North East Land, Air and Sea Museum

Alexander Iles

Visit now

North East Land, Air and Sea Museum

Washington Road, Sunderland, SR5 3HZ
01915190662
  • Tuesday10:00am - 4:00pm
  • Wednesday10:00am - 4:00pm
  • Thursday10:00am - 4:00pm
  • Friday10:00am - 4:00pm
  • Saturday10:00am - 4:00pm
  • Sunday10:00am - 4:00pm

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

North East Land, Air and Sea Museum
North East Land, Air and Sea Museum
Book now

At what was once a Royal Air Force (RAF) base – RAF Usworth – and Sunderland Airport, now lies the North East Land, Air and Sea Museum, holding an impressive repository of vehicles from across the 20th century. Each of these vehicles and the records connected to them have both local and national significance and presents a story that is curated by passionate collectors. Having been the home of 607 Squadron, which operated out of RAF Usworth during the second world war, the site has a museum that tells the story of the squadron and its contribution to the war, as well as uniforms and memorabilia from the unit. This can be seen in the main aircraft display in the main hanger. Inside the main hanger and past the squadron museum, is a reconstruction of a street in the North East of England depicting day-to-day life in the second world war, from shop fronts to the searchlights that were a key part in protecting England from enemy bombing by highlighting enemy aircraft. The main hanger also holds many of the military and civilian aircraft in the collection from early commercial planes through to a Submarine Spitfire replica.

The other two hangers are Romney Huts, which were used for storage during the second world war for the army and air force. These huts today store a fantastic collection of military vehicles. The first one contains a collection of tracked armoured vehicles and transport trucks including a FV101 ‘Scorpion’, which holds the record as the world’s fastest tank and a FV601 ‘Saladin’, both workhorses of the British army’s armoured elements in the cold war period. The second Romney Hut contains the navy collection with several Naval Aircraft that served on carriers, through to a collection of model replicas of navy vessels. The North East Land, Air and Sea Museum is a fantastic day out for anyone who loves the history of flight and military vehicles.

What's on near North East Land, Air and Sea Museum

Luke Samuel Yates
LiteratureLeeds
Chemistry at The Chemic

Leeds live literature regular Chemistry offers an exciting mix of open mic acts and invited poets – this month the headliners are Helen Ivory and Luke Samuel Yates.

Free entry
In a large industrial space filled with dobby looms hangs a blood red textile piece infront of a sheer white backdrop.
Until
ExhibitionsLeeds
Loops at Sunny Bank Mills

‘Loops’ is a new collaborative exhibition of textiles at Sunny Bank Mills, connecting artists from across the Netherlands and Yorkshire.

Free entry

Where to go near North East Land, Air and Sea Museum

Washington Old Hall
Sunderland
Tourist Attraction
Washington Old Hall

When people hear Washington, they will likely think of the capital of the United States, the state or the famous man, George Washington, but unknown to them the Washington family can be traced back to Sunderland.

Penshaw Monument
Sunderland
Tourist Attraction
Penshaw Monument

Penshaw Monument stands above the city of Sunderland on Penshaw Hill, surrounded by open park, and is owned by the National Trust.

Thompson Park
Sunderland
Park
Thompson Park, Sunderland

Thompson Park in Sunderland provides a local area for sport in the city. If you are looking for outdoor exercise from tennis to bowling, then Thompson Park can provide it.

Barnes Park
Sunderland
Park
Barnes Park

Considered one of the most popular parks in Sunderland and one of the best walks to experience in the city, Barnes Park is just under two miles long providing a lot of space for people to enjoy.

Bowes Railway
Sunderland
Tourist Attraction
Bowes Railway

A unique historical site showing the story of the railways from George Stephenson until the beginning of deindustrialisation in the 1960s and 1970s.

Sunderland
Music venue
The Fire Station

The Fire Station in Sunderland now has a state-of-the-art auditorium, bringing a whole new wave of live music, theatre and comedy to the city.

Aphrodite
Sunderland
Shop
Aphrodite

In 1994 Aphrodite was established by two brothers, Andrew and Duncan McKenzie, who had a passion for bringing good menswear to people in their city. Since then, they have been providing designer clothing from a range of high-quality brands that have large scale appeal to those who love fashion such as Stone Island, Canada Goose, DSquared2, Kenzo & Balmain – though that list is not exhaustive as they have clothing from every brand from A-Z.

Reynolds Outdoor Centre
Sunderland
Shop
Reynolds Outdoor Centre

Reynolds Outdoor Centre has provided outdoor wear, military surplus and camping gear since 1860. In the North East of England there is a fantastic array of wilderness to explore, from hills and mountains through to beautiful valleys and seaside walks.

Port Independent
Sunderland
Shop
Port Independent

Port Independent is an independent clothing retailer selling high-end fashion and quirky, carefully curated pieces.

Culture Guides

Music in the North

Gigs are coming in hot this spring – from long-awaited returns to one-off happenings you’ll blink and miss if you're not careful.

Hannah Platt 'Playing Out', courtesy of Threshold, photograph by Jules Lister.
Exhibitions in the North

From city-wide art festivals to open-air sculptural installations, we have exhibitions from all around the North, both indoors and out.

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

Eclectic as ever. You'll find inventive reworkings, world-class contemporary dance and Greater Manchester's inaugural Improv Festival in our guide.

portrait of Lorsung in a dark shirt with dark hair and dark round glasses
Literature Events in the North

We've got laughs and we've got leftfield on the live literature radar this month. Something for everyone, from poets playing with form to short story writers looking long.

Classical Music in the North

Read our latest highlights from the live classical music offer in Manchester and the North, taking in a number of the region's most cherished orchestral forces and venues.