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Souter Lighthouse and The Leas
North EastA historic lighthouse overlooking nature-rich clifftop grasslands, coastal park and rugged coastline.
Coast Road, Whitburn, Tyne & Wear, SR6 7NH
Important notice
The Changing Places toilet is temporarily out of order. The accessible toilet in Whitburn Coastal Conservation Centre is still available. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.
Opening times for 17 September 2025
Asset Opening time Lighthouse 11:00 - 17:00 Cafe 10:00 - 16:30 No booking required (excluding some events). Last entry to the lighthouse is one hour before closing. 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.
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Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Adult (18+) £7.20 £6.50 Child (5-17) under 5s free £3.60 £3.25 Family (2 Adults and up to 3 children) £17.90 £16.25 Family (1 Adult and up to 3 children) £10.80 £9.75 Group (Adult 18+) £6.18 Group (Child 5-17) £3.09 Become a member and discover more than 500 places
- Bookshop
Our second-hand bookshop can be found in the admissions area whenever the lighthouse is open.
- Café
The Lighthouse Café serves hot and cold drinks, light bites and cakes to eat in or take away. Free entry.
- Car park
The car park is open 9am - 8pm daily (closes 6pm November - March). There is a payment machine in both car parks. Charges: £1 for 1 hour, £2 for 2 hours, £3 for 4 hours, £4 all day, or free for National Trust members.
- Dogs allowed
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.
- Picnic area
Choose from picnic benches within the white walls around the lighthouse, some of which are under cover to provide shelter from showers. Or bring a picnic blanket to spread on the grass of The Leas or Whitburn Coastal Park.
- Toilet
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. A British Sign Language Level 2 Communication Support Worker is available for a guided tour of the lighthouse. Pre-booking is essential, please email enquiries to souter@nationaltrust.org.uk.
- Accessible toilet
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.
- Changing Places
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.
- Drop-off point
Turn into the white walled drive off the Coast Road to find the drop-off point outside the main lighthouse entrance.
- Level access to food outlet
There is level access from the main car park or drop off point into the café.
- Level access/terrain
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.
- Steps/uneven terrain
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).
Main drive, entrance to car parks - what3words: ///switch.trails.forces
- Car-free
- To plan your journey by train, bus, bike or on foot, visit the Good Journey website Enjoy 25% off admission when you show a valid bus ticket.
- On foot
- 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
- Cycling
- 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
- By bus
- 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. Enjoy 25% off admission when you show a valid bus ticket. Plan your car-free journey at Good Journey
- By train
- Tyne & Wear Metro serves South Shields (yellow line), East Boldon and Seaburn (green line). Plan your car-free journey at Good Journey
- By road
- on A183 coast road. The car park is open 9am - 8pm daily (closes 6pm November - March). Charges 9am - 8pm: £1 for 1 hour, £2 for 2 hours, £3 for 4 hours, £4 all day, or 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
- By ferry
- Shields Ferry crosses River Tyne from North Shields to South Shields twice hourly. Plan your car-free journey at Good Journey
Planning your visit
Article
Things to see and do at Souter Lighthouse and The Leas
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.
Article
Family-friendly things to do at Souter Lighthouse
Discover how lighthouse keepers lived and helped keep ships at sea safe. Follow in their footsteps, climbing 76 steps to the top of the tower for a bird's eye view of the coast. Miles of open grassland and hidden rocky bays make Souter ideal for games, picnics, rock pooling and other outdoor adventures.
Article
Visiting Souter Lighthouse and The Leas with your dog
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.
PDF
Article
School visits and learning at Souter Lighthouse
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.
Highlights
Lighthouse
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.
The Leas
Two-and-a-half miles of clifftop grassland and wildflower meadows, with sweeping views from the England Coast Path.
Whitburn Coastal Park
Scenic reclaimed colliery land, incorporating a Local Nature Reserve. Features wildlife viewing areas and a network of paths.
Beaches
Beaches framed by rock stacks and rugged cliffs, including the sandy stretch of Marsden Bay and rocky shore of The Wherry.
Eating
Lighthouse Café serves drinks, snacks and light meals; indoor and outdoor seating available. The Leas ice cream kiosks open seasonally.
Second-hand bookshop
A selection of pre-loved books is for sale in the lighthouse admissions area.
Things to see and do
Article
Things to see and do at Souter Lighthouse and The Leas
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.
Article
Family-friendly things to do at Souter Lighthouse
Discover how lighthouse keepers lived and helped keep ships at sea safe. Follow in their footsteps, climbing 76 steps to the top of the tower for a bird's eye view of the coast. Miles of open grassland and hidden rocky bays make Souter ideal for games, picnics, rock pooling and other outdoor adventures.
Top trails
Trail
The Souter saunter
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.
Trail
Souter Lighthouse trail
Discover this trail along the coastal path at Souter Lighthouse in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, ideal for wildlife and especially bird enthusiasts.
Trail
Souter Lighthouse Ranger Run
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.
Eating and shopping
Article
Eating and shopping at Souter Lighthouse and The Leas
Discover where to eat, drink and browse for second-hand books during a visit to Souter Lighthouse and The Leas.
Places to stay
Lighthouse Keeper's Cottage 1
As part of the lighthouse, you’ll be a stone’s throw from the Sunderland coast.
Lighthouse Keeper's Cottage 2
A cliff-top cottage perching in the shadows of the iconic red and white Souter Lighthouse.
Upcoming events
Event
Coffee afternoon by the sea with Age Concern Tyneside South
Join Age Concern Tyneside South at Whitburn Coastal Conservation Centre for a dementia-friendly coffee afternoon.
Event
October half term: Smugglers and shipwrecks trail
Explore the lighthouse with a self-led family trail this half term.
About Souter Lighthouse and The Leas
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.
History
Article
History of Souter Lighthouse and The Leas
Discover the history of Souter Lighthouse and The Leas. From a lost village to world-leading technology, Souter has many stories to tell.
Our work
Article
Our work at Souter Lighthouse and The Leas
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.
Project
Whitburn Coastal Conservation Centre project
Learn about the creation of a new conservation centre close to Souter Lighthouse and The Leas, where visitors can explore wildlife and heritage.
Project
Support us
Article
Volunteer opportunities at Souter Lighthouse
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.
