Sunderland proudly boasts miles of unspoilt coastline, with superb beaches, promenades, piers, a variety of restaurants and an events programme for all the family. A stroll along one of the UK's longest stretches of city-side beaches at Roker and Seaburn (both of which have been awarded blue flags) will leave you feeling relaxed and refreshed.

To the north of the city, you can take a stroll along cliff-top parks or follow the newly opened Bede's Way walking or Walney to Wear (W2W) cycling route. Sunderland is also the grand terminus of the Coast to Coast route (C2C), a 140 mile ride cutting right across England from Whitehaven in Cumbria.