Culture

Find out why Sunderland is home to some of the most visited cultural attractions in the country. Many cities can boast fantastic facilities for arts and culture, but the calibre and content of Sunderland's galleries, museums and theatres means that they regularly feature in critics' 'must-see' lists and attract travelling shows and exhibitions on their first stop outside London.

The interior of the recently refurbished Sunderland Empire is resplendent in red velvet and gold leaf, now pulling in even bigger crowds with its programme of major West End hits and one-off shows. In the Winter Gardens, rebuilt on the site of the original Victorian glass houses, a tropical rainforest flourishes with palms, tree ferns, bananas and citrus trees all housed in a stainless steel and glass rotunda. Overhead, a treetop walkway gives a birds-eye view of the lush canopy of foliage, complete with a 30ft water feature and individual micro climates.

Hidden from the vast media, Sunderland’s underground music scene is also something to watch out for when visiting the city. Bands and DJ’s of all genres strongly reflect the diversity of the scene, attracting large crowds from across the UK to regular gigs within the city’s countless venues.