guest appearances. Serving snacks and treats.
👉 For more info, visit @It’s A Small World Washington
🎫 From £6 per child
📌 Hangmans Lane, Sunderland, SR3 2PR
One of the largest karting circuits in the UK, with a highly experienced team, paintball (age 8+), competitive archery and tomahawk games (age 8+) and the fastest hire off-road rage buggies in the UK (age 12+).
👉 For more info, visit @knekartingnortheast
🎫 From £25pp
From age 8+
📌John Street, Sunderland, SR1 1RH
An action packed sci-fi adventure with infra red equipment and a futuristic body pack. Navigate the Labyrinth, with mazes and catwalks on two levels, swirling fog and other effects. Laser Quest is also the home of Clue HQ live escape game and Galaxy Quest Minigolf.
👉 For more info, visit @LQSunderland
🎫 From £5.95pp
Recommended age 7+
📌 Washington Millennium Centre, Concord, Washington, Sunderland, NE37 2QD
Garden themed 4-tiered soft play, including separate 2-tiered toddler soft play and baby area with toys and soft play shapes. Also ride-on toys and football court. Cafe serving breakfast and lunch.
👉 For more info, visit @washingtonmillenniumcentre
🎫 From £3-£4 per child (under 1 year free)
📌 Liberty Way, Sunderland, SR6 0GL
Gallery exhibitions, daily glass making demonstrations and a virtual glass making game, plus borrow a kids adventure backpack with activity cards and colouring activities (£5 refundable deposit, ages 4+). Regular family workshops including glass painting, glass fusing and sandblasting. Cafe serving breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea.
👉 For more info, visit @nationalglasscentresunderland
🎫 Free, donations welcome.
📌 Roker Park Road, Sunderland, SR6 9NB
Miles of sandy beach with wide promenade and restored pier, with various cafes and restaurants at Pier Point. Easy seafront walk to Seaburn beach and beyond. Nearby is Roker Park, with formal gardens, lake, sports courts, two play areas and a miniature train ride.
👉 For more info, visit Sunderland City Council
📌 4 Lambton Street, Sunderland SR1 1TP
Empire Jnrs are discounted classic family films and recent releases shown every Saturday and Sunday morning. Parent & Baby screenings of latest releases are every Monday morning, with ‘lights up’ and ‘sound down’ for a more relaxing social environment with young children in mind (0-2 years).
👉 For more info, visit @empirecinemassunderland
📌 4-5 High Street West, Sunderland, SR1 3EX
Packed program with family-friendly theatre shows.
👉 For more info, visit @SunderlandEmpire
📌 Burdon Road, Sunderland, SR1 1PP
Museum with interactive exhibits on local history. Winter Gardens greenhouse with tropical plants, water features, treetop walkway and dinosaurs hidden among the plants.
👉 Free. For more info, visit @sunderlandmuseu
Tours are available most days (excluding matchdays), contact to book.
Stadium of Light, Sunderland, SR5 1SU
Tel: 0191 551 5055
Take your mini-footballer to see the black cats and they’ll be made to feel like a professional footballer. Take a walk through the tunnel, and hear all about the club’s history.
Adults: £10.00
Concessions: £5.00
Family ticket (2 adults, 2 children): £25.00
(Includes an official tour certificate).
📌 Pallion Quay, Sunderland, SR4 6TQ
Boasting a 23 metre lead wall, over 900m2 of climbing and bouldering and over 120 routes, suitable for all abilities. There’s a range of classes and kids clubs, including a bouldering class for ages 3 – 7 years. Equipment hire available on site.
👉 For more info, visit @sunderlandwall159
🎫 From £5-£7pp
Age 3+
📌 Barmston Village Centre, Washington, Sunderland, NE38 8JA
A not-for-profit play cafe with a small indoor play area with toys for babies and toddlers, plus a large secure outdoor area with slides, pirate ship, ride-on toys, playhouse and wooden train. Regular activities and events. Serving snacks and treats.
👉 For more info, visit @feedsunderland
🎫 Free (charges apply for selected events & activities)
📌 9-10 Station Rd, Sunderland, SR6 9AA
We host play sessions for babies to pre-schoolers, special events and daily classes Рsuch as sensory sessions, music, ballet and even a Friday disco! Caf̩ with a quality, homemade menu. Located right next to Seaburn Metro Station for easy transport links.
👉 For more info, visit @theplaycafesunderland
🎫 Stay & Play free (£5 booking fee, used towards purchases from café). Sibling ticket free.
📌 Pallion Residents Enterprise, Sunderland, SR4 6SN
An immersive experience where you’re locked in a series of rooms and presented with a live escape game filled with clues and puzzles, you and your team must work your way out.
👉 For more info, visit @The Strategy Sunderland – Live Escape Games
🎫 Prices start from £40.
📌 25 New Durham Road, Sunderland, SR2 7AA
Drop-in Stay & Play with Sensory Room and Tots Room, with a new theme each week and activities aimed to encourage development. A packed timetable of weekly sessions for a range of ages, such as cookery, science sessions and illustrator workshops.
👉 For more info, visit @totsanddotssunderland
🎫 From £4.95 (sibling discounts available)
📌 Hylton Road, Sunderland, SR4 7XS
Soft Play for ages 0-8 years, including a designated baby & toddler area.
👉 For more info, visit @tumblesworld
🎫 From £1.50-£6 per child
📌 Boldon Leisure Park, Boldon Colliery, Sunderland, NE35 9PB
Pub with multi-tiered soft play and separate toddler area with slide and ball pit. Regular craft sessions held included in entry price. Free outdoor play area. Serving breakfast, lunch and main meals.
👉 For more info, visit @wackywarehouse.boldon
🎫 From £3.50 per child (under 1 year free)
Monthly unlimited pass from £7.50.
Toddler discount weekdays 9:30am – 3pm: £2.25 (term-time only)
📌 Washington, NE38 7SS
Multi-tiered soft play including ball pit with suction tubes and toddler slide. Cafe serving lunch and treats.
👉 For more info, visit @eaWashingtonLC
🎫 From £1-£6.65
📌 The Avenue, Washington Village, Sunderland, NE38 7LE
A National Trust manor house with displays on life during the 17th century, with compact gardens including an orchard, nuttery and vegetable patch. A children’s quiz/trail is available and there’s an outdoor play frame with slide. Tea room serving light bites and treats.
👉 For more info, visit @WashingtonOldHall
🎫 From £3.35 – £6.70 pp / Family from £10.10 – £16.75
Seasonal opening hours, closed between Nov-April
