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A historic lighthouse overlooking nature-rich clifftop grasslands, coastal park and rugged coastline.
Coast Road, Whitburn, Tyne & Wear, SR6 7NH
Asset | Opening time |
---|---|
Lighthouse | Closed |
Cafe | 11:00 - 15:00 |
Last entry to the lighthouse 4pm. Opening times for our second-hand bookshop in the admissions area are the same as the lighthouse. Lighthouse toilets are open in line with café opening hours.
Ticket type | Gift aid | Standard |
---|---|---|
Adult | £9.40 | £8.50 |
Child | £4.70 | £4.25 |
Family | £23.40 | £21.25 |
Family one adult | £14.10 | £12.75 |
Group Adult | £8.08 | |
Group Child | £4.04 |
Our second-hand bookshop can be found in the admissions area whenever the lighthouse is open
Dogs are welcome, including on a short lead in the lighthouse grounds and café. Assistance dogs only in the lighthouse. Water bowls are provided. Please clean up after your dog and dispose of used bags in a dog waste bin
The Lighthouse Café serves hot and cold drinks, light bites and cakes to eat in or take away
Choose from picnic benches within the white walls around the lighthouse. Or bring a picnic blanket to spread on the grass of The Leas or Whitburn Coastal Park.
The car park is open 9am - 8pm daily (closes 6pm November - March). There is a payment machine in both car parks. Charges: £1.10 per hour, £5 all day, or free for National Trust members.
Toilets in the lighthouse are open in line with the café. Baby changing facilities available. There are toilets in Whitburn Coastal Conservation Centre - one inside and one outside the entrance
Level access from car park. Drop-off point available. Outside entrance to accessible toilet. Ramped entrance to lighthouse ground floor.
There is an accessible toilet on the ground floor of the lighthouse. There are accessible toilets in Whitburn Coastal Conservation Centre - one inside and one outside the entrance. There is a Changing Places fully accessible toilet opposite the Lighthouse Café
There is level access from the main car park or drop off point into the café
There is a Changing Places fully accessible toilet opposite the Lighthouse Café. Access is via a RADAR key. A spare key is kept at the lighthouse admissions desk.
Level access from main car park to the lighthouse and café. Most of the paths and trails in the coastal park and along The Leas are level, many are hard surfaced
Turn into the white walled drive off the Coast Road to find the drop-off point outside the main lighthouse entrance
The lighthouse tower is accessed by a steep spiral staircase. There are steep steps down to Marsden Bay next to the Marsden Grotto public house and slightly less steep steps further north (Redwell steps)
on A183 coast road. The car park is open 9am - 8pm daily (closes 6pm November - March). Charges 9am - 8pm: £1.10 per hour, £5 all day, free for National Trust members. Or leave the car at home and travel the greener way. To plan your journey by public transport, bike or on foot visit Good Journey
Follow the England Coast Path, or pavements and footpaths along the A183 Coast Road from Whitburn or South Shields. Plan your car-free journey at Good Journey
Tyne & Wear Metro serves South Shields (yellow line), East Boldon and Seaburn (green line). Plan your car-free journey at Good Journey
Stagecoach services E1 and E2 operate from South Shields to Sunderland. E1 stops at the top of the lighthouse drive; E2 stops about a 10 minute walk away. Plan your car-free journey at Good Journey
National Cycle Network Route 1 runs past the lighthouse and you can pick it up from both Seaburn and South Shields Metro stations. Plan your car-free journey at Good Journey
Shields Ferry crosses River Tyne from North Shields to South Shields twice hourly. Plan your car-free journey at Good Journey
To plan your journey by train, bus, bike or on foot, visit the Good Journey website
Dogs are welcome at Souter Lighthouse and The Leas and there are plenty of experiences you can share with them while you're here. Find out about the facilities on offer for your canine companions, along with guidance to help ensure everyone enjoys their visit.
Find out how to book a school visit to Souter Lighthouse and The Leas and discover the hands-on workshops and outdoor activity sessions we offer to inspire inquiring minds.
The UK’s first lighthouse designed to be lit by electricity, built in 1871 and with displays exploring its working history. Grounds include Foghorn House.
Two-and-a-half miles of clifftop grassland and wildflower meadows, with sweeping views from the England Coast Path.
Scenic reclaimed colliery land, incorporating a Local Nature Reserve. Features wildlife viewing areas and a network of paths.
Beaches framed by rock stacks and rugged cliffs, including the sandy stretch of Marsden Bay and rocky shore of The Wherry.
Lighthouse Café serves drinks, snacks and light meals; indoor and outdoor seating available. The Leas ice cream kiosks open seasonally.
A selection of pre-loved books is for sale in the lighthouse admissions area.
Find out what to see and do on a visit to Souter Lighthouse and The Leas. Climb the lighthouse, explore the rock pools and discover this haven for wildlife.
Find out what family activities you could get involved with on a visit to Souter Lighthouse and The Leas
Discover more than just a lighthouse on this circular walking trail. Starting and ending at Foghorn Field, you'll take in views over Lizard Point, stop to watch the birds at Whitburn Nature Reserve and discover lots of history on the way.
Discover this trail along the coastal path at Souter Lighthouse in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, ideal for wildlife and especially bird enthusiasts.
A ranger recommended run route around Whitburn Coastal Park, around the site of the former Whitburn Colliery, now home to grasslands, wildflowers and a variety of birds.
Find locally made festive crafts, gifts, jewellery and indulgent treats at our popular annual fair. Saturday 30 November and Sunday 1 December.
Discover where to eat, drink and browse for second-hand books during a visit to Souter Lighthouse and The Leas.
As part of the lighthouse, you’ll be a stone’s throw from the Sunderland coast.
A cliff-top cottage perching in the shadows of the iconic red and white Souter Lighthouse.
Meet North East illustrator and nature enthusiast Stacey as she reads from and signs copies of her debut children's book.
Opened in 1871, Souter Lighthouse was a marvel of its age and remains an iconic beacon. Hooped in red and white, it stands proud on the coastline midway between the Tyne and the Wear. It was the first lighthouse in the UK designed and built to be powered by electricity. Souter is a special place to visit at any time of year.
To the north The Leas is a two and a half mile stretch of magnesian limestone cliffs, rocky bays and coastal grassland. The cliffs and rock stacks of Marsden Bay are home to nesting kittiwakes, fulmar, cormorants, shags and guillemots. South of the lighthouse is Whitburn Coastal Park and Nature Reserve – reclaimed colliery land, now a haven for wildlife.
Discover the history of Souter Lighthouse and The Leas. From a lost village to world-leading technology, Souter has many stories to tell.
Find out about nature conservation at Souter Lighthouse and The Leas and discover how our work has helped save three rare bird species from further decline.
Learn about the creation of a new conservation centre close to Souter Lighthouse and The Leas, where visitors can explore wildlife and heritage.
From conservation and gardening to being a lighthouse guide, find out about the volunteer roles available at Souter Lighthouse and The Leas and how you can apply to join the team.
Join today and help protect nature, beauty and history – for everyone, for ever. Enjoy access to more than 500 places with National Trust membership.