Souter Lighthouse

You can experience what life was like for the Lighthouse Keeper, with a reconstructed Victorian Keepers cottage and many hands on activities.

There's a fun activity trail, along with some fantastic regular events such as craft activities and rockpool rambles.

Visitors can still see the machinery, which remains in working order, and of course climb to the top of the tower. It's well worth the effort, and once you've regained your breath you can literally see for miles!

The beautiful South Tyneside coastline below may seem very calm now, but it was in fact once very dangerous. Many ships ran aground amongst the treacherous reefs & rocks and smugglers plied their dastardly trade on our shores, so when the lighthouse opened in 1871, with its state of the art technology, it was very needed!

Decommissioned in 1988, this property is now managed and protected by the National Trust.

Surrounding the lighthouse are miles of grassy fields, spectacular cliffs and rocky bays. Enjoy a cycle or a walk along the beautiful coastline and take in the spectacular scenery.

Souter is a haven for wildlife and a must for all visitors.

Highlights

• Climb the 76 steps to the top for spectacular views
• Play in the Foghorn Field, where there are free sports activities during school holidays
• See the engine room with all its machinery
• Join the National Trust team for a seashore safari, exploring the nearby rockpools
• Enjoy a delicious cake or scone in the tea room
• Hire a child's balance bike for free thanks to British Cycling and HSBC UK. Suitable for age 2+
• A must for the kids - explore the outdoors through a series of mini-adventures on a free '50 things to do before you're 11 ¾' trail

Opening times

Closed 1pm - 1.30pm daily. Last entry to the lighthouse 30 minutes before closing. Opening times for our second-hand bookshop in the admissions area are the same as the lighthouse.

Most days the following opening hours apply:

Lighthouse: 11.00 - 17.00

Cafe: 10.00 - 17.00

However... Please check the opening times as they are subject to change.

Opening Times | Souter Lighthouse and The Leas | National Trust

Admission prices

Check out the prices as set by National Trust: Souter Lighthouse and The Leas | National Trust

Facilities

• Cafe
• Car and coach parking
• Toilets
• Baby changing facilities
• Gift shop
• Group discounts available

Access

• Accessible toilet
• Large print guide
• Tactile exhibits
• Wheelchair access to ground floor
• For those unable to climb the tower live camera pictures from the top of the tower can be viewed at ground level

Contact details
Coast Road
Sunderland
SR6 7NH

Tel: 0191 529 316

Email: souter@nationaltrust.org.uk

Facebook: Souter Lighthouse and the Leas | Facebook

Twitter: Souter Lighthouse (@SouterNT) / Twitter

Official website: Souter Lighthouse and The Leas | National Trust