Herrington Country Park
🏟 Playground & park · Herrington, Sunderland
Herrington Country Park
One of Sunderland's largest parks, beneath Penshaw Monument, with an adventure play area, lake, cafe, toilets, parking and miles of trails.
🕑 Opening & entry
🌱 Open 24 hours · Free · No booking needed
About Herrington Country Park
Herrington Country Park is one of the largest parks in Sunderland, created on a former colliery site and now transformed into a major wildlife habitat supporting up to 100 species of birds. Managed by Sunderland City Council and one of the city's Green Flag parks, it sits beneath the landmark Penshaw Monument in Houghton-le-Spring and has hosted major events including BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend, the 2012 Olympic Torch Relay and festivals. For families, the children's adventure play area is at the north of the park, next to the car park, cafe and toilet block, making it an easy place to spend the day. The play area offers a variety of equipment for different age groups and is entered through a gate that opens outward; the surface around the equipment is bark while the paths are tarmac, and there are picnic benches and benches with armrests nearby. Beyond the play area the park features sculptures, an amphitheatre and a model boat sailing lake, plus extensive walking and cycle trails suitable for the whole family. A free weekly parkrun takes place every Saturday morning at 9am. The park is open 24 hours a day and is free to enter, with on-site parking, a cafe and toilets making it one of the city's most family-friendly country parks.
⭐ What makes this place special
- Model boat sailing lake
- Amphitheatre
- Sculptures
- Weekly parkrun (Saturdays 9am)
- Extensive walking and cycle trails
- Picnic benches
🏞 Facilities
- Free entry
- Parking: Car park on site
- Toilets on site
- Café / refreshments
- Play surface: Bark surface around the play equipment; tarmac paths
- Accessibility: Tarmac paths throughout; play area entered through a gate 126cm wide that opens outward and is heavy; picnic benches and benches with armrests nearby
- Dogs: Dog walking popular on the extensive trails
🧒 Ages & play
- Ages: Variety of equipment for different age groups
- Adventure play area
- Play equipment for different age groups
- Swings
- Climbing equipment
📍 Nearby places to play
- Princess Anne Park · approx 2.4 miles · Washington
- Barnes Park · approx 2.5 miles · Barnes
- Silksworth Lakeside Park · approx 2.5 miles · New Silksworth
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❓ Frequently asked questions
Is Herrington Country Park free?
Yes. Herrington Country Park is a free public park managed by Sunderland City Council and is open 24 hours a day.
Where is the play area?
The children's adventure play area is at the north of the park, right next to the car park, cafe and toilet block.
Is there parking, a cafe and toilets?
Yes. There is a car park, a cafe and a toilet block, all close to the play area at the north of the park.
What surface does the play area have?
The surface around the play equipment is bark, and the paths through the park are tarmac.
Is there a parkrun?
Yes. A free weekly parkrun takes place at Herrington Country Park every Saturday morning at 9am.