How to get here

Sunderland's closest airport is Newcastle International Airport.

If you have flown to Newcastle from outside the UK, you will access the airport terminal via the international arrival gate.

If you have taken a connecting flight from another UK airport, you will arrive via the domestic arrivals gate, and this is the gate closest to the Metro station.

 You will have several options for travelling to Sunderland city centre:

• Get a taxi from the airport – a taxi journey from the airport can cost between £45 and £60, depending on time and availability. You can confirm the price before you book your travel
• Metro is the region's light rail transport network. It is frequent, reliable and affordable. Many students use the Metro to travel from the airport to Sunderland. The Metro ride from the airport to Sunderland city centre takes about an hour.

Sunderland Station is the city’s main rail hub, where all train services arrive. It has connections to a range of major cities, including Newcastle, York, and London.

Located in the city centre, it’s about a 10–15 minute walk to City Campus and 20–30 minutes to St Peter’s Campus via the scenic Wearmouth Bridge. For a quicker route, you can take the Metro from Sunderland Central to St Peter’s Campus and walk along the riverside (around 15 minutes).

There are also taxis available from outside the main station entrance, and a Metro stop for onward travel.

Park Lane is the main bus hub in the city, and the station also has a Metro stop with the same name. City Campus is a short walk away, and the city's main shopping area can be reached in under five minutes.

Sunderland Coach Station is also located at Park Lane Interchange.

The University is well-connected by a range of local bus services. To find the best route for your journey, we recommend using Traveline.

Free travel options for staff and students

• Sunderland Connect Bus (700/701) – Free for both students and staff. Show your University campus card when boarding. These buses operate from multiple stops across Sunderland and provide direct access to both campuses
• Campus Circular Bus – Exclusively available to students. Show your campus card to travel free of charge. This service runs between student accommodation sites across the city and both campuses.

If you're a new student and don't yet have your campus card, you can get a temporary bus pass on Compass (login required).

Campus bus timetable

Team Sunderland operates the campus minibus, a circular day service that runs between both campuses and the city centre during term-time, Monday to Friday. You can find the full timetable on SharePoint (login required).

For any queries, please contact transport@sunderland.ac.uk.

The Metro system is split into two lines. The green line covers the airport, Newcastle, Gateshead and Sunderland. Ticket machines accept both card and cash payments.

If you are travelling from the Airport to Sunderland, you need to buy a ticket that covers zones A, B, and C. You can change the language on the ticket machines. Only one line services the airport, so don't worry about getting on the wrong line. The journey will take around one hour.

The two ticket options are:

• Single – One-way only, ideal for trips like from the airport to your accommodation
• Daysaver – Unlimited travel in chosen zones for a day. This is often cheaper than buying multiple singles.

The nearest Metro stop varies depending on your destination. These are the closest Metro stations to our locations:

• City Campus: University
• Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter’s, Panns Bank and Scotia Quay: St Peter's.

Stops of interest also include:

• Stadium of Light: For Sunderland's historic football club
• Seaburn: Ideal for visiting Sunderland's fantastic beaches
• Newcastle Central Station – Newcastle's biggest train station with National Rail connections
• Park Lane – Sunderland's main bus station. It also has a Metro stop providing direct access to the city centre.

Cycle storage

All Metro stations have cycle storage facilities or are located nearby. If you want to make cycling part of your journey, you can leave your bike securely locked to one of the cycle racks, Streetpods or in a smart cycle locker and continue with your journey by Metro.